Anglers’ €0.75bn just tip of iceberg

This week’s government report that angling and angling tourism are worth over €0.75bn — and 10,000 rural jobs — to the economy every year is very welcome.

At a moment when every opportunity to generate revenue and create employment matters, it is doubly welcome because it puts a value on a resource threatened on so many fronts that it suggests we are negligent, indifferent custodians of a world-class resource.

Anyone familiar with Irish angling and threats it faces at sea and in our lakes or rivers would probably respond to the €0.75bn figure by wondering what the sector might be worth if it was managed, protected and respected properly.