Citizen science provides insight into UK sea angling. New research on UK sea angling led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Substance has been released. This report provides unparalleled data on the numbers of sea anglers, participation rates, and catches across the UK from 2016 to 2021, alongside an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on UK sea angling.
This ongoing study is a successful example of a large scale citizen science project in action, with over 5,000 volunteer sea anglers providing data on over 48,000 fishing sessions and 362,000 catch records from 216,000 hours of angling activity from 2016 to 2021 (www.seaangling.org). Participants have also contributed to further research to be published elsewhere on the economic benefits and health and well-being benefits derived from sea angling.
Analysis of the whole time series (2016 to 2021) using modelling approaches has both improved estimates of participation and catches and revealed more about trends and changes over time. In addition, all results are now available to everyone to explore and visualise through our open access online UKSAIL system.
The information will be used by scientists, policy makers, and the angling community to inform advice for the sustainable management of the UK’s fisheries and UK Fisheries Management Plans alongside ensuring the economic and recreational importance of sea angling is considered.
The findings showed that:
- Between 568,000 to 753,000 of UK adults had been sea angling each year, fishing for a total of around 1 to 6.8 million days each year.
- Around 100 species were caught resulting in estimates of catches of around 7 million fish retained and 28 million fish released each year.
- Around 80% of fish were released demonstrating that conservation is important to sea anglers.
- Catch composition was similar between years with mackerel, whiting, lesser spotted dogfish, and sea bass the most caught fish.
Kieran Hyder, Sea Angling Lead at Cefas, said:
“Our results demonstrate the importance of sea angling in the UK. The data generated over the past six years will provide the evidence required to support the needs of sea angling within fisheries management and is available to all. I cannot thank the sea anglers who have contributed enough for their efforts and dedication, and I hope that it will inspire more to join.”
YOU CAN SIGN UP
The study is part of the Sea Angling Diary Project which is open to anyone who fishes in the sea in the UK to join. Sea anglers will receive a free mobile app, a catch recording kit, an online dashboard and reports of their activity. Anglers can sign up at www.seaangling.org.