Angling is good business

Four out of five anglers would have liked to have fished more, but did not due to family and job commitments. Nevertheless, the total spending of Danish and visiting foreign anglers totals DKK 2.85 billion. The typical Danish angler spends around DKK 4,000 on his hobby a year. This is shown in the new study, “Cost-benefit analysis of angling in Denmark”, which analyses the behaviour, motives and preferences of Danish anglers and angling tourists, as well as angling’s impact on the Danish economy.

“Angling is about life in the open air and the thrill of catching fish,” says Danish Minister of Food, Henrik Høegh. “However, as shown in the report, angling also has socio-economic possibilities and perspectives. The report gives us increased knowledge about angling and anglers, and I hope the results will be useful to the tourist trade, the local authorities and to private events businesses.”

Visit Denmark welcomes the study: “Today, Denmark is an attractive destination for foreign anglers, and there is no doubt that this activity has further potential,” says Visit Denmark director Lars Erik Jønsson. “The study is a good basis of knowledge on how to attract even more angling tourists for the benefit of angling, the tourist trade and local society.”
 

Diverse types of angler
The study identifies five different types of angler with various motives for going fishing and preferred fishing methods:

“Angler in nature”. This is a group of “green” and enthusiastic anglers.

“Going fishing”. In this group we find the angler who goes fishing in order to catch fish, and who is particularly motivated by the excitement of actually doing so.

“Relaxed fishing with family and friends”. “Fishing when the sun is shining”. For this group the point of fishing is relaxation.

“Active angling life”. Here we find the most enthusiastic anglers who spend a lot of time and money on fishing and related consumption; for them, angling is a life-style activity.

The study shows that active Danish anglers are willing to pay for higher fishing quality. Easy access to fishing waters is not a matter of high priority for them.

• English summary of the study

Contact:

Ministry adviser Mogens Schou: msc@fvm.dk, +45 22 61 05 75 /+45 33 92 37 23

Press officer Nicolai Schacke: +45 33 92 42 83 /+45 20 91 59 01