How can recreational fisheries be developed? A few suggestions for reference

The question of how to develop our country's recreational fisheries attracted great attention from the relevant departments many years ago. In its 2000 fisheries development goals, the Fisheries Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture clearly stated: it is necessary to adapt to changes in the consumer market and actively develop recreational fisheries in places where conditions permit. Subsequently, recreational fisheries have developed in some areas of our country.

Relevant experts point out that recreational and ornamental fisheries, as a new phenomenon emerging in the process of fisheries structural adjustment, are still at the primary stage, and there are still problems such as incomplete facilities and related services that cannot keep up. For various reasons, our country currently has relatively few large-scale recreational venues that combine ornamental fishing, angling (catching), accommodation, dining and entertainment. Accordingly, in order to vigorously develop recreational fisheries, the following suggestions are put forward:

I. Formulate a development plan for recreational fisheries

Experts suggest that in planning the layout for developing recreational fisheries in our country, it should be combined with the construction of tourist attractions and with the construction of modern fisheries and agricultural demonstration parks, and that recreational angling fisheries should be developed in scenic tourist areas nationwide and in the inner suburbs of large and medium-sized cities. In tourist scenic areas around large and medium-sized cities, existing water surface resources should be used to build recreational scenic areas integrating sightseeing, angling and leisure; in reservoir and lake areas, projects such as cage angling, boating, speedboating and fisher family leisure can be carried out; in aquaculture bases in the inner suburbs, recreational fisheries such as angling and catching experiences can be developed. In terms of operation, the simple model of single production and single angling should be broken, using fisheries to attract customers and tertiary industry services to create benefits; implement a combination of long-term and short-term approaches and a combination of raising and angling, with raising as the main focus in the initial stage of development, angling as the main focus and raising as a supplement in the inner suburbs, and angling as a supplement and raising as the main focus in the outer suburbs, continuously expanding service functions and increasing benefits.

Select some important ports and tourist areas in a planned way, issue some preferential policies, mobilize social forces, have social organizations come forward, raise some funds, and pilot leisure markets for direct sales of fishery products, so as to better arrange labor in fishing areas, attract customers and tourists, invigorate the market and increase fishermen's income.

Develop angling and entertainment projects in the suburbs of towns and cities

It is necessary to use existing aquaculture sites as the basis, arrange them rationally, improve various service facilities, including dining, entertainment, hotels, transportation, and the supply of fishing tackle and bait as well as technical services, and create an elegant activity environment for fishing enthusiasts, striving to change the current situation in which some urban residents want to fish but have nowhere to go, or have somewhere to fish but the environment is poor and the services are incomplete.

II. Establish a number of sea fishing bases

Establish in a planned way a number of sea fishing bases with excellent environmental conditions and relatively complete service facilities, to attract domestic and overseas tourists and fishing enthusiasts to come and carry out fishing activities. In establishing sea fishing bases, in addition to building fishing docks (combined with cage aquaculture), it is necessary to combine decommissioned old fishing boats with the construction of "recreational fishing reefs." In this way, it both solves the problem of finding an outlet for old fishing boats and helps protect and increase fishery resources, and creates good angling venues for the sea fishing tourism industry.

III. Actively develop tourism in coastal fishing areas

After many years of development, our country's coastal fishing areas have taken on a completely new look and have very good tourism resources. After coastal fishing villages in the Yantai and Weihai areas and in the cities of Dalian, Zhoushan, Ningbo, Xiamen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and others were opened to tourism, domestic and overseas tourists all gave very good evaluations. For these fishing areas and islands with good economic development, convenient transportation and greatly improved fishing village appearances, they should be made key tourist spots, kept open to the outside all year round, and developed with distinctive features, combining sightseeing with tasting seafood flavors.

IV. Launch maritime tourism and sightseeing activities

Maritime tourism and sightseeing includes sea excursions, sea fishing, underwater fish viewing and island tourism. To launch these projects, first, there must be relatively good tourist boat and vessel equipment and strict safety measures; second, sightseeing and entertainment items must be provided. Building these projects requires relatively large investment and is fairly demanding in technical sophistication, so they should be launched gradually according to conditions. Where conditions are lacking or not yet mature, it is not advisable to rush into them.