An outdoor recreation economy beyond fun

The iconic land and water bodies across the country underpin the recreational spirit of which angling (sportfishing) is one that could turn out to be a significant contributor to several local

economies.

Investments in outdoor recreation in the form of fishing with a fishing rod can earn compounding returns apart from forming healthier communities as well as healthier economies.

In recent years, participation in angling has witnessed steady growth as some tour operators are providing this facility in the country.

Talking to The Business Post, some anglers said sportfishing helps reduce anxiety, fight off depression and promote relaxation as they come out of the cocoon of their heavily-exposed digital periphery and end up in the lap of nature for some time.

“From my childhood, I turned to fishing in lakes and ponds and ha been involved in angling for over eight years. Many of my friends are also very keen on sportfishing,” said an angler Shaikh Adnan Niton.

“The places for sportfishing are not many. Not every district has water bodies for fishing. The government should keep an eye on this recreational means that can contribute to our economy.”

Angler Saif Mohammad Anwar echoed Niton. He said he had been associated with angling for around 30 years.

“I started fishing with my father as a child. Now it’s become my passion and I find joy at it,” Niton argued.

Talking to sportfishermen, it was learnt that this recreational mode is now very expensive in some areas of the country, but still, a lot of people opt to go for it.

Currently, some lake and pond owners charge a lot from anglers for a day of fishing.

There are some lakes and ponds in Gazipur and Pubail where an angler has to spend around Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000 a day’s fishing.

In the capital, there are various places, including Gulshan Lake, Dhanmondi Lake, Dhaka National Zoo Lakes, Bank Colony Lake (Savar), for anglers.

Outside Dhaka, Jolkol Dighi in Natore, Dharmasagar Dighi in Cumilla, Pocha Dighi and Ghora Dighi in Bagerghat and Ramsagar Dighi in Dinajpur are some popular fishing spots.

Talking to The Business Post, Bangladesh National Zoo Director Md Abdul Latif said that they have two large lakes – Northern Lake and Southern Lake – inside the zoo.

“Anyone can go fishing for a whole day on the first Friday of every month for a fee of Tk 2,000 with three fishing rods. Various types of fish are available in both lakes,” he pointed out.

“Angling is now gaining traction. Our ticket sales are more than double compared to what we experienced earlier.”

Angling in Bangladesh founder Nasim Hasan said they are the first organisation that has built a community with local anglers. Around 70,000 people are directly involved in angling.

“This particular recreational act is getting popular in Bangladesh. We offer various fishing trips, including one-day fishing trips, multiple-days fishing trips and extended fishing trips as well,” he explained.

“Many foreigners living in our country have a high interest in fishing, and many buy our services. We arrange both local and international tours for anglers.”

Nasim posited that in 2018 they received an invitation from the Russian government and their organisation represented Bangladesh in the angling sector.

According to Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Manager Md Ziaul Haque Howlader, angling was once an elite activity but now people of different income groups are keen on this type of recreation. Now many angling societies are in the offing.

“If such a recreation industry is patronised, a backward linkage industry will come into being as its logical consequence that will supply the equipment necessary for sportfishing or angling.”

Fishing equipment like rods, reels, hooks, lures, bobbers, sinkers, swivels, line cutters are mainly imported from China, Canada, Thailand and the USA.

Ziaul emphasised the need for the conservation of water bodies to make Bangladesh an international destination for angling.

He suggested forming a public-private partnership to this end which can add to the country’s economy and tourism.

Irfan Ahmed, managing director, Arunima Resort Golf Club in Narail, termed angling a prospective sector that is gradually drawing people’s attention and can be a great source of income for those involved in it.

“We are promoting recreational fishing in my resort for more than eight years. We host both local and international angling events. This resort can be one of the top angling destinations in the country,” he claimed.

According to the report of Business Wire, an American company, the global market for sportfishing equipment is estimated at $12.6 billion in 2020, which is projected to reach $16 billion by 2027.

A UK-based non-profit organisation Albrighton Trust, Moat and Gardens, said angling provides therapeutic benefits to people with chronic illness, apart from helping them recover from mental illness, behavioural issues and stress.

According to a research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, being outside and taking notice of the environment improves one’s ability to concentrate.

The research also found that walking in nature or simply spending time under leafy trees leads to changes in the brain, which improves concentration levels.