Recreational fishing should be more heavily regulated : The fisheries policy has a hook

filled Infinitely wide, infinitely deep and inexhaustible with edible fish. So people were a long time in the sea and also the great lakes and rivers. But in the sea, there are now significantly fewer fish than there should be, in many inland waters. The only thing that seems to be currently in the sea, is the plastic waste. To create the power of the marine life in a variety of Ways, and in part also by those who fish the sea empty. For this purpose, the power waste of the fish trawlers but also broken fishing lines and other paraphernalia of free-time fishermen dispose of both oceans as well as inland waters. And even if it sounds strange: These anglers have also a noticeable share of Overfishing.

Berlin waters ecologist calls for reform

In the national and international rules for the protection of fish stocks, recreational fisheries, however, plays hardly a role. A group of fisheries researchers, sociologists, Economists, and Ecologists from Europe and North America, led by Robert Arlinghaus from the Berlin Leibniz-Institute of freshwater ecology and inland fisheries, has now drawn up a catalogue of possible reforms. Their core claim: A sustainability-conscious fisheries policy is in need of "leisure weights, fishing as well as commercial fishing."

Precise Figures are difficult to collect, but there is no doubt that recreational fishing is both economically as well as socially and environmentally in many places an immense importance. Be financed according to the arling house in Germany, around 52 000 jobs a whole or to large Parts of the anglers – from Jobs on fishing boats on bait and equipment manufacturing to the owners and employees of fishing shops. And for four million people, five percent of the population, fishing is an important leisure activity. Elsewhere, it contributes significantly to the protein supply of the population. And, although globally, eight times more fish from commercial fishermen than anglers to the waters taken, the ratio in some places, Vice versa. And ecologically critical species are often particularly affected. In addition, it besides anglers, especially on large specimens, which are also ecologically of great importance, (see daily mirror of 15. May 2018).

Rare in the network, but often on the hook

15 years ago, the marine ecologist Felicia Coleman had pointed out, along with colleagues in the journal "Science" on it, that, for example, in the Gulf of Mexico, the popular "Red Snapper" rather rare on the net, and very often the hook pulled from the water. In inland waters in Germany, which remove most of the biomass anglers long distance. And also in the North sea and the Baltic sea, the majority of the cod landed, for example, not in nets, but on the Deck of the fishing boat.

In their study, arlinghaus and his colleagues draw a complex picture of the interactions between anglers and the used waters. Thus, Overfishing is possible, but also other types of disorders and changes in the Ecosystems. The mere fact that a disproportionately high number of large predatory fish were pulled from the water, were natural influences equilibria. And also effects on the fishermen and the perceived value of your recreational activity there is. So good fishing spots are increasingly a scarce and contested resource.

anglers can enthusiastic and organized environmentalist

On the other hand, it is known that well-informed and organized anglers can also be good environmentalists. Here in Germany, where most of them are organized in Clubs and associations – and what you do is regulated – an example for other countries. However, the common Universal rules about a minimum length, and maximum number of fish that may be taken per Angler are not, is often useful.

The researchers call, therefore, the "variable management approaches". The interests of commercial fisheries and recreational fisheries should be included equivalent to and the ecological conditions, depending on the waters to be adjusted. Here is unpopular management strategies", such as temporary access restrictions to waters, however, occasionally "necessary. to be able to

but, depending on the local needs of farming, on the one hand, "a certain degree of decision-making sovereignty" on the part of the Angler is necessary. Important is, however, also the section for such water - or water-specific approach to collect the necessary data. Here arlinghaus and his colleagues call the Angler to document about Apps, what they caught. The scepticism was partly large, anglers were monitored and fought frequently against such approaches. But "without a modern Monitoring, the costs of efficiently organized data from hundreds of thousands of people, can be built neither to resolve conflicts nor a goal-oriented management", the researchers write, in a communication of the Berlin Institute.

aquatic ecology the big fish Let's swim

Overall, it was time to take anglers only more responsibility, but to integrate their claims and "fishing goals" in the management of water. "Natural uses" and, therefore, also of professional fishing, you would have to be equal.