Socio-Economic Value of Recreational Angling in

Ireland

Green and Blue Futures Conference, October 2013

Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development

Strategic Goal

To develop the potential of the inland fisheries sector, by increasing the numbers of resident and tourist anglers and generating a better return for Ireland.

Socio Economic Study of Recreational Angling in Ireland

Methodology

Results

The River Suir

MethodologyHousehold Survey

Survey of Recreational Anglers

Stakeholder Survey

Desk Research

Results and Findings•Up to 406,000 individuals participated in recreational angling in Ireland in 2012

•Total direct expenditure on recreational angling in 2012 estimated to be €555 million

•Direct expenditure of recreational angling by out-of-state anglers estimated at €121 million

•With indirect and induced impacts, the overall impact of recreational angling is estimated at approximately €755 million

•Total tourist angling expenditure can be estimated at approximately €280 million.

•Recreational angling estimated to support approximately 10,000 jobs.

Results and Findings

Results and Findings

•There is evidence of a decline in recreational angling participation levels in recent years

•Decline in participation attributed to a range of factors including:Economic recessionPoor weatherQuality of fishingIllegal practices

Results and Findings•Domestic anglers participating in day fishing trips took an average of 13.6 day angling trips

•One in four domestic anglers took an overnight fishing trip –the average number of overnight trips taken by these anglers was 5.25

•Overseas anglers are very loyal to Ireland and to specific fisheries with individuals returning to the same fishery

•Overseas recreational anglers made an average of two angling trips to Ireland in last 12 months

Results and Findings•Respondents identified outstanding scenery and friendliness/ hospitality as the most appealing aspect of Ireland as a destination for recreational angling

•The Irish angling product is also highly rated in terms of:Restful/relaxed ambienceQuality of accommodationReputation of the fishing product

•Over three quarters of anglers considered the overall quality of the Irish angling product to be ‘very good’ or ‘good’

•The perceived decline in fish stocks was cited as the primary reason for dissatisfaction

Results and Findings•The factors contributing to dissatisfaction with fish stocks were:

Lack of fishOver-fishingIllegal fishingNettingCommercial fishing PollutionInvasive species

•Recreational anglers would welcome the following initiatives to improve angling in Ireland

More policing of fisheriesIncreased protection of fish stocksConservation measures including invasive species management/eradicationBank side managementIncrease in catch and release

Results and Findings

•41% of all recreational anglers have taken a holiday involving angling in other countries in the last 3 years

•Scotland, England, Spain and Scandinavia are the most popular competitor countries visited

•The quality of angling – amount and size of fish – cited as the most appealing aspect of competitor destinations

•Competitor destinations have advantage over Ireland in terms of perceived better management of their fisheries.

The River SuirProbably the best River

Trout Fishery in Europe ( Dr Martin O Grady –Irish Times 2012)

Trout Centre of Excellence - Cahir

Important Salmon Fishery

Value of Trout AnglingTrout Anglers spend €355 per trip

Up to 116,000 participants in Ireland with anAdditional 41,000 for NI and Overseas

Unique selling point of the Suir - big trout, greatriver fishing, attractive to European and American Anglers – and of course to our own local anglers

Important to have easy access to fisheries with permit availability, potential on the Suir to develop a Suir Pass.

Protection of the resource required – Invasive Species are a pernicious invader and can do serious damage.

Value of Salmon AnglingSalmon Anglers spend €744 per trip

Up to 71,000 participants in Ireland

Up to 64,000 angling trips from NI and Overseas

32% of domestic angling trips are to the South and South-east.

Loyalty to specific fisheries evident on the Suir

Socio-Economic ImpactsSports Participation

Health and Well-being

Natural Environment

Community Development

Tourism and Rural Communities

Angling for Youth Development

Thank You