In the Netherlands, there are around 650,000 sea sport fishermen, whom together spend more than 150 million euros per year on their hobby. Per person, they catch an average of 16 kilograms fish per year, of which 5 kilograms are mackerel and more than 3 kilograms are cod. Fishing directly for sea bass is expanding. The difference with sport fishermen in freshwaters is that the fish caught at sea are usually taken home for consumption. Dutch Sport fisheries is working on a regulation whereby this manner of fishing will take overfished species into consideration.
The demands from the angling sport on the fishing water are mostly sufficient fish of various species. Eutrophication of the seawater can cause oxygen deficiencies, suffocating the fish. Nutrients can also cause the growth of harmful algae poisoning the fish. In addition, shifts in the ecosystem can occur whereby popular species become less available.
