Galway’s avid anglers are being asked for their help in compiling research on a multi-million euro industry – with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) developing a first in its kind study of the country’s fisheries management.
Anglers will be invited to share their views and opinions on recreational angling and provide the organisation with information on fishing that is currently unavailable to decision makers – at both national and local levels.
The ESRI, through their links with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), have access to a lot of information on the fish themselves – but know very little about those trying to land them.
According to Associate Research Professor at the ESRI, John Curtis, this is an area that they hope to shed new light on.
“We have a research programme with Inland Fisheries and we know a lot about the biology of the fish,” he said. “We know very little about the number of people who fish and that is something we want to build a better picture of.”
Because of the lack of information, it is hard to quantify how valuable angling is to the Galway economy, but it is a huge industry – and never more than at the moment with the Mayfly season now in full swing.
It was estimated in 2012 by Tourism Development International that it was worth almost €800 million to the Irish economy.
Brown trout angling, of which a substantial amount is concentrated in the wider Galway area, was worth roughly €148 million.
It is anticipated that this research will play a key role in the development of infrastructure and facilities available to anglers.
“There are many different types of anglers – say for instance coarse anglers, bream or pike anglers all want different facilities.
“We want to know, for example, are they looking for an angling area that is more remote,” said Mr Curtis.
He believed that this research would help those trying to attract tourist anglers, while also giving policy-makers information about the causes of pollution.
“This will help improve and protect water quality,” he said. “When these decisions come to the cabinet table, they will have the information available to them.”
Current data suggests that there are in the region of 406,000 people who take part in angling at least once per year – 252,000 of which are domestic anglers.
Around 113,000 are from overseas while 41,000 make trips across the border from the Northern Ireland – and this study will endeavour to examine the benefits of fisheries to their local economies.
As of now, the ESRI are calling on all anglers to sign-up and join the panel who can volunteer to participate in the study.
“This will be highly prized information,” said Mr Curtis. “It will allow those who own the fisheries to concentrate on the things that will bring them more business.”
The surveys will be carried out over the summer and those interested can find more details, and join the research panel on the ESRI website.
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