Promoting recreational fishing as tourism product
Published on: Sunday, August 21, 2022
By: Mohd Izham Hashim
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Fishing and boat platforms such as this one are plentiful along the waterways in Perth.
Far from being a popular pastime, recreational fishing or sportfishing is more than just a personal hobby that scales up to become a multi-billion-dollar industry in many developed countries such as Australia, the United States and New Zealand. In many of these countries, recreational fishing is a big engine in the economy because as an industry, recreational fishing provides a living for countless of people in business ranging from fishing tackle, accessories manufacturing, to travel and hospitality, to boat manufacturing.
To put this into perspective, a study by Recfishwest Australia issued in 2019 found that recreational fishers in Western Australia spent a staggering AUD$2.4 billion per year on fishing related activities such as fishing trips and travel, fishing gear, boat fishing and charters, as well as other expenses associated with their sport
A market study by Global Industry Analyst Inc., (GIA) on Sport Fishing Equipment, reported the global market for sportfishing equipment is estimated at US$13.2 billion in the year 2022, and is projected to peak US$15.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.4pc over the analysis period. Even in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, the global fishing industry is a broad market and is poised to maintain a stable growth rate in the coming years.
Coastal cities and towns in Sabah may benefit from construction of jetties as tourist attractions such as this one pictured at Busselton Jetty, Western Australia.
One day, beaches like Tanjung Aru would have jetty facilities for visitors to enjoy.Pictured is the Cogee Beach Jetty from Western Australia.
Busselton Jetty, Western Australia.
The state of Sabah, located in the middle of the twelve mega biodiversity hotspots, is renowned for its untamed, natural beauty abound with a plethora of marine and freshwater fisheries that has the potential to turn Sabah into one of the most exciting sportfishing destinations of the world.
However, unlocking this potential would require more aggressive measures from the state government to promote game fishing not only as a recreational lifestyle but also as a tourism activity which directly taps into one of Sabah’s clear strengths – its abundant fisheries and breath-taking scenic spots.
Developing Sabah’s recreational fishing industry
There has been plenty of discussions on finding ways to revive the state’s tourism industry in the post-pandemic era, but why ponder too hard when Sabah can rely on its greatest asset – the sea.
With no shortage of interest in the sport locally and nationally, initiatives to protect, promote and enhance fishing experiences can generate a vibrant industry which in turn generates revenue to the state economy.
Incorporating recreational fishing into the state’s tourism agenda can be the next important step to developing Sabah’s own recreational fishing industry.
The key to establishing a vibrant and thriving recreational fishing industry points to developing relevant strategies that enhance fishing experiences which among them include licensing and recreational fishing permits, zoning, guidelines and regulations for sustainable fisheries, facilities and infrastructure, as well as private sector investment and participation.
Licensing and recreational fishing permits
Fishing licences are more than just a fee which anglers need to fork-out money before they can engage in their favourite activity, nor is it designed to inhibit people from fishing. What it means to get a fishing license, it’s actually a way for anglers and boaters can give back to their favourite fishing spots and natural places.
The fee from fishing licenses is a tremendous source of revenue in many countries with an established recreational fishing industry. Not only it helps in the implementation of sustainable fisheries but the funds are needed to preserve and enhance waterways.
A substantial amount of revenue is channelled into restocking streams, rivers, lakes and ponds and other habitats with desirable fish species. Furthermore, the funds are also channelled towards habitat programmes which include clean-ups, creating artificial reefs and other fish habitats to facilitate spawning or river, stream or lake rehabilitation.
America, Australia and other countries in Europe have already implemented fishing licence to ensure anglers practise responsible fishing. The fee collected from anglers are then utilised to promote better recreational fishing through research and restocking of fish populations.
The improvement of fish habitats is crucial, every project counts to ensure sustainable fisheries because healthier fish stocks mean better fishing experiences. In habitats deficient of fish species, state agencies release hatchery-raised fish to keep these habitats well stocked so anglers can enjoy the benefits of healthy and sustainable fisheries.
Funds derived from licence fees may also be used to recruit game officials to make sure anglers adhere to regulations, such as bag and size limits, seasonality to allow fish to reach maturity to complete their breeding cycles, and other regional laws.
It would also be favourable for coastal establishments private or public infrastructure to grant permission to license recreational fishers to enjoy their pastime at designated fishing zones.
The role of recfish in sustainable fisheries in Sabah
Without sustainable, healthy and well-stocked fisheries, it would be hard to imagine establishing a recreational fishing industry in Sabah. Anglers around the world spend a great deal of time and money on fishing gear, transportation and lodging while some are willing to travel vast distances to duel with their target game fish. Incorporating recreational fishing as a tourism activity would allow Sabah to tap into a new target market, particularly domestic as well as anglers from overseas.
For anglers, there’s nothing quite like the sensation of a fish peeling away drag on the end of the line, however ensuring a sustainable fishery is fundamental to the future of the sport. As part of the commitment to sustainable fishery, many anglers want nothing more than the thrill of landing their catch, take a picture before releasing it back to their natural habitat.
Solid strike... A solid grouper taken on a jig while deepwater fishing off islands in Sabah.
Borneo Black Bass is the superpower of Borneo’s estuarine waterways lined with thick mangrove and nipah forests.
River Wolves... the Sebarau or Hampala is a prized game-fish which can be found in Sabah’s riverine environments.
The ethics behind catch-and-release fishing is a respected practice among anglers that also resonates with Sabah’s own traditional community custom known as the Tagal where fishes in rivers are maintained for a certain period of time before people are allowed to harvest them. Sabah has a wide array of native species of interest that could offer good game-fishing and therefore be the focus of conservation and sustainable practices.
Apart from the powerful pelagics that can be found in deeper waters, the Borneo Black Bass is one species that inhabit the estuaries, mangrove and coastal areas that is highly sought by anglers who dare push the limits of their fishing tackle. They pay a lot of money to hire experienced guides to take them to secluded locations to hunt for the fish.
The black bass or Lutjanus goldiei is a fearsome and powerful adversary and offer even the most experienced anglers a formidable challenge, it is known to smash fishing gears and branded tackle is of no exception. Broken rods, opened split rings, straightened hooks and broken lines are all very common.
Other hard-hitting fighters that lurk in similar habitats as well as coastal areas include mangrove jacks, barramundi, grouper, juvenile GT, Indo-pacific tarpon, ladyfish and barracuda which are considered a ‘by-catch’ in these waters.
When it comes to freshwater rivers, streams and lakes, fortunately Sabah has no shortage of fish species that could leave anglers enthralled by the ferocity of the Sebarau (Hampala macrolepidota) or dubbed ‘The River Wolf’ in taking lures or the pulling power of the graceful pelian (Tor Tambroides) on ultralight tackle. All these mentioned species are just the tip of the iceberg of what Sabah has to offer the world of recreational fishing tourism and therefore should be the focus of conservation, sustainable fisheries and habitat improvement efforts.
Facilities and Infrastructure
The development of a recreational fishing industry shouldn’t just be about deep-sea or boating activities but also enhancing the game fishing experience for land-based anglers. Not everyone has the time or money to spend to go on long boating trips to Mantanani jigging for deep-sea pelagics such as Tuna, Cobia or Giant Trevally. Land-based anglers want nothing more than fishing platforms that are safe, accessible and user-friendly.
One of the best ways this can be done is by constructing more recreational fishing jetties, piers, seawalls and other accessible fishing platforms while ensuring coastal development projects are fishing-friendly.
Not only fishing docks, jetties and piers attract anglers but it also encourages other sociocultural activities such as sightseeing, photography, divers, and are tourist magnets. It would be a great plus for coastal cities such as Kota Kinabalu to have well-lighted, accessible and safe fishing platforms, similar to famous jetties found in Western Australia such as Busselton Jetty or Woodsman Point, or Singapore’s Bedok Jetty, Labrador Park Jetty or East Coast Park White Jetty.
Coastal infrastructure and facilities create a sense-of-place, particularly for many coastal towns and cities such as Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sipitang, Semporna and Sandakan. Not only they are a haven for anglers but it allows visitors to enjoy Sabah’s great outdoor lifestyle.
Fishing Parks
Initiatives to develop Sabah’s recreational fishing industry would not be complete without discussion on the state’s fishing parks which is largely managed by the private sector by far. Fishing parks like Rikiraya Fishing Park can be better connected with Sabah tourism initiatives, offering tourists a wider range of activities or things-to-do during their stay in the state.
Sabah have a number of fishing parks and payponds that can be promoted to local and foreign tourists who might be keen to push the limits of their fishing tackle with the park’s inhabitants. Paypond fishing offer many advantages not only its convenient but recfishers are guaranteed of a catch, and enjoy fishing from comfortable facilities and take up less time compared to conventional fishing.
Many fishing parks are well-stocked, readily accessible, safe and well lighted, some of them even offer accommodation for avid anglers to stay a night and enjoy fishing to their hearts content. Furthermore, fishing parks and paypond can also play a role in the rehabilitation and conservation of desired fish species. Most of established fishing payponds in Sabah are stocked with brackish estuarine species such as groupers, barramundi and mangrove jacks, but it would be a good opportunity to explore the possibility to repeating the same success with freshwater fish, such as Hampala or Pelian or even native snakehead (Channa Striata).
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