Fish Hooks and the Protection of Living Aquatic Resources in the Context of Recreational Catch-and-Release Fishing Practice and Fishing Tourism

Abstract

The fish hook is a commonly known tool used in recreational fishing, which is one of the forms of active, specialised tourism. As a component of a fishing rod, the hook is intended to be anchored into the mouth of a fish and hold the fish on the end of the line while landing it. However, in the context of the protection of living aquatic resources and Catch-and-Release (C&R) fishing, its role and significance are becoming broader. In addition to the impact of the hook type on fishing efficiency, including the Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), the importance of hook selection in terms of minimising the resulting damage to the tissues of caught and released fish is increasing. It appears that alternative hook types, such as barbless hooks and circle hooks, are safer for fish in the aforementioned context while not significantly reducing fishing efficiency. This review study is aimed at describing the design, types, and role of the fish hook in modern C&R angling, including the impact of the hook type on both fishing efficiency and the safety and welfare of released fish, which translates into the status and protection of living aquatic resources. The issues presented in the study highlight a number of related technical, biological and social factors that are specific to inland angling in particular. Such a holistic perspective can be used to support the effective management of recreational fishing, which, as one of the most popular human activities when in contact with water, has a very significant impact on the state of the environment and, thus, on the possibility of tourism development.