CURRENT PROBLEMS OF RECREATIONAL FISHERY IN POLAND - LINKS WITH COMMERCIAL FISHERY

PROBLEMES ACTUELS DE LA PECHE RECREATIVE EN POLOGNE - SES RAPPORTS AVEC LA PECHE COMMERCIALE

by

Marian Leopold, Asst. Prof.
Chief of the Department of Fishery Economics
Inland Fisheries Institute
Olsztyn
Poland

Abstract

This paper gives a general overview of current problems facing recreational fishery in Poland, in particular recent development in the field of recreational fishery and present state of this fishery. Quite a considerable quantity of data is given on number of fishermen, structure of fishermen and their preferences. The connexion between recreational fishery and commercial fishery is discussed, as well as the impact on water environment. It is emphasized that recreational fishery is a field in which the Polish authorities take a keen interest, and discussions and meetings are held frequently to develop this subject further.

Résume

L'auteur expose le situation générale et les problèmes de la pêche récréative en Pologne. Il fournit de nombreuses données sur les pêcheurs nombre origine et préférences. Il examine les rapports existant entre pêche récréative et commerciale ainsi que les effets de la péche sportive sur les milieu hydrologique. Il souligne que la pêche récréative retient toute l'attention des autorités polonaises et que des discussions et réunions frequentes visent à son développement ultérieur.

1. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN RECREATIONAL FISHERY

As member of a group of experts preparing a programme of recreational and commercial fishery development for the Ministry of Agriculture, it must, at the outset, be stated that the status of recreational fishery in Poland has recently undergone significant changes. Recreational fishery is no longer a problem of anglers only. This increasingly recognized recreational activity has become for the experts in many fields a subject of great interest, discussions and at least preliminary studies, both theoretical and practical. This results from two equally important facts, the activity of EIFAC, particularly the organization of the First European Consultation on the Economic Evaluation of Sport and Commercial Fisheries held in The Hague (Netherlands) in 1972, and the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization observed recently in Poland, resulting in growing demand for recreation generally, and especially for angling. As often stated by Dr. I. Norling (Sweden) consideration of the relationship between recreation and sport fishing is essential.

Full illustration of the new status of recreational fishery in Poland is found in the proposed principles regulating recreational fishery from both the Polish Anglers Association (PAA) and the State Fish Farms (SFF) being currently put into effect.

Although not the most important of new events in that field, the Symposium on the prospects of sport fishery in Poland organized in February 1973 by the PAA is worth mentioning. The Symposium was attended by over 100 participants; 5 leading and 15 scientific papers were delivered. The range of the problems discussed is best illustrated by the titles of the leading papers:

1. Water management in Poland with respect to environmental protection; status and prospects;

2. A forecast of the development of fishery management in the country; fish resources and exploitation principles;

3. Socio-economic aspects of angling based on world and national experiences;

4. Protection of water environment and fish resources; sociological aspects, legislation;

5. Health and recreational values of angling and factors conditioning their utilization.

Papers were delivered by representatives of important institutions such as the Institute of Ecology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, the Inland Fisheries Institute, the Department of Water Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Juridical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Medical Academy of Gdańsk, the Committee “Man and Environment” of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Agricultural-Technical Academy of Olsztyn, and the Polish Anglers Association, thus illustrating the importance given to these problems. Most important still, the conclusions of the Symposium are currently being put into effect, constituting a part of the programme of activities in the field of recreational fishery of both the Polish Anglers Association and the State Fish Farms.

Mention should also be made here of the special TV programmes in which members of the PAA and invited specialists from various institutions discuss the most important problems of recreational fishery. The author of this paper has taken part in two such programmes, one of which concerned the multiplicity of experiences resulting from recreational fishery.

One of the basic needs, pointed out by EIFAC, at the First European Consultation in 1972, and resulting from the above-mentioned Symposium is that of gathering and analysing scientific information on recreational fishery. This necessity is being now faced by the Department of Fishery Economics of the Inland Fisheries Institute. In recent years we have carried out also a pilot study which constitutes an important contribution to the study of recreational fishery.

2. STATUS OF RECREATIONAL FISHERY

2.1 Number of Sport Fishermen (Anglers)

There are two types of data which serve as a basis for estimating the number of sport fishermen in Poland:

1. detailed statistics of the Polish Anglers Association (PAA), and

2. estimates of the number of anglers outside the PAA, who could be considered as illegal anglers or even poachers (the latter qualificative, however, is evolving in meaning as it is possible to buy periodic licences for angling also by people outside the PAA).

Until recently estimates were obtained exclusively from the PAA. Currently, as a result of pilot studies, we also have at our disposal estimates made by State Fish Farms (SFF) at least with respect to lakes.

Estimates of the PAA seem reliable, while estimates of anglers outside PAA need to be treated very carefully. The problem concerning the total number of anglers is important and should be properly explained, because it can distort the real picture of the status of recreational fishery in Poland. The questions are (a) whether only PAA members should be treated as sport fishermen, and (b) whether the estimate of the number of anglers outside of the PAA is reliable.

As far as question (a) is concerned it seems that the answer here is univocal. A sport fisherman is a person who practises angling for pleasure and recreation according to factual principles distinguishing it as sport fishery, and not only according to regulations of a formal nature. Indirectly this is also acknowledged by the PAA which states that outside its framework there is a number of illegal anglers. In 1970 PAA estimated the number of such anglers to be twice as high as the number of its members. This significantly changes the data given in Table 1 in EIFAC Occasional Paper No. 7 (1973) according to which the number of sport fishermen in Poland amounts to 400 thousand persons, constituting 1.3 percent of the total population. In reality, assuming of course that the above-mentioned estimate of the PAA is a correct one, this number becomes 1 200 000 persons and about 4 percent of the total population.

Now with respect to question (b), is the estimate of the number of anglers outside of the PAA reliable? This is difficult to say. However, based on studies carried out in State Fish Farms, it can be stated that the impact of such anglers on lakes is, most probably, lower than can be deducted from the estimates of PAA.

Assuming that the percentage of illegal anglers on lakes is similar to that of legal anglers, we obtain a number four times as high as the estimate of the State Fish Farms. Considering that the PAA estimate includes practically all waters in Poland, including about 30 000 km of rivers, its estimate may be close to reality.

Assuming that the estimate of the PAA is a reliable one, another important question arises: will the ratio between the PAA members and anglers outside of the PAA (currently 1:2) remain at the same level in future? The answer seems to be yes. This is supported by two facts. In the first place non-members of the PAA can buy periodic licences for angling; secondly, anglers legalize their activity some time after they have started fishing for recreation (see Fig. 1). Hence, the current (1975) number of sport fishermen in Poland is estimated by PAA at 535 000 members of the PAA plus 1 070 000 persons outside of the PAA, totalling 1 605 000 persons. Consequently, the percentage of sport fishermen in the relation to the total population amounts to 4.7 percent.

2.2 Type of Anglers

The study carried out by the Department, in accordance with the recommendations of EIFAC, had the character of a pilot study and covered 39 State Fish Farms managing over 250.000 ha of lakes. Three different regions were distinguished, regions with:

1. a relatively low level of urbanization and the largest area of lakes;

2. a relatively higher level of urbanization and lower area of lakes;

3. the highest level of urbanization and lowest area of lakes.

The results regarding local, visiting and foreign anglers, or angler members and nonmembers of the PAA, or legal, semi-legal and illegal anglers, are given in Table 1. All figures in the table express percentages of the total number of anglers studied.

Although this was only a pilot study and the resulting data are a rough evaluation, nevertheless figures given in the table reflect some important factors:

1. a relatively higher number of local anglers in the more urbanized regions with poorer lake resources, as opposed to visiting anglers;

2. a higher number of anglers outside of the PAA in the region with less lakes and higher urbanization;

3. a decisively higher number of illegal and semi-legal anglers in the region as above.

Table 1

Analysis of the Structure of Anglers on Waters belonging to State Fish Farms
(in percentages of the total number of anglers studied)

Within the framework of our studies we asked the State Fish Farms to express their opinion as to which of the above-mentioned categories of anglers is thought to have a more negative impact on fish stock and fishery management in lakes. Their opinion, expressed in percentages of the lake area influenced negatively by various categories of anglers, is summarized in Table 2.

Table 2

Negative Impact of given Categories of Anglers on Lakes
(in percentages of the total area)

From the above table an extremely important conclusion can be drawn. State Fish Farms, and thus representatives of commercial fishery, clearly state that angling activities performed according to proper legislation, i.e., by legal anglers, do not have any great negative impact on waters exploited by commercial fishery. This conclusion supports the author's opinion that a controversy between commercial and recreational fishery is only apparent. It results from Table 2 that the strongest negative impact on lakes is noted in the case of local anglers, semi-legal anglers and members of the PAA. It is thought that these results point to the necessity of undertaking future studies also in this direction. Mention should also be made of certain views of the SFF, according to which the anglers outside of the PAA, or even those not possessing any documents, perform their activity only for pleasure and recreation. Variety in the views expressed is very characteristic of these studies. The division of anglers into: (a) members belonging (or not) to the PAA, (b) local, visiting and foreign, and (c) anglers with documents (legal), with discordant documents (semi-legal), or without documents (illegal), was a methodical mistake. In order to obtain conclusive opinions it would be necessary to ascribe definite numerical values to proper elements of Fig. 2. The whole problem is even more complicated by the fact that we do not have a precise definition of recreational fishery enabling us to compare material from different countries. It would be advisable to establish an ad hoc working party during the next EIFAC Session, aimed at resolving this problem. This proposition seems to be fully justified in view of the growing significance of recreational fishery.

2.3 Preferences of Anglers

Within the framework of the pilot study carried out in State Fish Farms we have tried to get at least a general idea on basic preferences of anglers. The types of lakes and fish species mostly favoured by anglers were analysed. The results are given in Table 3. The five most important game species in all lakes are: pike, eel, roach, perch, pike-perch.

The third region, however, presents a totally different picture than the general one; in this region eel is the most important game fish, and perch is replaced by carp. This dissimilarity results from the fact that this region is characterized by a more intensive fishery management, expressed by intensive eel stocking and the introduction of carp culture on some of the lakes. These data differ from the PAA material, according to which the highest share in the catches is composed of roach, pike, bream and perch. However, this is quite understandable since the PAA data not only deal with lakes, but with a large area of other types of waters in which such species as eel and pike-perch are not too common. The opinion of the State Fish Farms is also influenced by the fact that these species are important for commercial fishery and hence they are given a higher rank.

The impact of anglers and “poachers” on lakes is illustrated in Table 4.

Table 3

Fish Species preferred by Anglers (average ranks)

Table 4

Percent of Fish Farms stating that the given Feature of a lake determines a given Impact

Preference as to the locality of the lake for anglers is totally different from that of poachers - the first prefer lakes situated close to recreational facilities, urban areas, and good roads - the latter not. The same is observed with respect to the type of lake; the anglers are more demanding. Demand of anglers for the type of abundance of fish stock in lakes served, among others, as a basis for defining general types of anglers and investment needs connected with these types. This is illustrated in Fig. 3.

In Poland anglers belonging to the “manager” type devote their activity not to fish catching but to fish culture, such as the management of small water bodies, frequently turning them into good fishing areas.

This is probably the main reason for the large increase in the number of PAA members fishing on the so-called “minute” water bodies. According to the PAA data this number increased from 9 000 in 1971 to 31 000 in 1974.

It would seem necessary to initiate serious studies aimed at elaborating a model which would integrate all our knowledge on needs and preferences of different types of anglers, with proper attention being paid to geographic, natural and economic conditions. A model of this kind must be based on studies of several specialists from various fields, and at least of sociologists, psychologists, economists, ecologists and geographers.

3. RELATIONS BETWEEN ANGLING, RECREATION, COMMERCIAL FISHERY AND STATUS OF WATER ENVIRONMENT

A general model of the relations and interactions between angling and related fields of human activities is illustrated in Fig. 4.

The stimulating effect of the economic development on fishery and recreation as well as its impact on water environment, is not discussed here due to the fact that these problems do not enter into the scope of the paper. Discussion is restricted to the elements closely related to angling. In order to obtain a clear picture these elements are treated separately.

3.1 Recreation and Angling

Interaction between recreation and angling in its simplest form takes place (as it is seen in the model) either directly, or indirectly through water environment or commercial fishery.

Direct effect of recreation on angling is expressed mainly by the “discovery” of the values of angling in the course of general recreational activities. This results from the extremely strong attractiveness of water environment with respect to recreation. Our pilot studies showed that permanent recreational facilities are found in more than 44 percent of the area, and 13 percent of the lakes. Direct connexion between recreation and angling is also expressed by the location of lakes. In most cases attention is being given to lakes with permanent recreational facilities. It should, however, also be remembered that for a number of anglers which look mainly for peace and silence, this may be a negative feature.

Negative impact of recreation on angling may also occur during the period between the “discovery” of the values of angling and the legalization of the angling activities. During that period in Poland fishing is considered illegal or as poaching. Almost 36 percent of the State Fish Farms, analysed in the course of our pilot study, connect the development of recreation with poaching. Although the term “poaching”, according to Fig. 2, is not meant here as a totally negative activity, the opinion of State Fish Farms should be noted.

This is also strictly connected with an indirect effect of recreation on angling, occurring through commercial fishery. This effect is of factual, as well as of psychological, character. The factual effect is expressed mainly by negative impacts of recreational activities on commercial fishery. For example, all State Fish Farms analysed state that the development of recreation, on and close to the lakes, makes the use of trap and gillnets totally impossible. As the Fish Farms reported, these nets are being destroyed (mainly by boats), displaced or even stolen. It is obvious that the resulting impossibility of carrying out rational fishery management affects the fish resources negatively and, consequently, also angling. The psychological effect results from the fact that the general opinion connects poaching with the development of recreation. Taking into account relationships existing between recreation and angling, it is well understood that poaching is also being connected with angling. Forty-six percent of the State Fish Farms analysed mention the latter connexion. Consequently, in many cases angling is unfavourably looked upon and becomes a source of misunderstanding between SFF and PAA. This misunderstanding, however, is becoming less and less frequent due to the fact that rapid development of recreational activities, through their impact on water environment, affects negatively both commercial fishery and angling.

Negative effect of recreation on angling consists mainly of water pollution by motor boats. State Fish Farms state that pollution resulting from the use of motorboats is noted on 30 percent of the total area of lakes. Although, for the time being, the level of pollution is not too high, it is certain that it will increase in future and may become dangerous.

In my opinion the interactions between recreation and angling point to the necessity of undertaking proper studies in this field.

3.2 Status of Water Environment and Angling

Direct or indirect effects of the status of water environment on angling are commonly known and do not need any detailed explanations. It is, however, worth mentioning that in all activities connected with the protection of water environment, too little attention is paid to economic aspects of the problem, and to the possibility of using economic calculations. It is necessary to undertake studies on the economic aspects of the protection of water environment and landscaping. Such studies should be introduced into the cost/benefit calculations. These difficult problems require the collaboration of many specialists from various fields, but, nevertheless, their solution is an unquestionable necessity.

3.3 Commercial Fishery and Angling

Apart from the indirect relations existing between commercial fishery and angling, it seems advisable to carry out a more detailed analysis of the direct connexions between the two activities. In Poland, lake fishery constitutes the main field of common interest of commercial fishery and angling, hence this discussion will be restricted to lakes.

From about 400 000 ha of inland waters suitable for angling, the Polish Anglers Association utilizes about 280 000 for recreation, out of which 58 percent consists of lakes managed by State Fish Farms. Members of the PAA utilize over 57 percent of the total area of lakes belonging to State Fish Farms. It is quite understandable that independent of common interests, such a situation gives rise to several conflicts worsened by the fact that there exists a number of semi-legal and illegal anglers. At the same time, however, intensive activity of the PAA against various forms of poaching, and restrictions directed toward anglers not belonging to the PAA, semi-legal and illegal, on one hand, and the same kind of activity of SFF against semi-legal and illegal anglers on the other, integrates the interests of both institutions.

The closest cooperation between the PAA and State Fish Farms is noted with respect to the activities directed against water pollution. It can even be stated that the activity of the PAA in this field is more consistent than that of the State Fish Farms, mainly because PAA utilize rivers more polluted than lakes. For example, on the PAA initiative, emergency stations of environmental pollution were established at the existing Polish centres of environmental research and control. These emergency stations are equipped with the so-called “green telephones” operating 24 hours daily, and anyone who notices severe water pollution can notify the station. This is but one example of the fruitful activity of the PAA in this field.

Maximum interaction between commercial and recreational fishery is noted with respect to water management and its final purpose - fish catching. From the production point of view, angling, independent of its recreational values, can be regarded as a specific form of exploitation; a form of obtaining fish and certainly not an unimportant one. The PAA data are based on questionnaire studies carried out among about 38 percent of the PAA members. According to the estimates of State Fish Farms, the level of the anglers' catches reaches about 40 percent of that of the commercial catches, while according to the PAA, this percentage amounts to about 38 percent. Anglers' catches on the lakes, expressed in kg of fish per one ha, amount to over 10 kg/ha, and hence it reaches a rather significant level. Moreover, the State Fish Farms counted also what they call poachers' catches. Adding these numbers to the above figures, the total catch of anglers amounts to 52 percent of the commercial catch, and to 14 kg of fish per one ha of lake area. Marginally, it should be noted that the catch of local anglers, estimated on the basis of our pilot study, is almost 80 percent higher than the catch of visiting anglers. This result fully agrees with the data on the negative impact of local and visiting anglers, presented in Table 2, and obtained in a totally different way. This consistent result is clearly visible also in the three regions; in region I the anglers' catch amounts to about 30 percent of commercial catch (see Table 1), while in region III it reaches over 80 percent.

Irrespective of the adopted approach, it is absolutely certain that recreational fishery is one of the factors lowering the effects of commercial fishery management. (The author wishes to underline that in the above statement he consciously did not take into account cost/benefit calculation in its broad sense.) Negative effect of angling on the effectiveness of investments undertaken by State Fish Farms in the field of water management is well exemplified by eel stocking. Eel stocking in Poland is carried out by practically all State Fish Farms. Anglers' eel catches, however, amount to over 70 percent of the total eel catch of the State Fish Farms.

Conversely, the problem can also be looked upon from a recreational fishery point of view. From this point of view commercial fishery (independent of the intensification of fish production) restricts anglers' catches, either by prohibition, or by depleting fish resources through commercial exploitation.

To summarize, the whole problem could be reduced to absurdity by adopting two extreme attitudes; that of a commercial fisherman who thinks that recreational fishery should be totally liquidated, and of a recreational fisherman who thinks the same of commercial fishery. Complete lack of logic in these attitudes was already discussed in the author's paper presented at the First European Consultation on Economic Evaluation of Sport and Commercial Fisheries, 1972.

The most valuable and, correct principles as regards water environment are that water must be clean, that water must produce, and that water must be utilized for recreation, angling included. This has been already satisfactorily recognized in Poland.

This recognition is expressed in our legislation, being now either put into effect, or in an advanced stage of preparation, aimed at optimal fulfilment of these principles. The author summarizes only the most relevant points of this legislation. First of all, mention should be made of the new angling legislation adopted by the PAA for all waters, and of the legislation concerning angling on waters exploited by SFF.

The most important point in the legislation concerning waters exploited by SFF is the proposal of dividing these waters into three categories:

-    waters assigned to very intensive commercial fishery, or fish culture, where angling will be totally prohibited. It is planned that the surface area of such waters will be relatively small.

-    waters with intensive fishery management, partially open for angling. State Fish Farms will issue limited angling permits on these waters. It is planned that such waters will occupy a medium surface area.

-    waters generally open, with an unlimited number of anglers. This type of waters will occupy the largest area.

Another type of legislation worth paying attention to is that aimed at the protection of fish resources on one hand, and the true anglers on the other as opposed to “pot-hunters”, who try to catch as many fishes as possible as if seized with a special mania for records. This legislation limits the level of daily catches.

The legislation covers regulations issued by the PAA, and the proposal prepared by State Fish Farms. They differ only slightly, generally adopting the following principles: (a) daily limits per species caught and total number, (b) daily weight limits.

Further new legislation deals with variable angling fees, periodic angling licences and, finally, with a special permit for angling under the ice.

It is difficult to state now whether this legislation will stand the test in practice, but for the time being it seems to be satisfactory.

The above legislation regulates, among other things, the relation between the two apparently competitive activities, i.e., commercial and recreational fishery; “apparently” because, although the recent years are characterized by a rapid development of angling, commercial fishery production has also increased. Facts are facts, and they prove that the co-existence of both activities is not only possible, but necessary.

4. POLISH ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

The Polish Anglers Association is the only angler organization in Poland. This very large organization (over half a million members) carries out a variety of activities. Although some were mentioned, it is appropriate to illustrate a few more. The social structure of member anglers is as follows:

Members of the PAA are organized in groups. In 1974 the number of these groups exceeded 1 300. The percentage of country people (peasants) in the PAA is rather low, less than 6 percent. At the same time, the so-called “local” anglers originate mainly from among these people. The Polish Anglers Association is trying to incorporate this social group into its framework.

Notwithstanding the variety of the PAA activities, they are generally carried out in two main directions: (a) sport and tourism, and (b) fishery and angling management. The range of these activities can be illustrated by the following 1974 statistics:

-    185 000 people participated in various sport angling competitions organized by the PAA;

-    241 000 people participated in almost 10 000 touristic and angling excursions;

-    PAA owns 43 recreational and touristic centres with accommodation for almost 1 000 people;

-    78 000 ha of waters are managed by the PAA;

-    300 000 ha of waters are supervised and protected by the “social guards” of the PAA;

-    PAA carries out important stocking of rainbow trout, brook trout and salmon;

-    PAA produces its own stocking material (over 5 kg of stocking material per 1 ha of utilized waters);

-    PAA carries out where necessary commercial exploitation on the waters it manages.

Normally, commercial fishery exploitation results in three functions, viz: it provides marketable fish; is used as a management measure and constitutes a source of information on the state of exploited fish stock (population). The first function is of course restricted to a minimum. Nevertheless, purposeful commercial exploitation, used as a management measure and for the assessment of fish stock, is now considered as a necessary economic activity.

5. CONCLUSIONS

1. In Poland angling is becoming an increasingly recognized form of recreational activity and the subject of broad interest;

2. In the recent years, development of angling is increasing by about 10 percent yearly;

3. The total number of anglers in Poland amounts to about 1.9 million. Of this over 0.5 million are members of the Polish Anglers Association;

4. The progression from poacher to legal angler most frequently follows the pattern of general recreation, illegal angling recreation, legal angling recreation;

5. Angling activity on Polish lakes is performed by local anglers, 34.3 percent, visiting anglers, 61.4 percent and foreigners, 4.3 percent; 83.1 percent of these are members of the PAA, and 16.9 percent anglers are not in the PAA. From another point of view, 54.9 percent are considered legal anglers, 27.8 percent semi-legal and 17.3 percent illegal anglers;

6. According to SFF, the strongest negative impact on fishery management is noted in the case of local anglers, semi-legal anglers and members of the PAA;

7. The fish species preferred by anglers are: pike, eel, roach, perch and pike-perch, in that order;

8. There is a close relationship and interaction between commercial fishery, angling and recreation;

9. Recreation in its broad sense stimulates the development of angling. However, taking account of its negative impact on commercial fishery and the risks of water pollution, it can have a negative effect on angling;

10. It is estimated that anglers catch as much as 40 percent of commercial catches of State Fish Farms in lakes;

11. Conflicts between commercial and recreational fishery have, in the recent years, decreased because of the satisfactory development of both activities. This is confirmed by the fruitful cooperation existing between them.

12. The general principles that water must be clean, that it must produce and that it must be utilized for recreation are being seriously adhered to in Poland.

13. The legislation currently introduced in Poland is aimed at regulating, among other things, the numerous links between commercial and recreational fishery and at stimulating a sound development of the two activities.

14. The Polish Anglers Association should be treated as an institution of high importance.

15. It seems necessary to further study the following problems:

    1. estimating the number of illegal anglers (an elaboration of a proper methodical approach);

    2. the impact of different categories of anglers on lakes;

    3. elaborating a model which would integrate all knowledge of needs and preferences of different types of anglers, paying attention to geographical, natural and economic conditions (in cooperation with sociologists, psychologists, economists, ecologists, geographers, etc.);

    4. the interactions between recreation and angling;

    5. the economic aspects of water environment protection (using economic value of recreational fishery in cost/benefit calculations).

16. It is necessary to define basic terms connected with recreational fishery, such as for example “angler”, “sport fisherman”, “poacher”, “local angler”, etc., at least in order to be able to compare the data from different countries. To fulfil this need it would be advisable to establish an ad hoc working party during the next EIFAC Session.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Mrs. M. Bnińska for her kind help in preparing this report and to Mr. J. Paladino from the Polish Anglers Association for supplying the author with the necessary data.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3 Preferences and needs of recreational anglers

Figure 4