The European Parliament has ordered an eagerly-awaited study on recreational sea fisheries. The survey, which has been called for by both the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) and the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) for more than a decade, will give law-makers in Brussels previously unresearched information on the scale and economic value of the sector.

The €120,000 research will be used by the European Parliament as a key reference document when it discusses and decides on fisheries legislation within the region.

The organisation that will carry out the survey will be announced next month and will be expected to deliver its findings within 14 months.
EFTTA said: “The €120,000 for the work cannot deliver the kind of study we would like to see conducted in all EU countries every fifth year, which should include sea as well as freshwater fishing. “But it is an important initiative and a milestone and for that we are very grateful that the Committee on Fisheries has ordered this study. It will, we hope, convince the members of the European Parliament that recreational fishing should be included prominently in the Common Fisheries Policy the next time it is reformed.”

Source: www.angling-international.com.