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What’s the catch? – The importance of marine recreational fisheries

Harry Strehlow | 02.06.2022


OF Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries

Recreational anglers take a significant and variable amount of fish from individual stocks, it had to be included in the scientific stock calculation. However, angling is also an economic factor.

Next to commercial fishery, marine recreational fishery plays an important role in terms of the removal of biomass from fish stocks. For certain marine and diadromous species, recreational fishery catches can comprise a significant share of the total landings. At the same time, marine recreational fisheries have high social and economic value. Particularly for coastal and rural, disadvantaged areas, the recreational sector (angling tourism) can be an important source of income.

Despite its importance, research on marine recreational fisheries in Europe is still rather underdeveloped. Until recently, recreational fisheries science in Germany was limited to inland waters. For European marine waters, representative and comprehensive recreational fishery data was missing for the longest time. The regular collection of recreational fishery data in Europe started 2001 with the introduction of the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1639/2001). More about the historic development   

Although in principal recreational and commercial fishers are catching the same fish, they do not compete for the current quota. The quota is calculated on the basis of fished biomass. Up until now, recreational catches have not been considered, because they were unknown. Including recreational catches in future stock assessments raises the perceived productivity of the stock proportionally, increasing the allowable catch by the amount of the recreational removals. Therefore, the total allowable catch of commercial fishery can remain stable, the new, higher, quota just needs to be allocated in a different way. A suitable management should incorporate the interest of the recreational and commercial sector taking into account the high socioeconomic importance of the marine recreational fishery.

Initial investigations showed that recreational cod harvests and releases in the western Baltic Sea were substantial. In fact, the annual recreational removals of German fishery between the years 2005 and 2010 were estimated to be about 50% of the annual German commercial landings from the same area. Studies from other EU Member States in the Baltic Sea, e.g., Denmark and Sweden, showed that recreational removals of cod in the Baltic Sea should not be ignored.

The collection of recreational fishery data such as numbers of fishers and their catch is difficult and complex, associated with a variety of challenges. Read more about data collection in the expertise.

Figures & Facts

Sampling design and catch

What do anglers catch? When, where and how? What is the impact of recreational fisheries on individual fish stocks? What is the economic and social benefit of marine recreational fisheries?

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Sampling design and catch

Expertise

Development of the German data collection since 2003

Recreational fisheries sampling in Europe started with the introduction of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1639/2001, requiring Member States to sample Bluefin tuna catches in all areas and Salmon in marine waters of the North and Baltic Sea.

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Development of the German data collection since 2003

Projects

Characterization of the recreational passive gear eel fishery

In order to improve the assessment of the European Eel it is necessary to quantify recreational catches in the North and Baltic Sea.

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Characterization of the recreational passive gear eel fishery

German marine angling program

Next to the commercial fishery the recreational fishery plays an important role concerning the removal of biomass from fish stocks. For certain species recreational fishery catches can have a significant share of the total landings. In addition to its importance for the scientific stock assessment recreational fishery has particular commercial relevance.

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German marine angling program

Recreational fishery on salmon and sea trout

In the past, the impact of recreational fisheries (particular angling) on European marine fish stocks has often been neglected. Recent studies revealed that recreational catches can have a substantial magnitude compared to commercial catches for some European marine and diadromous fish stocks. In Germany, this seems particularly relevant for Atlantic salmon and sea trout in the Baltic Sea.

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Recreational fishery on salmon and sea trout

Catch and release mortality of eel

European eel is an important target species for european anglers. Catch restictions and minimum landing sizes lead to high releases of recreational caught eel.

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Catch and release mortality of eel

Mortality of cod released by anglers in the Baltic Sea

Previous investigations showed that a significant number of cod caught by anglers has not reached the minimum landing size of 38 centimeters and have to be released. About 45 to 70 % of all individuals caught from boats and charter vessels are undersized.

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Mortality of cod released by anglers in the Baltic Sea

Agent-based modelling of angler behaviour

The project contributes to a better understanding of the behaviour of recreational anglers and their responses to management decisions as precondition for sustainable recreational fisheries management.

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Agent-based modelling of angler behaviour

Recreational fishing in Germany

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Recreational fishing in Germany

Publications

  1. 0

    Eero M, Strehlow HV, Adams CM, Vinther M (2015) Does recreational catch impact the TAC for commercial fisheries? ICES J Mar Sci 72(2):450-457, DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsu121

  2. 1

    Weltersbach MS, Strehlow HV (2013) Dead or alive - estimating post-release mortality of Atlantic cod in the recreational fishery. ICES J Mar Sci 70(4):864-872, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fst038

  3. 2

    Ferter K, Weltersbach MS, Strehlow HV, Volstad JH, Alós J, Arlinghaus R, Armstrong M, Dorow M, Graaf M de, Van der Hammen T, Hyder K, Levrel H, Paulrud A, Radtke K, Rocklin D, Sparrevohn CR, Veiga P (2013) Unexpectedly high catch-and-release rates in European marine recreational fisheries: implications for science and management. ICES J Mar Sci 70(7):1319-1329, doi:10.1093/icesjms/fst104

  4. 3

    Strehlow HV, Schultz N, Zimmermann C, Hammer C (2012) Cod catches taken by the German recreational fishery in the Western Baltic Sea, 2005-2010: implications for stock assessment and management. ICES J Mar Sci 69(10):1769-1780

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