This is the first book to examine, in depth, the significance of angling in leisure and tourism from socio-cultural, historical, political, and economic perspectives.

Written by a social scientist and lifelong angler, the book describes the growth of angling from antiquity to the present day, considering the reasons why people go fishing, from putting food on the table to relaxation, being in nature, and travel. Exploring the concept of angling as ‘specialist leisure’, the book examines the impact of recreational fishing industries and related business activities, as well as the significance of angling in the context of ongoing debates about tourism, including ‘consumptive wildlife tourism’ and eco-tourism. The book also considers contemporary political issues, such as over-fishing by commercial operators and environmental damage from aquaculture, and assesses the future of recreational fishing in an era of population growth, climate change and environmental risk.

Angling is one of the world’s most popular participatory activities, and so this book is essential reading for anybody with an interest in leisure, tourism, sport, human-animal relations, outdoor studies, business, or the environment.

Chris Paris is an Emeritus Professor of Ulster University, UK. He has held senior academic posts in the UK and Australia, and he is the author of 30 books, monographs and research reports and over 100 journal publications. Chris is a lifelong angler with global fishing experience, and is a qualified game fishing guide.