Strategic Review of Angling in Northern Ireland: A report for Sport Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Northern Ireland is well endowed with angling waters. Its high rainfall combined with numerous
lakes and rivers have provided an environment in which different inland fish species have thrived.
The varied coastline and waters supplied by the Gulf Stream also provide an ideal aquatic
environment for a variety of sea fish. Angling has the potential to attract visitors and to promote
enjoyment, health and wellbeing for local communities. Whilst there are factors which have
constrained the development of the activity an inquiry in 2001 by the Northern Ireland Culture, Arts
and Leisure Committee into inland fisheries outlined the potential for development in the sector. In
particular, the report of the inquiry emphasised the capability of angling to support the expansion of
tourism in Northern Ireland and stated that ‘it is beyond doubt that thriving recreational fisheries,
particularly on rivers for salmon and on some Loughs for coarse fish, have a major role to play in this
development’. The inland water resource combined with the extensive coastline and inshore waters
have the potential to provide more opportunities to participate in angling and for all to enjoy the
outdoors if a joined up approach to planning and management can achieved.
The overall aim of this review was to provide information on the scale and characteristics of
participation in angling in Northern Ireland; to identify the opportunities and constraints to the
further development of the activity and to provide the necessary information to will enable the
development of a strategic action plan for angling in Northern Ireland that has cross agency support.
The development of an electronic survey questionnaire was agreed as the basis for capturing the
views of angling clubs identified by the three NI angling governing bodies. Quantitative and
qualitative data was collated to build a current picture of opportunities for angling in Northern
Ireland, including infrastructure and facilities provision as well as participation trends and perceived
barriers and constraints to the wider take up of this sport. A survey with local authorities was also
conducted and a range of angling businesses provided their views on the constraints and
opportunities influencing the jobs and growth agenda. In addition a series of consultation meetings
were held with key stakeholders who are responsible for providing or managing access to angling
facilities and those with an interest in angling, to identify key issues and decide what actions and
activities might be recommended to overcome the constraints and challenges that have emerged.
This report identified a wide range of social, educational and community benefits of angling. It also
explored the issues associated with access to information, the difficulties faced by the tourism
industry in marketing and promotion to visitors and those of governance of the activity. These issues
need to be addressed to help to inform new approaches to support the development of angling and
encouraging increased participation both as a means of helping underrepresented groups to get
involved and to promote Northern Ireland as a tourist destination for angling with the associated
economic benefits that will accrue.
The review identified many examples of good practice across organisations in Northern Ireland who
are doing excellent work to promote the sport and address the issues that have been identified.
Supporting work with young people to introduce them to angling and then to maintain that
involvement is absolutely vital for the future of the activity. However there is the need for a coordinated programme to promote angling is paramount, to raise awareness of the opportunities and
to maximise the potential. A number of issues arise from the current arrangements for the
governance of the sport and the respective roles of the public and voluntary sector that need to
build links between the many agencies involved and develop partnerships with other government
agendas to explore joint interests, e.g. health and justice. A need for infrastructure to support the
development and growth of angling was also identified, as was the need to build capacity of clubs,
with selected centres focussing on coaching and the need for financial assistance to support
initiatives to address the issues.