Marine recreational fishing (MRF) is a significant activity that provides substantial economic, social, and health benefits globally. However, in the EU, MRF has often been overlooked in fisheries management and stock assessments, with primary attention given to commercial fisheries.
Recognizing this gap, ICES – the independent institution giving fisheries and marine advice to the EU – has developed a roadmap to embed MRF into its assessment and advisory processes. The overarching goal of this roadmap is to guide the development of robust marine recreational fisheries (MRF) assessments through data and methodological improvements, in line with current and future management needs. This initiative aims to balance MRF's benefits with its impacts, ensuring sustainable management for the future. With new methodologies and a commitment to data-driven advice, ICES envisions a future where MRF plays a central role in ecosystem-based management.
Jan Kappel, EFTTA lobbyist: ..."I am thrilled to see this roadmap for integrating marine recreational fisheries (MRF) into the advisory process, securing its recognition as a vital element of sustainable fisheries management. After years of incremental progress, it’s rewarding to see everything coming together. A significant milestone on the scientific front was the establishment of the ICES Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Science (WGRFS) in 2008 — a development I proudly attribute, in part, to our persistent advocacy. Without this foundation, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Now, we need the EU Commission to take action, I am confident this will happen along the implementation of the roadmap. Together with the new recreational fisheries catch reporting system – including a fishing app – which will start providing data in 2026, these steps will drive progress forward."
The ICES Roadmap outlines the following key points:
In Europe, MRF contributes over €10.5 billion annually, supporting 100,000 jobs. Beyond economics, MRF promotes wellbeing for participants and boosts coastal communities. But MRF also impacts fish stocks and the environment, yet governance and inclusion in stock assessments remain limited. In Europe, MRF catches are often excluded from fisheries advice, challenging efforts to maintain sustainable fish stocks.
Effective governance of marine recreational fisheries (MRF) requires clear legal definitions, adaptive policies, co-management, robust monitoring, and cost recovery mechanisms. This is challenging because governance varies significantly across countries. While Australia and the US lead with advanced systems, governance in Europe is often lacking, limiting the potential societal benefits of its fisheries.
Within ICES, the Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Surveys (WGRFS) plays a central role in compiling and validating recreational fisheries data from European countries. It contributes to ICES advice on MRF by addressing critical areas such as survey methodologies, governance, stock assessments, and the social and cultural aspects of fisheries.
WGRFS collaborates closely with other ICES expert groups, Regional Coordination Groups, the European Commission, and international networks. It actively engages with decision-makers, including DG MARE and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, while fostering strong relationships with the angling community.
This process promotes sustainable fisheries management through collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and recreational fishers. By guiding data collection, quality, and usage, WGRFS ensures MRF data provides a foundation for ICES assessments and advisory processes. In doing so it contributes => to benchmarking, regional coordination, and international conferences, highlighting the importance of MRF for ecosystems and communities.
Challenges like data collection, inconsistent reporting, and sector allocation remain, but the ICES DAISY Model offers a clear plan to tackle these issues and make progress. The => DAISY model focuses on:
- Robust and accessible DATA
- Consistent and agreed methods for MRF ADVICE
- INTEGRATION of MRF into stock assessments
- Advancing SCIENCE to meet future needs
- YEARLY implementation within the advice cycle
The => ICES Roadmap identifies 12 key action points to integrate marine recreational fisheries (MRF) into fisheries management:
- Define Legal Framework: Establish clear definitions and regulations for MRF.
- Improve Data Collection: Develop standardized methods to collect accurate and consistent data on MRF.
- Harmonize Reporting: Ensure uniform reporting processes across regions and countries.
- Enhance Survey Methodologies: Invest in innovative and effective survey techniques.
- Strengthen Stakeholder Collaboration: Foster partnerships between scientists, policymakers, and fishers.
- Integrate MRF into Stock Assessments: Include MRF data in fisheries stock evaluations.
- Develop Socio-Economic Analyses: Assess the social and economic impacts of MRF.
- Promote Ecosystem-Based Management: Incorporate MRF into comprehensive ecosystem management strategies.
- Establish Monitoring Programs: Set up robust systems to track MRF activities and trends.
- Support Regional Coordination: Enhance cooperation between countries and regions.
- Provide Training and Capacity Building: Equip stakeholders with the skills needed for effective MRF governance.
- Communicate and Raise Awareness: Highlight the importance of MRF to ecosystems, economies, and communities.
Downloads:
=> the ICES Roadmap on Marine Recreational Fisheries.
=> ICES news from 6 December 2024 "The growing recognition of marine recreational fisheries"
=> the scientific paper of 12 December 2024, providing the scientic support for the ICES Roadmap:
"Efftective governance of marine recrational fisheries in Europe is needed to maximize the societal benefits of its fisheries"
Fabio Grati, Kieran Hyder, Estanis Murgerza, Robert Arlinghaus, Jerome Baudrier, Brigid Bell, Luca Bolognini, Annica I De Groote, Hugo Diogo, Kevin Haase, Pablo Pita, Warren Potts, Zachary Radford, Amelie Regimbart, Martina Scanu, Christian Skov, Didzis Ustups, Thomas Verleye, Jon Helge Vølstad, Marc Simon Weltersbach, Harry V Strehlow
