The difference between commercial and
recreational fishers is........
• Commercial fisher stop fishing when it is no longer economically
profitable to do so (Arlinghaus et al 2007).
• Recreational anglers are not dependent on high catch rates.
• The old adage “Even the worst day of fishing is better than the best
day at work” actually holds true.
• We often fish for the experience and while catching improves our
satisfaction it is not the only important thing. (Arlinghaus and Mehner
2005, Arlinghaus, 2006)
• Unfortunately, this means that we place pressure on our fish stocks
even if their numbers are very low. This does not happen in
commercial fisheries.
WE DON’T STOP FISHING IF THE FISH POPULATIONS ARE IN TROUBLE
It doesn’t matter if you are a
recreational or a commercial
fishermen, you still have the
same type impact on the
resource.
• Both reduce the mass of fish
available to catch
• Larger fish are normally the
first to be caught and killed
• Fish that grow the fastest are
removed from the population
and don’t breed
• Both pollute the environment
• Both destroy habitat
(Cooke and Cowx, 2006).