Trout fishery policy

Angler’s catches of native brown trout have been declining in recent years across the Czech Republic. This dissertation builds on previously established data on the likely causes of this negative state by emphasising political science issues, with a focus on interest-group conflicts within a sustainable fisheries. In doing so, the aim is to find common ground between the preferences of stream users, the state administration and, above all, sport anglers, the synthesis for this theoretical part being the recommendations for sport angling policy. At present, it is felt that the strategic documents and legal framework for trout angling in the Czech Republic only partially reflect the current situation. Both document analysis and international experience highlight the need for legal documents to be updated to include further restrictions on angling. Furthermore, there is a clear need for changes in current fisheries management practices, including new sustainable development scenarios to protect and improve conditions for natural trout stocks. Here, I present the results of recent studies that used different sustainable development scenarios to address issues associated with trout fishing in the Czech Republic. The research was carried out in two phases using a qualitative and quantitative approach. The results of the qualitative analysis, which addressed all stakeholders, narrowed the issue to the Anglers Union only, while the subsequent quantitative survey aimed at anglers confirmed a preference for restructuring with state intervention. However, this scenario is not very realistic currently, the most realistic scenario being that of policy change within the Anglers Union itself.