There is a lack of national scale robust data on the motivations and behaviours of recreational fishers or of the social and economic contribution of recreational fishing. Such data would be useful for informing discussions on resource allocation and in understanding and managing recreational fisheries more generally.

This study aims to implement and test methodologies to provide a robust and representative sampling of recreational fishing while simultaneously reducing costs to allow for more regular data gathering.

The project will:

• use multiple methods to assess the social and economic contribution of recreational fishing;
• which approaches to surveying produce the most representative and robust results; and
• recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective survey method to use to track change social and economic aspects of recreational fishing.