Denmark

Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund represents the interests of 121 angling clubs active across Denmark. It gathers about 18,800 members from a truly ‘angling nation’ as around 10.3% of the Danish population goes fishing at least once a year. 

The association summarised its strategy for the upcoming years in a document untitled ‘Strategy 2020-2025’. Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund strives for sustainable recreational fishing by working for healthy fish stocks, environment protection and more wild fish stocks. To do so, the association wants anglers’ voice to be heard in the making of fishing legislation but also supports initiatives from its members which are keen to directly become actors for change.

For instance, the association is part of a project of river restoration in the South of Denmark starting in September 2020. Anglers from this region together with the municipality, students from neighbouring schools and Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund will restore a 700-meter section of a river which experienced damage following a severe drought this summer. 

Anglers will also show their dedication to protect free-flowing and living rivers by creating nine new spawning banks for trout. Every year, it is estimated that Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund members spend 16,000 hours restoring rivers. Finally, as the operation will gather experienced anglers and motivated newcomers, it emphasises more than ever the truly social experience that angling really is. 

Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund also publishes a quarterly magazine untitled Sportfiskeren. It deals with a wide set of issues interesting Danish anglers ranging from fishing competition, fishing techniques to environmental topics in a country almost completely surrounded by the sea, where finding a fishing spot is definitely not a problem. The website is another key resource tool for anglers and angling tourists in Denmark.