Realising the Economic, Social and
Environmental Benefits of Angling in
River Catchments
Elizabeth Oughton
Jane Wheelock
Geoff Whitman
Angling in the rural environment: social,
economic, ecological and geomorphological
interactions
Aim: to analyse the complex network of natural and socioeconomic relationships around angling in the river
environment.
Field work is being conducted in, on and around the Rivers
Esk, Swale and Ure in North Yorkshire
We have been collecting data for approximately twelve
months now
WP 2.4
Angling in the consumption
economy
Integrated rural
development
WP 2.1
Environmental visions
WP 2.5
Institutional
environment
WP 2.3 Angling and
river processes
WP 2.2 Biodiversity
and fish ecology
Stakeholder input
The interdisciplinary relationships between data
collection work packages
What are the expected benefits from
angling?
• Economic
• Social
• Environmental
• …and how are they to be achieved?
Economy
(Estimates*)
• The total capital value of inland recreational fishing in
England and Wales (£3 billion (75%) still waters) plus
additional annual expenditure by coarse anglers of £2
billion
• The capital value of trout in England £560 million (68%
still waters)
• The capital value of salmon rod fisheries in England and
Wales £128 million plus additional annual expenditure of
game anglers of £545 million
* Our Nations’ Fisheries EA 2004
How does angling impact on the local
economy?
•Some preliminary findings from our angling survey (n=63)
–
–
–
–
All but one of the respondents was male
Average distance travelled to fish 28.4 miles (Range 1-75)
Average daily spend £17 (max. £29.95 but three spent £0)
Estimated annual expenditure highly variable (£3525 -£23) high
expenditure was accounted for by angling holidays e.g. Ireland,
Canada, Denmark and Scotland.
•The Esk and Swale attract locals and anglers angling
clubs based in nearby conurbations. Neither type are likely
to bring much additional spend to the local economy
Angling impact on the local economy
• Specialist angling businesses particularly still
water complexes but also some others e.g. fish
hatcheries, tackle shops
• Angling as a part of a livelihood jigsaw,
diversification strategies of rural households
• Angling as a part of a rural tourism package
Society
• ‘Angling is proving to be good for self-esteem and wellbeing. We have supported several projects that have
shown that an interest in angling can also be a powerful
and cost-effective way of tackling anti-social behaviour,
educational under-achievement and youth crime’*
– ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’
• ‘Recreation is re-creating whether it is of the body or the
mind, what [the angler] is doing is re-creating his
mind…time spent angling is not counted in your allotted
span’**
– An increase in personal and social well-being
*Fishing for the Future, EA n.d. p.5
** Interview Swale angler 14.11.06
Environment
• Angling is regarded as the ‘eyes and ears of the
water environment’
• ‘Angling has been at the heart of conservation
development in England and Wales’*
– anglers bringing different types of knowledge about
the environment, ‘custodians’
• Expansion of angling as a threat
– Introduction of non-native species and associated
problems
– Overseas travel and the introduction of disease
*Angling in 2015: Getting more people into fishing. First consultation paper - December 2004:8
Realising the benefits – some challenges
1.
Data
•
•
2.
Qualitative differences in social benefits
Extrapolation from studies characteristic of very specific sites
Distribution of benefits
•
•
3.
Who benefits and how?
A more qualitative understanding of benefits is required and a
more flexible concept of success
Scale
•
•
Management and control of angling not generally centralised
making an integrated policy more difficult
Constraints associated with scale of policy implementation and
planning
Realising the benefits – some more challenges
Angling Trades
Association
Specialist
Anglers’
Alliance
Salmon and
Trout
Association
Association of
Stillwater
Game Fishery
Managers
FACT
Fisheries
Angling
Conservation
Trust
Atlantic
Salmon Trust
Commercial
Coarse
Fisheries
Association
National
Federation of
Sea Anglers
National
federation of
Anglers
National
Association of
Fisheries and
Angling
Consultatives
Qualitatively different institutions effect the
governance of angling e.g.
– Private property
– Statutory bodies
– EU
And they may themselves have conflicting
objectives
Different mechanisms and no single clear policy
route to achieving the multiple benefits of
angling
Conclusions – so far
On balance the contribution of angling to the economy,
society and environment appears positive but as yet we
have not identified a clear route for bringing about these
positive benefits through the development of angling alone.
Angling should be seen as a part of other rural
development policies in the countryside and efforts should
continue to encourage angling amongst the younger cohort
in both rural and urban areas
It is still early days and we continue our researches and
dialogue with our many stakeholders