sportvisserij

Sportvisserij, or recreational fishing, is fishing undertaken for leisure, sport, or personal enjoyment rather than for commercial harvest. It typically uses rods, reels, lines, hooks, and various baits or lures and can take place on rivers, lakes, seas, or coastal waters. Participants may fish from shore, from boats, or from platforms, and activities range from casual angling to organized competitions and training programs.

National and regional bodies represent sportfishers to authorities, help shape policy, and manage the sport through licensing, seasons, size and bag limits, and catch-and-release guidelines. They often coordinate with scientists to monitor fish populations and habitat quality, support conservation and restoration projects, and promote ethical angling practices. In many countries, local clubs and regional federations organize events, provide instruction, and foster a community around the sport. In the Netherlands, Sportvisserij Nederland (SVN) acts as the national umbrella organization.

Economically and culturally, sportvisserij contributes through gear sales, tourism, and related services, while environmentally it emphasizes sustainable harvest, habitat protection, and biodiversity. It also serves as a platform for education and youth engagement, teaching skills such as casting, knot tying, and water stewardship.

Regulation varies by country and water body but commonly includes fishing licenses, seasonal closures, minimum sizes for kept fish, bag limits, protected species rules, and catch-and-release recommendations. Data from anglers on catches and effort can help management agencies assess stocks and inform policy.