Fishing on the Müritz: Economic engine for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania!

Fishing on the Müritz: Economic engine for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania!

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is increasingly developing into an attractive destination for anglers from all over Germany and beyond. The region impresses with around 2,000 lakes and a coastline of over 1,900 kilometers, which creates ideal conditions for sustainable fishing. This confirms Strelitzius, which points out that fishing tourism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania makes a significant economic contribution.

The economic importance of fishing can be seen, among other things, in the Angel Expo in Röbel an der Müritz, which is seen as a flagship for this industry. According to current figures, sea fishing generates a total production value of around 210 million euros annually. The sectors affected are diverse and include, among others, tourism, gastronomy, boat rental companies and specialist retailers.

Economic impact and challenges

The role of fishing as an economic factor is emphasized by Fisheries Minister Dr. Till Backhaus emphasizes. He supports local initiatives through donations, such as the recently presented notification of around 15,000 euros from the EMFAF to K-Sports & Events. This funding aims to strengthen events related to fishing tourism, in particular the Müritz Sail and the fishing and water sports EXPO. This project is supported by the Mecklenburg Lake District Inland Fisheries Local Action Group and is intended to further develop the region.

Every year around 8.7 million anglers come to Europe's coastal waters and spend around 5.9 billion euros Catapult MV writes. In Germany alone, maritime recreational fishing accounts for 176 million euros and 1,957 jobs. A particularly important aspect is the fishing holidays; An increase in this category shows the success of fishing in the region.

Catch quotas and their effects

But not everything goes as usual. The cod population in the Baltic Sea is considered to have collapsed, affecting both anglers and professional fishermen. EU regulations have led to strict fishing limits, which have a negative impact on fishing tourism. For example, as of this year, anglers are only allowed to take one cod per day, and there is a fishing ban for this species from January to March. These regulations have already led to a decline in requests for Baltic Sea fishing by more than 75 percent, which has an existential impact on many fishing guides.

Anglers, who spend an average of €900 per person per year on cod, question the economic impact of fishing quotas. However, some fishing guides are hoping for positive developments as the catch quota for other salmonids could be increased. It is also reported that anglers spend an average of 2,750 euros per year on salmon fishing, which is why the new regulations can also lead to loss of income here, particularly due to the discard mortality of caught salmon, which is estimated at 25 percent.

The challenges in fishing are now well known, but there are efforts to make fishing tourists aware of other fish species. Minister Backhaus announced that sustainable fisheries and water management as well as close cooperation between politics, associations and the population will be sought in order to secure the future development of fishing in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.