Denmark embarks on three-year project to put fishing on a par with football

At a time when getting youngsters away from their electronic devices and into recreational fishing is at the top of the agenda for the industry worldwide, Denmark has started a three-year project to do just that.

The Danish Angling Association has launched ‘Anglers for the Future’, an initiative to motivate more children and young people to appreciate nature and engage in fishing. It is supported by the Danish Outdoor Council (above), which is bankrolling the scheme to the tune of DKK 2.5m (EUR 340,000)

The long-term objective of the project is ambitious – it wants to ensure that angling is considered as a natural choice as a leisure activity by Danish youngsters ‘on a par with football, swimming or other general activities’ according to Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund, the country’s member of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA).

“In times of digitalisation when children and young people have never been less in nature, there is a need to strengthen efforts to encourage them to grab a fishing rod and get outside. Danish angling is under pressure in many ways, including an aquatic environment in poor condition and a pressured association life,” said Torben Kaas, Chairman of Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund.

“The project will have a primary goal to modernise and reorganise the children’s youth work in Danish angling in a completely new way. It will improve general accessibility to angling through physical and digital efforts as well as enhanced regional social networks and bridge building efforts between different generations. To do so, the project will consult with Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbunds’s Junior Committee, Instructors’ Association and a newly established youth panel.”

The Anglers for the Future project has been inspired by an internal survey among all members of Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund, in which they called for a need for generational renewal. More than 26 member associations expressed a desire to start a junior department and 16 want to further develop and strengthen their already existing ones.

A central part of the project will be to strengthen and develop the framework of the associations in regards to its work with children. “Danish angling associations are very much the backbone of Danish angling. They put ten of thousands of hours in water and fish care and ensure access to fishing at a fair price.

“With that commitment, we are looking forward to working with the associations to get more young people out to fish and also become an active part of association life. Training and organisation of volunteers, development of new activity concepts and a significant digital presence will be some of the cornerstones of the project. Hopefully, it can also end up inspiring other outdoor associations, thus fulfilling our common ambitions to get more children and young people out into nature,” added Kaas.

Pictures: Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund.