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Abstract

Assessing the Economic Value of Inland Angling Competitions: A Case Study from Portugal †

by
João Gago
1,2,3,*,‡,
Miguel Macário
1,2,
Vanda Andrade
1,2,4,5,
Paula Ruivo
1,2,4,
Maria Oliveira
1,4,
João Oliveira
1,2,6,
Filipe Ribeiro
3,7 and
Abigail Lynch
8
1
School of Agriculture, Santarém Polytechnic University, Quinta do Galinheiro—S. Pedro, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
2
Research Center in Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Santarém Polytechnic University, Quinta do Galinheiro—S. Pedro, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
3
Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE) & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
4
Life Quality Research Center (CIEQV), Santarém Polytechnic University, Complexo Andaluz, Apartado 279, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
5
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
6
cE3c–Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
7
Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
8
U.S. Geological Survey, National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the XI Iberian Congress of Ichthyology, Vila Real, Portugal, 23–27 June 2026.
‡
Presenting author (Oral Presentation).
Proceedings 2026, 146(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026146051
Published: 17 June 2026
Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction: Competitive sport angling is a specialized form of recreational fishing in which participants compete in tournaments throughout the year to obtain annual rankings. In Portugal, competitive anglers may exhibit high levels of engagement and expenditure, yet the economic relevance of this activity remains poorly documented. Objective: This study aimed to assess the economic value of inland competitive angling competitions in Portugal. Methodology: Data on anglers’ annual expenditures were collected through a web-based questionnaire distributed in April 2025 by the Portuguese Federation of Sport Angling to 1,230 registered federated anglers. A total of 193 valid responses were obtained, including information on socio-demographic characteristics, angling modalities, and fishing locations, as well as expenditures on fishing equipment, travel, meals, accommodation, and willingness to pay (WTP) to ensure fish availability during competitions. Results: Extrapolation of the results to the national federated inland angler population suggests an estimated annual direct expenditure of approximately €6.7 million, ranging from €4.2 million to €9.2 million. Fishing equipment (e.g., rods, reels, boats, kayaks, and paniers) accounted for the largest share of expenditures, followed by travel, meals, and accommodation. Expenditure patterns varied according to age, angling modality, years of competitive experience, and participation in both inland and marine competitions. Most respondents (62.7%) reported being unwilling to pay additional amounts to guarantee fish availability, arguing that this responsibility should fall on the state and competition organizers given the fees already paid. Conclusions: Inland competitive sport angling appears to make a relevant contribution to economic activity associated with tourism and leisure services in Portugal and should therefore be considered in the management of inland water resources.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, J.G. and F.R.; methodology, J.G., M.M., V.A., P.R., M.O., J.O., F.R. and A.L.; software, M.M. and V.A.; validation, J.G., M.M., V.A., P.R., M.O., J.O., F.R. and A.L.; formal analysis, J.G., M.M., V.A., P.R., M.O., J.O., F.R. and A.L.; investigation, J.G., M.M. and V.A.; resources, J.G., M.M. and F.R.; data curation, M.M. and V.A.; writing—original draft preparation, J.G.; writing—review and editing, J.G., M.M., V.A., P.R., M.O., J.O., F.R. and A.L.; visualization, J.G., M.M. and V.A.; supervision, J.G., F.R. and A.L.; project administration, J.G.; funding acquisition, J.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), grant number 2023.12757.PEX under the project “INFISHERIES.PT From hook to bank account: assessing the unknown economic value of inland fisheries in Portugal https://doi.org/10.54499/2023.12757.PEX.

Institutional Review Board Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the RESEARCH UNIT OF THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF SANTAREM (protocol code Nº21-2025ESAS, 22 May 2025).

Informed Consent Statement

This questionnaire is aimed at sport competitive anglers and seeks to gather information on the costs associated with recreational fishing in freshwater in Portugal, with the aim of estimating its economic value. Your participation is voluntary and you may stop the questionnaire at any time. Furthermore, we guarantee that all data will be treated anonymously and confidentially (your email address, name or address will not be recorded) and no information processed or published in this study will allow you to be identified. This data will be safeguarded by the Project Coordinator (João Gago—joao.gago@esa.ipsantarem.pt) and will be retained for a maximum period of 5 years, after which it will be completely destroyed.

Data Availability Statement

Available upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Gago, J.; Macário, M.; Andrade, V.; Ruivo, P.; Oliveira, M.; Oliveira, J.; Ribeiro, F.; Lynch, A. Assessing the Economic Value of Inland Angling Competitions: A Case Study from Portugal. Proceedings 2026, 146, 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026146051

AMA Style

Gago J, Macário M, Andrade V, Ruivo P, Oliveira M, Oliveira J, Ribeiro F, Lynch A. Assessing the Economic Value of Inland Angling Competitions: A Case Study from Portugal. Proceedings. 2026; 146(1):51. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026146051

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gago, João, Miguel Macário, Vanda Andrade, Paula Ruivo, Maria Oliveira, João Oliveira, Filipe Ribeiro, and Abigail Lynch. 2026. "Assessing the Economic Value of Inland Angling Competitions: A Case Study from Portugal" Proceedings 146, no. 1: 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026146051

APA Style

Gago, J., Macário, M., Andrade, V., Ruivo, P., Oliveira, M., Oliveira, J., Ribeiro, F., & Lynch, A. (2026). Assessing the Economic Value of Inland Angling Competitions: A Case Study from Portugal. Proceedings, 146(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026146051

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