People in Saxony-Anhalt are drawn to fishing. Clubs are getting fuller. But the association's concerns about the preservation of the species are growing.
Halle (dpa/sa) - The enthusiasm for fishing seems unbroken in Saxony-Anhalt. The number of members continues to increase, said Gerhard Jarosz, spokesman for the State Anglers Association of Saxony-Anhalt. There are no final figures for 2022 yet, but based on initial feedback from the clubs, he expects growth again. According to Jarosz, the clubs had gained many members, especially during the pandemic years. Last year the association had around 44,600 members.
The proportion of children and young people has now cracked the ten percent mark, reported Jarosz. This is where the intensive work in the clubs pays off. According to the information, more and more fishing tours with overnight stays in tents or bungalows are being offered. According to Jarosz, the association also helps out with the equipment. The association has given away 1,024 poles to young anglers since 2017 alone.
The fishing clubs are concerned about the biodiversity in the waters. The biomass can currently still be maintained. But it looks bleak in the long term, said Jarosz. In particular, long-distance fish such as the eel are becoming increasingly rare due to changing living conditions. There are also other factors such as the cormorants, which eat a lot of fish from the waters. The destruction caused by hydroelectric power plants is also immense, every third fish dies from the hydroelectric power plants, according to the spokesman for the state anglers' association.
