Total Sea Magazine

What is Sea Angling 2012?
It is a project to collect information on shore-based and boat-based recreational sea angling activities, catches and economic impact in England in 2011 and 2012. The project will be carried out by the Marine management Organisation (MMO), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and we hope the new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA). The most recent similar study in England was the Drew Report published in 2004.

How will sea angling benefit from the project?
Sea anglers want to see the government and local bodies put policies in place that conserve fish stocks and ultimately lead to more and bigger fish to catch. Without accurate up-to-date information on sea angling activities around England, DEFRA and the IFCA will find it difficult to make balanced and properly informed decisions on how best to manage fishing activities to meet the requirements of both commercial and recreational sea angling (RSA) sectors. It is therefore in the best interests of sea anglers to support the collection of the necessary information on RSA activity, catches and economic value around our coast.

It is also hoped that the information will also be of use to other organisations – such as sea angling bodies – in the development of their own views.

Why is DEFRA funding this project?
RSA is one of the country’s most popular sports, with between one and two million active participants each year. Despite this there is very little information available on catches and releases or even the number of fishing trips that take place. Sea Angling 2012 will provide the necessary evidence base to support DEFRA and the IFCA in meeting their objectives for sustainable development of all forms of fishing.

In addition to this it will provide the means of sampling of recreational fisheries that is a legal requirement under EU data collection legislation.

What will the project look like?
Sea Angling 2012 can be thought of as three workstreams, each focusing on collecting different data, but providing a detailed overview of all forms of sea angling in England. The methodology planned has been successfully used worldwide.

The first of these, being led by MMO, will use the Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) household surveys in Great Britain to provide estimates of how people go sea angling and how often, broken down by geographic region and types of activity covered (such as from the shore, charter boat or private boat).
Data of catches and releases of cod and bass will also be obtained from the survey. The data on sea angling participation from ONS survey will also contribute to the economic analysis.

The second workstream, led by Cefas, will aim to collect data on shore-based and private boat angling around the coast of England. Locally appointed surveyors will interview sea anglers at the end of their fishing trips, or in some cases when they are fishing, to collect data on fishing effort, catches and releases.

A third, detailed study will also be carried out to determine the economic value of all aspects of the RSA industry, including expenditure by individual anglers and the economic value of activities dependent on sea angling such as tourism and tackle shops.

How are you involving the angling sector in this project?
In the early stages of this project we sought the views of the Angling Trust. Our next step will be to invite representatives of the sea angling sector to form part of a steering group for the project. We are keen that the sea angling sector is involved in Sea Angling 2012 and its expertise will be of great benefit as details of the project are decided upon. This also gives anglers a way to influence how we collect data on their sporting activity and businesses. We hope that this will ensure that all parties can be confident in the results of this project.

How will the information gathered in this project be shared?
We are keen to be fully transparent with this data – it will be openly shared within the constraints of legislation such as the Data Protection Act.

What about the catch and returns – will Sea Angling 2012 collect data on this?
We know there are concerns in the angling community that European legislation specifies we need only collect information on what anglers catch, which is interpreted as meaning retained catch and not fish that are returned to the sea. We recognise that catch and release is widely practiced in the UK and that returning fish in a live and healthy state will help conserve stocks for the future. The Sea Angling 2012 project will estimate how many fish are being caught as well as how many are returned to the sea.

Information on both types of catch will be included when we provide information to the EU commission.

Should anglers be concerned? Could this data lead to more restrictions on angling?
As we know little about angling activity we cannot predict if this project will highlight problems and what they may be. If data does prove that RSA is having a significant impact on any fish species, then subject to recovery measures the EU control regulation would give the EU commission the power to recommend specific management measures such as fishing authorisations and declarations.

If this was the case, our preference would be to work with the angling sector to develop precautionary measures to remove the need for any European intervention.