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Research Report: The Economic Impact of Game and Coarse Angling in Scotland

3 The Survey of Anglers and the Angler Database

3.1 Introduction

As outlined in Section 1.4, the angler survey sought to estimate:

• The average expenditure per angler day for each of the 28 region/fishery combinations; and

• The estimated expenditure diverted as anglers pursue substitute activity if a particular choice' region/fishery combination were not available.

By itself, the angler survey is simply not designed to estimate aggregates such as the total number of anglers, total catch, total expenditure etc. In this study, the angler survey seeks, for each region/fishery combination, to collect observations on angler days, primarily to provide estimates of expenditure per day. These estimates are scaled using information from the owner survey. In the angler survey, the relevant population is the number of angler days for each region/fishery combination and not the number of anglers.

3.2 Survey Instruments

The angler questionnaires were sectionalised by fishing type. If an angler had engaged in salmon and brown trout angling then his/her questionnaire should have generated observations on a typical angler day on two types of fishing. Three survey instruments were employed. These are outlined below:

• An electronic questionnaire was developed and published on the Web. Most of the angling periodicals and a few of the national papers carried favourable editorial comment and advertised the URL. Hotlinks on specialist angling sites both in the UK and overseas were also obtained. This was very important in ensuring that both overseas anglers and particular niche markets were aware of the web-based questionnaire;

• The second instrument was a paper version that was produced and distributed via fishing clubs, proprietors, tackle shop etc. The whole questionnaire was fitted on one A3 sheet folded to A4 and accompanied by an explanatory letter, information and a stamped addressed envelope. Respondents themselves were asked to identify 3 region/species combinations fished and the daily expenditure associated with each. A total of 920 questionnaires were sent to fisheries, clubs and shops; 32.3% were returned. Publicity in the fishing and national press provided the backdrop and the managers were asked to emphasise the importance of the study; and

• Finally, there was some limited on-site survey work with 71 questionnaires completed in the Shin and Spey catchment. The standard paper questionnaire was utilised although all combinations necessarily were located in the Highlands. The dominant species was salmon.

The resulting database consists of over 3000 observations which were analysed as 28 fishery/region combinations. Table 3.2.1 shows the distribution of responses across the fishery/region combinations.

The only problem areas are rainbow and coarse fish angling in the Western and Northern Isles and salmon and sea trout in Orkney and Shetland.

3.3 Angler Database

The database has the capacity to provide information in a number of dimensions including, by species (four), by region (seven), by expenditure category (13) and by angler origin (13).

Thus for example, expenditure per angler day is available for:

• All angler days in Scotland;

• Each type of fishing in Scotland (e.g. coarse anglers days in Scotland);

• Each type of fishing by region (e.g. brown trout angler's days in The Borders);

• Expenditure category by each fishing type by region (e.g. expenditure on permits on rainbow trout anglers days in Central Scotland);

• Expenditure category by each fishing type by region by angler origins (e.g. accommodation on salmon and sea trout angler days in the Highlands by anglers from North America).

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