letter ref angling survey

heres the reply given by the ifi to an email sent to the senateDear Senator O’ Domhnaill,

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you on this one, I had assumed that response issues and then Easter intervened. In response to your query the following is the situation from IFI’s perspective, similar to the CEFAS standpoint outlined in the link on your email, IFI requires evidence-based information on which to base its plans and actions in order to achieve its remit under the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. The survey results will provide information for the medium to long-term development of angling in Ireland and the maximisation of the tourism offering.

In short, the survey is part of the delivery of our corporate plan, it covers all disciplines of angling for wild fish in Ireland, it is not part of ‘Our Ocean Wealth’, but will inform it on completion and while we have partners involved (Failte Ireland (FI)), CEFAS are not partners in this project as it only relates to the Republic of Ireland.

1. Inland Fisheries Ireland – Corporate Plan 2011 - 2015
Goal 3 : “ To have more anglers”
IFI recognises the significant contribution made by domestic and visiting anglers to the Irish economy and also as stewards of the environment. However we have no measure of angler participation or economic benefits accruing. A key element of being able to grow the number of anglers is about understanding ‘how many there are’, ‘who they are’, ‘why they fish’, ‘why they don’t fish’ and where the potential growth areas are.
The delivery of this part of our Corporate Plan, and being able to report on our productivity relies on having baseline figures. Therefore we have commissioned this survey to understand our customers and their contribution to Ireland’s economy and to provide a road map for future development.
2. Angling in Ireland
IFI conserves, manages, protects, develops and promotes inland fisheries and the sea angling resource. All disciplines of angling are therefore covered by the survey. The survey comprises a household survey section which aims to ascertain the numbers in the general population who fish, have fished, may fish, the value they place on the resource etc and also an angler survey section. The angler survey will be undertaken at 50 locations nationwide, at appropriate times and cover salmon, sea trout, brown trout, coarse fish, pike, sea angling and bass. Anglers’ participation is key to the survey and Tourism Development Ireland (TDI) will make every effort to facilitate anglers to complete the survey.
3. Our Ocean Wealth
As you are aware ‘Our Ocean Wealth’ contains references to IFI and also to the many surveys which inform its views in relation to angling amongst other water tourism products. However, no similar survey has been undertaken in Ireland and the outcome of this survey will inform IFI, our partners and Government in relation to the extent and value of angling in Ireland, the growth areas and those areas needing development. TO be clear the survey being undertaken by IFI is not in response to an EU Directive but from a clear business need to develop a fundamental understanding of the sector and its dynamics.
4. Partners
IFI and Failte Ireland/Tourism Ireland are partners in Angling Tourism Marketing and we work closely to promote angling in Ireland. IFI attend shows, hosts journalists visits, produce angling brochures and provide angling information via websites, e-zines, FACEBOOK etc, some of these initiatives are supported by FI. We also work with FI in relation to destination marketing within Ireland. FI are providing high level information from their ‘Survey of International Travellers’ data and their economists have contributed to the formulation of the survey questionnaires.
Waterways Ireland(WI) are also considering participating with IFI to extend the survey to include accommodation providers etc.
5. EU Data Collection Framework and EU Control Regulation
IFI already support The Marine Institute with regard to the data collection as required in relation to bass angling. Information from Charter Boats is not the subject of this survey. Information on the survey is at http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Press-re ... onomy.html

Please do not hesitate to drop me a line should you require further information
Kind Regards

Ciaran Byrne

the survey is only been done at 50 locations nation wide if they wanted the whole picture why not a national survey?

With all the charges stealth and otherwise they are placing on all of us, (just learnt they intend to charge every household in the State €300 to install the water meters)... so I aint helping ANY government agency, on the simple thinking that ..I dont trust them!

With all the charges stealth and otherwise they are placing on all of us, (just learnt they intend to charge every household in the State €300 to install the water meters)... so I aint helping ANY government agency, on the simple thinking that ..I dont trust them!

Thanks!

Just for info, most of the people who are involved in this in IFI are anglers themselves, and have the same issues with lack of fish, commercial pressure, etc as you do, however we also have issues with lack of funding, lack of support (see your post above) and lack of political support. The only way to change all of these is to be able to show how important angling is to this country - and for that we need statistics. So you don't have to co-operate with the survey, that's your right, but don't go equating us with politicians increasing taxes, charges, etc. And refusing to engage is just shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to representing angling against commercial pressures.

brandan do you work for ifi?

brandan do you work for ifi?

>snigger.<

Didn't you know that?

The problem here exists in the reply - not with Bradan, not with Twinkle or any other anglers, lets not divide ourselves unnecessarily - in reality ask yourself the questions you know you want to based on the reply then phrase them in such a way so it wont be interpreted as criticism - else it may lead to defensiveness or worse exclusion!

the survey is only been done at 50 locations nation wide if they wanted the whole picture why not a national survey?

I agree, although if they let people know in advance were these locations are, then i think they should cover every county thats on the coastline, which means that they should have a minimum of 2-3 locations for each county. ( R.O.I) I think that way then everyone that wants to take part can without excessive distances to be travelled. Personally i think its a good idea to maybe get the chance for a face to face conversation with some of the officials instead of phonecalls.

one point i think needs to be made about sea anglers.most of us dont hit the beaches untill evening time so how will these sea anglers be involved ? and if there is only 50 points how many will be given to the sea angling cause?why not post out questionaires to all households like the cenus .tds have no problem sending us christmas cards telling us what a good job there doing.

brandan do you work for ifi?

Yes. I post here in a personal capacity though.

brandan do you work for ifi?

>snigger.<

Didn't you know that?

I thought the "we" in my first post was pretty obvious alright. No need for the sniggers now!

the survey is only been done at 50 locations nation wide if they wanted the whole picture why not a national survey?

I agree, although if they let people know in advance were these locations are, then i think they should cover every county thats on the coastline, which means that they should have a minimum of 2-3 locations for each county. ( R.O.I) I think that way then everyone that wants to take part can without excessive distances to be travelled. Personally i think its a good idea to maybe get the chance for a face to face conversation with some of the officials instead of phonecalls.

The survey is being carried out by Tourism Development International under contract from IFI. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few years, you'll be aware that funding is extremely scarce these days, hence the scope of the survey. They can't ask every angler in the country for their views, they can't send a questionnaire to every house, the money for that just isn't there.
They are doing face to face interviews in many areas - liaising with IFI staff to identify the optimum locations for meeting the most anglers at one time. They are also doing follow-up phone interviews with people who either haven't the time to do a face-to-face interview at the time, or with people who have been contacted and asked for their views.

TL;DR: There isn't enough money to do more than 50 locations or survey every household.

With all the charges stealth and otherwise they are placing on all of us, (just learnt they intend to charge every household in the State €300 to install the water meters)... so I aint helping ANY government agency, on the simple thinking that ..I dont trust them!

Thanks!

Just for info, most of the people who are involved in this in IFI are anglers themselves, and have the same issues with lack of fish, commercial pressure, etc as you do, however we also have issues with lack of funding, lack of support (see your post above) and lack of political support. The only way to change all of these is to be able to show how important angling is to this country - and for that we need statistics. So you don't have to co-operate with the survey, that's your right, but don't go equating us with politicians increasing taxes, charges, etc. And refusing to engage is just shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to representing angling against commercial pressures.

Bradan, I would have no problem with a spokeperson stating our issues, but to know that this information will go and feed into a resource of a rod licence is just fool hardy. The wealth of information anglers have about our own environment is beyond par. We know the grounds people fish off by a simple picture of sand, grass, or gravel. the colour of the stones.. (seriously though i think some of us here should be part of CSI!!) I didnt mean to offend you and rope you in with our beloved failed politicians (they are unto a class of their own!!) , But the information provided by anglers will go to that direction.

With everything I am paying now, increased bills, new stealth taxes, etc its really putting pressure on my fishing days in the sense whether or not I can afford to go out, (hence why i posted in another thread about Pertol Prices). Add to this the thoughts of a rod licence means i would be totally screwed! and would mean for me to pack away my rods for the foreseeable future. Does that seem fair to you?