Recreational fisheries in the Netherlands: summary of the reported catches of the species under the obligations of the Data Collection Framework (European Sea bass, Atlantic Cod, European Eel, Pollack, Salmon and Elasmobranchs) from 2010 to 2023

Summary

The legal framework for the collection of recreational fisheries data by EU Member States was given by the EU Data Collection Framework (Council Regulation EU 2017/1004 and Commission Delegated Decision EU 2021/1167). The Netherlands is obliged to report on retained catches of Atlantic cod (Gadus Morhua), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), sharks and rays in marine water and on European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) by recreational fishers in marine and fresh water. On behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) started the Recreational Fisheries Programme in 2009 under the Statutory Tasks Programme (Dutch: WOT visserij). The Recreational Fisheries Programme aims to estimate the catches from the angling activity in Dutch marine and fresh waters and is based on three surveys: (1) screening survey, (2) logbook survey and (3) gillnet survey. Results of the gillnet survey are presented in a separate report. In order to estimate the number of recreational anglers fishing in fresh or marine waters, an online screening survey was conducted in December 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. The screening survey serves the purpose of obtaining an estimate of the total angling population in the Netherlands and to select participants for the logbook survey. In addition, an extra screening was conducted in March 2021 to collect information for year 2020 in order to analyse the impacts of COVID19 on the recreational fishing activity. Results show that since 2009, the number of recreational anglers in the Netherlands has been declining from 1.6 million in 2009 to 0.9 million in 2019, after which numbers have started to increase again to 1.4 million in 2021. To estimate the yearly catches, logbook surveys were conducted in 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2022-23. In each logbook survey, a total of 1,500-2,500 anglers participated in the survey by documenting their catches. This report provides an overview of the reported catch of Atlantic cod, European sea bass and European eel, which were raised (extrapolated) to the total amount catches in the Netherlands. Recent estimates of retained European eel recreational catches have decreased from 95 (95%CI 43-163) tonnes in 2010 to 10 (95%CI 2-21) tonnes in 2022. Estimates of Atlantic cod retained recreational catches have decreased from 698 (95%CI 425-2,041) tonnes in 2010 to 249 (95%CI 130-418) tonnes in 2022. The total amount of retained catches of European sea bass has increased from 156 tonnes (95%CI 72-272) to 550 tonnes (95%CI 305-878) in 2022. In recent years, the percentage of sea bass that is returned has also increased, resulting in much higher total (retained + returned) catches. The estimates should be treated with caution as there are high confidence intervals around the estimates. Only few pollack, salmon, rays and sharks catches were reported. These have not been raised to the total number, but only the absolute number of reported fish are reported here.