The Anglers' Survey in England and Wales

This survey showed proved that, contrary to widespread opinion, angling was in a healthy state as a sport. More importantly, it also showed that a significant proportion of the UK population were interested in learning how to fish, and a very high proportion of people thought angling an acceptable pastime to follow, or at least that it did little harm.

The main statistics to come from the survey were that:

• 3.9 million people went fishing at least once in the last two years (2001) - 9% of the population over the age of 12 years
• a further 3.5 million showed some interest in learning how to fish (8% of  population); of these, the 12-44 years age group was the largest, particularly 35-44 years which are below the "grey market" and often referred to as the ideal marketing target
• 17% of the population of England and Wales over the age of 12 either fish already or would like to learn to fish
• 70 % of the population were happy that "angling is an acceptable pastime," while only 10% disagreed
• angling, and its associated businesses, produce a trade worth £3.3 billion per annum in the England and Wales

The reasons for potential anglers not taking up fishing were interesting:

• 44% had been fishing before, usually just once or twice, but had since lapsed
• "Having someone to go with" was the most commonly mentioned factor in attracting them back to the sport -33% of lapsed and 38% of new anglers
• "Places to fish and take children" was mentioned by 20% of potential new anglers
• "Knowing places to fish close to home" was mentioned by 23%
• "More fish in rivers and lakes" was next for lapsed anglers

source: Key findings from the UK Environments Agency's R and D technical report W2-060. (Diane Simpson & Guy Mawle, 2001)