Far from a niche activity, marine recreational fisheries (MRF) has a significant impact on economies, coastal communities and environments, society, and fish stocks alongside creating important health and wellbeing benefits for participants. In the world of fisheries management, however, decisions about stock assessments, conservation measures, and sustainability have largely centred around the activities of commercial fishing fleets. Meanwhile, recreational fisheries have remained under the radar.

Kieran Hyder, Cefas, and Estanis Mugerza, Azti, co-chairs of ICES Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Science (WGRFS), have spearheaded the work on ICES Roadmap on Marine Recreational Fisheries. Hyder notes several reasons for the lack of inclusion of MRF in current assessments and advisory processes. “MRF are diverse and dispersed fisheries with many gears used and a lack of lists of participants, which makes them difficult to monitor. As a result, there is a lack of data which is needed both to dispel the common myth that MRF has no impact and to include in stock assessments. Governance is also generally lacking. Excluding MRF catches from stock assessments and advisory processes may impact managing stocks to within sustainable limits and realising the benefits that can be created from fisheries."

Increasingly, the impact of recreational fishing is becoming recognized within management. This call to action comes from both within and outside the scientific community. Across the world, with Australia, New Zealand, and the US leading the charge, and now within Europe, the message is clear: if MRF catches continue to be excluded, we risk failing to meet conservation and societal benefit objectives.

Overcoming obstacles

The road to integrating MRF into fisheries management is not without its challenges. Data gaps, inconsistent reporting systems, and incompatible methods make it difficult to incorporate MRF into existing stock assessments. There's reluctance from some quarters to include MRF data because it is not always seen as scientifically rigorous or systematically collected. Further, logistical barriers like the delay in obtaining data and the involvement of different institutions across countries pose a real obstacle. A further debate is how to allocate catches between commercial and recreational sectors. These discussions touch on sensitive topics like social and economic benefits, which need to be weighed alongside biological sustainability. The lack of enforcement in many regions complicates efforts to ensure compliance with management measures.​Many stakeholders wonder if it's worth the effort to include something so complex into the existing system. 

At this crossroads, guidance comes in the form of the DAISY Model, developed by WGRFS. Within the Roadmap, this provides the blueprint for overcoming the challenges MRF faces and offers a clear path forward—one that will require collaboration, innovation, and adaptability.

Mugerza states, “Since the collection of recreational fisheries data became mandatory within the DCF, there has been a significant improvement in both the quantity and quality of data collected". He emphasises, “The key is for countries to continue their sampling programmes and follow the guidelines provided by WGRFS. It is important to mention that the issue of data limitation is not exclusive to recreational fisheries, it can also occur in some commercial fisheries."

“Data on MRF only needs to be included in stock assessments where the recreational fishery has an impact", says Hyder. The first step is to prioritize species where MRF is likely to have an impact. Once this has been done, MRF can be included in the issues list for assessments and included through the benchmark process. Hyder adds that, “This is not a one-size-fits-all approach as each assessment is different".

Many approaches can be taken to improve the quality of MRF data. And for this, ICES scientists and recreational fishers must work together to forge new paths. ​​​​Codesign will be vital to ensuring the most robust data are generated as recreational fishers are an integral part of data collection. This will require building trust between the MRF community and ICES. In addition, developing new methodologies for stock assessments that include MRF data will be crucial, particularly for data-limited stocks.​ As the stewards of MRF methods within ICES, WGRFS will ensure that new approaches will be reviewed and, where applicable, used. 

A new era of integrated fisheries management

Overcoming these challenges brings the reward: the integration of MRF into the advisory process and the recognition of its role in sustainable fisheries management. With the new roadmap, ICES are adding their support for the inclusion of MRF. The integration of these practices into the annual advice cycle will ensure that MRF data is consistently used in future assessments and recommendations. With new models, methods, and partnerships that allow for the sustainable management of both commercial and recreational fisheries, MRF is not an afterthought but a key component of sustainable fisheries.

“It is great to see ICES recognise the importance of marine recreational fisheries and the need to embed it in their advice", says Hyder, "The roadmap highlights the practical steps and new science required to achieve this. We have a lot of work ahead, but I'm looking forward to working with both ICES and angling communities to make this a reality".​​

A blueprint for sustainable management

ICES vision is one of inclusive, sustainable fisheries management—one where MRF is fully integrated. The DAISY model provides an answer: data-driven advice, integrated assessments, and coordinated management strategies. It's a mission in progress—one with a roadmap for success, but also plenty of questions that still need answers. 

Colm Lordan, chair of ICES Advisory Committee commented that this roadmap clearly articulates how we plan to transform that situation in the coming years, stating, "Accounting for marine recreational fisheries in our scientific advice is yet another important development as we strive to provide knowledge to inform ecosystem-based management." 

ICES Roadmap on Marine Recreational Fisheries is available to view or download from our online library.​