1. Elizabeth Oughton Jane Wheelock Geoff Whitman
Realising the Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits of Angling in River Catchments
Elizabeth Oughton
Jane Wheelock
Geoff Whitman

2. Angling in the rural environment: social, economic, ecological and geomorphological interactions
Aim: to analyse the complex network of natural and socio-economic 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

3. The interdisciplinary relationships between data collection work packages
WP 2.1
Environmental visions
WP 2.5 Institutional environment
WP 2.3 Angling and river processes
Stakeholder input
Angling in the consumption
Integrated rural
development
economy
WP 2.4
WP 2.2 Biodiversity and fish ecology

4. What are the expected benefits from angling?
Economic
Social
Environmental
…and how are they to be achieved?

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Society
‘Angling is proving to be good for self-esteem and well-being. 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

9. 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

10. Realising the benefits – some challenges
Data
Qualitative differences in social benefits
Extrapolation from studies characteristic of very specific sites
Distribution of benefits
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

11. Realising the benefits – some more challenges

12. 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

13. 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