Recreational sea fishing monitoring Belgium

Europe states that each member state's recreational fishing catches should be mapped. Notwithstanding that the catches of Belgian recreational sea fishing will by no means be comparable in absolute numbers to those of our neighbouring countries (France, United Kingdom, Netherlands) and the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, this data collection activity should also be carried out in Belgium. This is not necessarily perceived as a negative. After all, based on this data, the Belgian recreational sea fishing sector is able to prove in black and white how many fish are caught at species level. Furthermore, the recreational sea fishing sector benefits from tailor-made regulations that are geared to reality and not based on assumptions and prejudices. The VLIZ and ILVO joined forces to come up with an objective and scientifically based catch estimate in a transparent manner and in close cooperation with the recreational sea angling sector. In this way, recreational sea anglers (including beach anglers) can make a crucial contribution to a scientifically based policy.