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Support The Catchwise Sea Angling Survey

by | Aug 30, 2023 | AIFCA News, Call for Support

Catchwise is a new survey of sea angling taking place across England and Wales in 2023 and 2024 commencing in July for twelve months. The project has been co-developed with sea anglers and aims to significantly improve the recognition of the sport’s value to coastal communities and inform relevant fisheries management decisions accurately.  

It will be the biggest single study of sea angling undertaken for over a decade and will involve a major shore and private boat survey of sea anglers as well as an online survey of charter boats. Catchwise will involve face-to-face surveys with thousands of sea anglers around the English and Welsh coasts. Recruitment for volunteer surveyors is now open. 

Catchwise is the first project of its kind to feature collaboration with the sea angling community on this scale. Representatives across the angling community from organisations like the Angling Trades Association, The Angling Trust, Angling Cymru and the Institute of Fisheries Management, will join an Advisory Group comprised of individual anglers, charter skippers, scientists, fisheries managers, and government agencies to provide input throughout the project’s duration.  

Catchwise is funded through the UK Seafood Scheme: Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) scheme provided by the UK government. The project will be delivered by Substance, the Angling Trust and Cefas.

It has an Advisory Group representing the recreational sea angling community, individual anglers, charter skippers, scientists, fisheries managers and agencies. It includes:

  • Angling Trades Association
  • Association of IFCAs
  • Angling Cymru Sea Anglers
  • Institute of Fisheries Management
  • Welsh Government
  • Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
  • Marine Management Organisation
  • Simon Thomas (York University)
  • Annica de Groote (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)
  • Harry Strehlow and Simon Weltersbach (The Thünen Institute, Denmark)
  • Charter Boat representative (TBC)

Please visit the project website here.