Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund must back recreational sea angling

The Angling Trust is urging the UK Government to ensure that the new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund recognises and invests in recreational sea angling as a key part of the UK’s coastal communities – supporting jobs, wellbeing, and sustainability along our shores.

Recreational sea fishing supports over 15,000 jobs across the country and provides an important social lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people each year. Yet despite its economic, environmental, and community value, the sector has historically received very limited direct government investment.

Investing in Infrastructure and Access

Access to the sea is vital for anglers, charter skippers, and the small businesses that depend on them. The Angling Trust is calling for the new Fund to invest in coastal infrastructure, such as slipway repairs, disability-access pontoons, fish cleaning stations, and line recycling facilities, to provide practical improvements that make sea angling safer and more inclusive, while attracting visitors and supporting local tourism.

As much of our coastal infrastructure falls into disrepair and more ‘no angling’ zones appear along the coastline, accessing sea angling opportunities is becoming increasingly difficult. The Fund must offer a vital opportunity to reverse this decline and secure safe, affordable access for generations to come.

Sea angling is also a cornerstone of coastal tourism, with opportunities such as the catch-and-release recreational fishery for bluefin tuna attracting visitors from across the UK and abroad. By supporting charter operators, tackle shops, accommodation providers, and local businesses, the Fund could help unlock new blue economy opportunities and extend the tourism season in coastal towns.

Boosting Community Wellbeing and Connection

Recreational sea angling is increasingly important for improving mental health, social inclusion, and community cohesion in coastal areas. Through programmes such as Get Fishing for Wellbeing, We Fish as One, and Reel Education, the Angling Trust has shown how angling can help tackle health inequalities and engage people of all backgrounds.

The Fund could build on this success by supporting community angling hubs, coaching networks, and social prescribing initiatives, using angling to connect people with nature, reduce isolation, and improve wellbeing.

Building Skills, Opportunities, and Ocean Stewardship

Sea angling is also a powerful vehicle for connecting young people and others who have traditionally lacked access to our seas. By introducing ocean literacy and hands-on learning through angling, people gain a deeper understanding of marine life, sustainability, and the importance of healthy oceans.

Recreational sea angling provides an important gateway into marine and coastal careers, too. By supporting apprenticeships and modular training for young people and charter skippers, the Fund could help retain skills and talent in coastal areas while inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards.

Investing in Science and Sustainability

Recreational sea anglers are already vital contributors to marine science through citizen science projects like the Sea Angling Diary and collaborative research initiatives such as Pollack F.I.S.P. The Angling Trust has called for a dedicated research and evidence pillar within the Fund to support co-designed projects that improve understanding of fish stocks, angling motivations, and the social and economic value of sea angling.

Such investment would directly support the delivery of Fisheries Management Plans and ensure recreational fishing plays a full role in the sustainable management of UK seas.

A Call for Inclusion and Accessibility

The Angling Trust’s evidence stresses the importance of ensuring the new Fund is accessible, inclusive, and proportionate. Lessons from previous schemes, such as the UK Seafood Fund and the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, show that high match-funding requirements and complex applications often excluded smaller community organisations and charter operators.

Removing these barriers and ring-fencing funding for recreational sea angling would enable local projects to thrive and ensure benefits reach the communities that need them most.

Delivering World-Class Fisheries

With the right investment, the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund can help deliver world-class fisheries that balance thriving coastal economies with healthy seas. By recognising the value of recreational sea angling, the Fund can drive innovation, sustainability, and opportunity to make a real difference to our fisheries and coastal communities.

Hannah Rudd, Head of Marine at the Angling Trust, said:
“Recreational sea angling brings life, energy, and opportunity to our coastal communities, but it has been chronically underfunded for too long. The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is a chance to change that. By investing in angling infrastructure, community wellbeing, ocean literacy, and fisheries science, we can secure a vibrant, inclusive future for our coastal economies and marine environment alike.”