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Title: Public Attitudes Towards Angling
Author: Simpson D
Author: Environment Agency
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: Environment Agency Project ID:EAPRJOUT_1223, Representation ID: 394, Object ID: 2438
Abstract:
The objectives of this report were to assess: - the public's attitude toward angling, especially for young people as determined by the reaction to a number of statements about angling; - the interest amongst non-anglers of participating in the sport at some future date; - the factors that would encourage non-anglers, especially youngsters to take up the sport; and - to compare results with those from previous surveys and draw attention to any changes. The data were collected by means of face to face interviews amongst representative samples of adults aged 15yrs+ and young people aged 12-16yrs. The findings, conclusions and recommendations were: - Attitudes to angling are generally positive, and perceptions of angling as a pastime are as positive, if not slightly more positive than they were in 1997. - 12-16yr olds are less clear in their views, but are more likely to have positive rather than negative perceptions of angling, however they are likely to be less positive overall than adults. - The research suggests that 9% of the population of England and Wales (i.e. just under 4 million) have been freshwater fishing in England and Wales in the last 2 years. - Given rod licence sales data of around 1 million the above figure is likely to have been boosted by licence evasion or other social reasons. - The level of angling participation remained similar to that identified in 1997. - There has been no reduction in the proportion of young anglers i.e.12-24yrs since 1997, although the 2001 angler profile appears to have fewer anglers aged 25-34yrs. The proportion of lapsed anglers in the 25-34 yr age group is also relatively high. - The level of ”lapsing” from angling is still at the level identified in previous research (i.e. just above the number of current anglers) and thus there is still much to be done to retain current anglers. - Interest amongst the youth market in going fishing in the future (particularly 12-14yr olds) is higher than that for adults, which bodes well for the future of the industry. - Interest levels are lower for 15-16 yr olds than 12-14 yr olds. Thus although there are some promising signs in terms of the participation of 12-14 yr olds there is still likely to be high drop out amongst 15-16as, probably due to other commitments and interests taking priority. - Knowledge of places to fish that are close to home is very important. The production of an angling guide containing this information is valuable but needs to be made known and made readily available to current non-anglers. - Promotion of sites already suitably equipped for the young and families could be of benefit and would prove more economically sound.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Subject Keywords: ParticipationAnglingSurface waterRiversLakesCanalsInland fisheriesFreshwater ecology
Geographic Keywords: EnglandWales
Extent: 46
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4606
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