2. IMPORTANCE OF SPORT FISHERIES IN EUROPE

2.1 Sport Fishermen

The number of sport fishermen in Europe is surprisingly high; Table 1 illustrates this point roughly without going into details or defining sport fishermen.

Table 1

Excluding the U.S.S.R., there are well over 14 million sport fishermen in Europe and indications are that in most countries this number is rapidly increasing. In fact, Poland reports an annual increase of 8 percent while Spain mentions 12 to 16 percent yearly. In France, the number of sport fishermen increased by 54 percent between 1950 and 1967 while in that same period casting fishermen alone increased by 322 percent. It appears that since that date, however, the total number is decreasing slightly. In Romania, the number of sport fishermen has doubled in the last ten years. If with increased affluence, these trends were to materialize in other European countries, and if for example, the number of sport fishermen were to average at 10 percent of the population by 1980 - which is much lower than the actual figures for Finland, Norway and Sweden and about the present level in France - the total number of sport fishermen in Europe would then be well over 50 million.

In Europe the social composition of the sport fishermen varies greatly although the majority comes from the working class. However, it is reported in Sweden and in the Netherlands that there is little class difference in the distribution of sport fishermen.

2.2 Availability of Fishing Waters

In spite of increasing industrialization and resulting water pollution which has ruined hundreds of rivers in Europe, there are still a fair number of salmon and trout streams and plenty of coarse fish water bodies. Poland, which considers itself poor in inland waters with a fishing density of one angler per 1.23 ha of lakes, rivers and reservoirs, nevertheless reports 1 100 lakes totalling 110 000 ha in the Mazury Lake District alone. The southern European streams which are shorter and more tempestuous than the large European rivers (Volga, Danube, Rhine, Elbe) are nevertheless plentiful, particularly in Spain, where they stretch over 100 000 km, including 20 000 km of trout streams and 2 000 km of salmon waters. Finland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland like Canada have thousands of lakes where fishing can take place. Norway reports 300 000 registered lakes, 20 000 km of coastline which is further increased by 56 000 islands as well as 150 large salmon and sea trout streams (Norway, 1971). Finland also reports 60 000 lakes covering an area of about 32 000 km² with a shoreline of about 160 000 km. In addition, the long coast and numerous islands off the coast and the great archipelago in the south-west region add another 50 000 km of shoreline. Northern Ireland, like the Republic of Ireland, is fortunate in having a plentiful supply of fresh water which is generally unpolluted. There are some 2 000 km of river, large lakes like Lough Neagh and Upper and Lower Lough Erne and over 200 small lakes. Yugoslavia reports hundreds of rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs some still “virgin” from the fishing point of view. Romania with the coastline of the Black Sea, the Danube delta and over 25 000 km of rivers with little or no pollution still offers a big potential. In the Netherlands, the quantity, if not the quality of surface waters is actually increasing. Polders, reservoirs, rivers and lakes increased from 104 700 ha in 1958 to 109 000 in 1965, exclusive of Lake IJssel 200 000 ha; the Lauwerszee 2 000 ha - reclaimed in 1969; the Grevelingen 11 000 ha - reclaimed in 1971 and the Haringvliet and Holland Diep 13 000 ha.

In Europe, the Netherlands is unique in that it experiences great difficulties in procuring, storing and processing a sufficient quantity of water suitable for the supply of drinking water. Because the surface water is not good in many places, water quality has also become a limiting factor for the development of fish stocks and horticulture. Early in 1972 the discharge of the River Rhine was so low (800 m³/s) that the salt content of the water was exceptionally high. Fortunately it rained subsequently, but this serves to illustrate the delicate balance that now exists in some European waters.

Cyprus which, until recently, had no freshwater bodies, now claims 12 small reservoirs where trout fishing can take place with proper stocking because they are emptied every year.

In addition to inland waters, one can add the sea coast of Europe, where a certain amount of sport fishing takes place in season. On the northern coast of Finland a study has been carried out which showed that 62.4 percent of those replying to a questionnaire considered themselves (sea) sport fishermen in that the cost of their hobby exceeded the commercial value of their catch.

2.3 Fish Species Available

The species caught for sport in Europe vary with the quality of water from salmon, sea and freshwater trout in the clearer waters to cyprinids such as the common carp, roach, rudd, bream and coarse fish predators in the more eutrophic waters. As an example, in Czechoslovakia we find 60 species most of them popular with the sport fishermen. In the Netherlands, rainbow and brown trout are even found in two large lakes in the southern delta (Lake Veere 2 000 ha stocked in 1968 and Grevelingen 11 000 ha stocked in 1971) where salinity ranges from brackish to that of sea water. In France there is a definite shift to species of high sport quality such as carnivorous species, while in the Netherlands selective breeding aiming at a more sporty carp is fairly successful.

Blanc et al., (1972) lists 396 inland freshwater fish species in Europe, many of which are caught by sport fishermen. There appears to be a definite correlation between the quality of fishing waters and the density and quality of fish populations. Unlike Canada, angling for the elusive cyprinid is fairly popular in Europe.

2.4 Economic and Social Importance of Sport Fisheries in Europe

In Europe, although we are still very far from being able to put a figure to the value of sport fishing, indications are that it is very high indeed. A U.K. National Survey of Angling (1972) estimated the number of anglers in England and Wales at 2.8 million; they spend on average about £80 per annum, and over half of these anglers fish at least once per week. Their gross expenditure was between £200 to £250 million, about two-thirds of it relating to inland waters. According to the report, the travel element of the gross expenditure, about £70 million, could be reduced substantially if water with lower levels of pollution, or better fish stocks, were to become available nearer at hand. Not surprisingly, therefore, the national value of fisheries (price paid for the fishing rights) is very high. In England and Wales, the sale value of salmon fisheries, based upon the average catches during the last five years are from £500 to £750 per fish caught. Thus, a fishery in which the 5-year annual catch was 100 salmon would fetch between £50 000 and £75 000 on the open market. Trout fishing values, based mainly upon quality, length of bank and whether one or both banks are involved, may rise on a first class river to as high as £7 600 to £10 900 per km. Fisheries for coarse fish can also fetch surprisingly high figures in the open market and recently a mixed fishery, one bank only, for salmon and coarse fish, in which the latter predominated, sold for the equivalent of £11 200 per km (Natural Environment Research Council, 1972). Fisheries suitable for large-scale match fishing, such as national or international championships, can command much higher prices even than this. Although the above figures are likely maximum values, they point towards a very high national value for inland fisheries.

Indeed, sport fishing has become so important in some countries that the suggestion has often been made for the abolition of commercial fishing (mainly nets) for salmon and sea trout, so that the entire stocks of these fish could be available for exploitation by anglers for sport. This suggestion was considered by the Bledisloe Committee for Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries in Britain in its Report of 1961 (Great Britain, 1961) but after some discussion it was rejected despite the fact that commercial fishing in England and Wales employs comparatively few people (2 000 as against 560 000 salmon and trout anglers in 1958).

In Finland, according to a very rough evaluation, sport fishermen invest at least $25 million annually in sport fishing. In Poland, the powerful Polish Anglers' Association keeps many hotels, inland harbours and camping centres. In 1964 it operated 60 places of that type with sleeping quarters for 1 300 persons. For the five-year plan 1966–70 estimates of capital outlays were for over 50 million zlotys, tourist facilities 21 million, economic expansion 24 million and public facilities in angling 5 million (Paladino, 1965). An idea of the importance of sport angling in that country is evident in the fact that in 1965 it employed 96 fishery guards and 7 489 honorary guardians. Weekly fishing radio broadcasts are also the fashion.

The fees collected for fishing licences amount to substantial sums of money when viewed for Europe in general. In Italy, it represents at least $5 million, $2 million for Switzerland, $700 000 for Belgium, $400 000 for Norway and, surprisingly enough, $450 million for France (France, 1972). Ancillary revenues are not recorded, but Belgium alone reports 800 sport fishing shops.

A most important aspect of the angling resources of a few fortunate countries in Europe such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Yugoslavia is the potential value as a tourist attraction. Millions of anglers live next door to them and the countries have everything required for the enjoyment of angling - in particular, numerous underfished accessible waters holding large stocks of fish. It should be possible to attract a larger number of angling tourists there, particularly with the advent of a larger common market. In Yugoslavia it is reported that the number of tourist anglers equals that of Yugoslav anglers.

The social value of sport fishing in Europe is probably greater than the monetary value. It was said at the First EIFAC European Consultation on the economic evaluation of sport and commercial fisheries (The Hague, 24–25 January 1972) that labourers and white collar workers were moving to less industrialized areas because, among other things, of the lack of recreational fishing facilities. In fact, the detailed planning of recreation and sport fishing development in the Netherlands forms an integral part of the overall planning of new reclaimed areas. That is why the Dutch sport fishermen look upon the invading fishing foreigner from the southwest with mixed feelings. They feel the freedom of international travel brought about by the Common Market deprives them of important stretches of fishing shoreline developed specifically for them. The situation is exactly the reverse in Ireland where fishing tourists are seriously courted.

The amount and value of fish which are caught by sporting methods and are consumed are also not negligible. In France estimates range from 20 000 to 100 000 tons (France, 1972). In Belgium a total of 440 tons are caught in rivers and canals alone for a fishing intensity of 14.5 kg/ha/year. In Poland as much as 20 kg/ha/year are reportedly caught by sport fishermen, while in Finland the inland sport fishery represents a catch of 10 to 12 000 tons a year. Spain has 21 hatcheries to re-stock salmon, trout, carp and blackbass in its streams.