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4.0 Economic Value of Pike Angling 4.1 NUMBERS OF VISITING
ANGLERS Bord Failte's profile of visiting angler by type for the years 1996 to 1999 indicate visiting game angler numbers remained static during this four year period. The bulletin sets out the following information.
4.1 4.2 TOURIST PIKE ANGLER SPEND The first hand sales value of angling tourism to the Irish
Economy for the 1996 season has been calculated at Euro 84.7m
(IR£66.71m) (excluding access transport) based on an average spend
for all categories of specialist angler in the amount of Euro901.50
(IR£710.00) per angler (ref T.D.I.Report,Oct
"96). 4.3 DOMESTIC PIKE ANGLER SPEND In 1995/6 the Marine Institute commissioned a report entitled "National Survey of Water-based Leisure Activities". This research was carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and some of the reports key findings are set out below: 1. Over 190,000 Irish people were involved in angling at the time
of this survey 4.3 As no definitive figures have been made available covering the 2001 and 2002 angling tourism seasons, one can postulate with a degree of accuracy the magnitude of the drop in angling tourism numbers as a consequence of the "Foot & Mouth" outbreak, followed by the unprecedented events of September 11, 2001. These two events coming as they did at a time when both the US and European economies were and continue to slide toward an economic slump, have led to our present position which can best be described as a collapse in the number of visiting anglers. Given the significant percentage falls recorded across other sectors of Ireland's tourism industry, angling tourism analysts and industry commentators are obliged to take a conservative position when calculating the number of specialist anglers visiting Ireland during the 2002 season. If we accept a notional figure of 10,000 as being a realistic one for the 2002 season, we can calculate the loss of gross revenue to the Irish economy as follows: In 1994, specialist pike angler tourist figures peaked at 31,000 anglers. We know from the "1996 TDI Report" that the per capita spend by overseas pike anglers was calculated at Euro1,325.00 (excluding access costs). Therefore the peak loss of 21,000 on the historic high of 31,000 specialist pike anglers for the intervening 8 years to Y/E 2002, represents a peak loss of Euro27.83m for 2002, with an additional loss (reducing in size) experienced in each of the previous years, commensurate with the differential recorded each year. Please note, as detailed figures for Y/E 2000, 2001 and 2002 are
not available at the time of writing, conservative estimates have
been used for the purposes of this exercise - denoted by
"e".
Therefore total revenue loss can be calculated as amounting to Euro169.57m Although this figure represents a very significant loss of income to the Irish economy as a whole, it is in small vulnerable rural communities, dependant on 'ripple effect' wealth creation that emanates from a vibrant pike angling tourism industry where the losses are felt most. A successful angling tourism sector in rural Ireland is one of the classic examples of the multiplier effect working at its best. How can this be so given the levels of unprecedented growth experienced by many European economies for close on five years? Ireland was well positioned to take full advantage of this pan-European boom of unequalled prosperity. Throughout this boom, conservative estimates by tourism industry commentators forecast rates of 5% - 7% year-on-year growth in the number of visiting anglers coming to Ireland. Patently this has not occurred. We must ask the question - why has Ireland failed so
spectacularly to maintain tourist angler numbers at an historic
level of 150,000 - 160,000 visitors per annum, let alone record
modest growth in numbers since 1996 to the present as was forecast?
The reasons for the abysmal failure are many and varied. 4.4.1 Countless years of bankrupt and flawed fishery management policies have left an indelible mark on the minds of visiting anglers that Ireland's fishing was being systematically destroyed by the very same organisations that are charged with the conservation, protection and development of Ireland's inland fisheries. The overtly duplicitous actions by certain fishery boards down the years have led to a deep cynicism and resentment developing in not only the domestic pike / coarse angler but more importantly, in the repeat visiting angler. All sport fishing and especially overseas sport fishing thrives on positive press and feel-good images as evidenced by the numerous articles and accounts of successful and bountiful fishing trips that appear in the angling press. But equally, the angling tourism industry is very sensitive to the cold winds of negative criticism that emanate from dissatisfied angling/outdoor writers. One example is that of well known pike angler and author Neville Fickling who wrote in the Pike & Predator magazine in December 1999 "Mask is the only water I have ever fished where it was possible on any given day to say there is probably a 40lb plus pike somewhere down there. That 40 is probably in a hole in the ground courtesy of the WRFB." This constant stream of negative commentary, culminating in leader articles accompanied by graphic images of butchered specimen pike and brown trout appearing in most of the important European angling magazines, has certainly made an impact. Such emotive and provocative articles showing images of drowning and indeed drowned ducks, otters, swans and other wildlife is the death knell for any angling tourism industry - regardless of whether this negative press is focused on a regional or national issue. Bad press is bad press and harsh negative commentary inflicts serious damage to a media dependent, tourist sport fishing industry. Reports of incidents of a serious nature involving fishery board
field staff or senior fishery management will almost always result
in negative reportage with the attendant collateral damage to
vulnerable angling tourism enterprises struggling to survive in a
competitive, international sport fishing market. A total disregard
for the needs of domestic pike anglers and a lack of understanding
of the standard of sport expected and demanded by the discerning
international tourist angler market by many fisheries personnel,
only serves to highlight the gulf that now exists between Ireland
and competing angling tourism destinations. In addition, overseas pike anglers have witnessed the slaughter
of our pike stocks by unscrupulous fishmonger types purporting to be
engaged in genuine angling. Countless attempts by visiting and local
anglers to have offending piking pirates apprehended by
disinterested fisheries officers, have instilled a deep-rooted
cynicism in these once regular visitors to our lakes and rivers.
Ireland can ill-afford to treat her valuable customers so
shabbily. The revelatory remarks made by Eamonn Cusack, Chief Executive
Officer of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board at a meeting between
pike angling interests and senior staff of the ShRFB on 13 November
2000 give little cause for optimism to angling operators struggling
to survive in what has become an increasingly competitive
international market place. The remarks afford a unique and
undoubtedly accurate insight, held widely among anglers, that the
Board Members and Management of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
have little or no interest in any species other than members of the
salmonid family. According to the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board's official website, the following are their stated objectives: The Board aims to: There are many coarse and pike anglers - both domestic and overseas, who would dispute the degree of sincerity and truthfulness of the Shannon Board in their feigning any real interest in pike and coarse angling tourism development within their region. More importantly, there are a great many angling writers and magazine editors who know the above objectives to be a sham and liable to mislead their readership and thus will not promote the angling potential of the Shannon region. These writers, as do other concerned anglers, feel coarse and pike anglers have been treated contemptuously by the ShRFB over the years. The old adage "THE CUSTOMER IS KING" has obviously not been adopted as a basic tenet for successful business practice by the management and staff of the Shannon Board. In any other area of business, senior management and board
members would have been called to account by the shareholders and
resignations demanded and received. The scale of mismanagement by the ShRFB as evidenced by a
catalogue of controversial incidents, together with their collective
paucity in understanding the needs of/and standards demanded by
today's pike angler, is a cause for grave concern among the pike
angling fraternity and angling operators alike. 4.4.3 4.5 THE FUTURE - WHERE TO FROM HERE? In order to find a solution, first we must confront the causative
problems. There has to be a collective recognition and acceptance
that pike are a highly valuable national asset. Historically,
Ireland's position as the best location for producing more pike over
35 pounds than any other country remained unassailable for more than
three hundred years. Northern pike are a predatory sport fish par excellence and enjoy
a huge following worldwide. In a survey carried out in 1996 by a
leading US sports research institute based in Alexandria, Va.,
northern pike were accorded the mantle - "the world's most sought
after sport fish" - a true circumpolar species. The Northwest Territories of Canada comprises an area extending to 1.7 million square miles and has a population of 41,000 people. Yellowknife the capital, is home to 18,000 people. With most of the territories devoid of man's presence, NWT is a pristine, unexplored wilderness, offering some of the finest trophy pike and lake trout fishing in the world. It is not uncommon to land 70 - 100 fish per rod in 10-12 hours of fishing, with 10% of the catch surpassing trophy status (weight > 20lbs+) for both pike and trout. Yet, despite an embarrassment of riches with the five star quality of their fishing, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) through RWED have imposed strict laws governing fish conservation and the use of barbless hooks. They also promote a strong "catch & release" ethic among local and visiting anglers alike. GNWT Fish and Wildlife Officers have impressed upon me the
critical need for strict fish conservation laws to deter remote
fishing camp operators from depleting the highly-valued large trophy
fish resource from these cold, sub-arctic lakes and rivers. Florida sees an annual influx of over 11million out-of-state sport fishermen. The most sought after species is the largemouth bass and this species alone is responsible for attracting millions of devotees from all points in North America to Florida's myriad of lakes, canals and ponds. The numbers of recorded trophy largemouths (fish > 10lbs) has been rising steadily over the past twenty years and this despite a very large increase over the same period in the numbers of anglers pursuing their favourite species of bass. Officers with Florida's Department of Fish and Game are unanimous in their agreement that the increase in the numbers of trophy largemouths is directly linked to the practice of 'catch & release' sport fishing alongwith strict fishery law enforcement throughout the 'Sunshine State'. The same success applies to their world famous tarpon fishing, available along Florida's Gulf Coast as well as the more familiar tarpon resorts located along the Keys. All those I consulted with agree that the statewide epidemic of
'catch & release' has been the single most important factor
influencing the quality of tarpon fishing throughout the State of
Florida. Clearly the future success or failure of Irish angling tourism is dependent on a major shift in mind and attitude towards pike. Either we continue to regard pike as vermin to be purged or we accept and respect it for what it is - the world's most sought after sport fish.
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