Recreational  sea angling in England – from both boat and shore – is recognised by the government as an important leisure activity. Up to 2 million people  go sea fishing every year and that includes the thousands of  serious boat and shore anglers who fish all year round,  as well as the many holidaymakers who have a go from the pier or jig feathers for mackerel in the summer.

Recreational sea angling is known to have substantial input to local economies and supports many businesses from bed and breakfasts to bait digging and tackle shops.

But despite being one of the country’s most popular sports, there is very little information on catches, fish released, or estimates of the number of angling trips that take place. The lack of data means that it is difficult for sea anglers and their representatives to have full input to inshore fisheries management.

The new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities will develop polices for  sustainable management of all types of fishing within six nautical miles of the coast. There is also now a European obligation for the UK to monitor sea anglers’ catches for species like cod and sharks in order to better protect them.

For all these reasons the government is embarking on the biggest ever national survey on English sea angling to find out both what is caught, what is released and how important the sport is to the English economy.  The project is called Sea Angling 2012.

Sea Angling 2012

This project will be carried out by Cefas, the MMO and the new Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities.  The information collected will enable national and local policy makers to make informed decisions on fisheries management. This should  benefit anglers and businesses while helping to conserve and improve fish stocks. The results of the project will be published in winter 2012.

The  European Data Collection Framework and Control Regulation requires member states  to collect and report data on recreational catches of certain species including bass, cod, and sharks – all important to anglers.

• Biggest ever national sea angling survey to boost sport (press release)
• For more information go to www.seaangling2012.org.uk/