Characterization of management practices and ecological challenges of sustainable recreational fishery management in Hungary (Central Europe)

Abstract Recreational fishing is a prominent leisure activity worldwide. With over 1 million participants in Hungary—approximately 10% of the total population—this widespread engagement may exert significant economic and ecological effects on aquatic ecosystems. Despite this, the potential environmental impacts associated with recreational angling had not been previously studied. Therefore, the objective of our research was to conduct a countrywide questionnaire-based survey (including 1242 angling clubs) of current management practices for angling purposes and to assess their potential environmental consequences. Responses arrived from 278 organizations, which manage 316 waterbodies (app. 25% of all). Most of them (83%) are small (< 50 hectares) artificial waterbodies, which are out of the scope of European Union level regulations. Standardized monitoring activities—i.e. fish assemblage, macroinvertebrates, etc.—were carried out only in 10–23% of them. Contrary to the low level of monitoring, 78% of fishery managers stated that they have complete knowledge of the fish assemblage composition. Although existing regulations aimed to prevent the spreading of non-indigenous species, their mean number was 4.6 ± 3. The most frequent four non-indigenous taxa occur in more than 80% of the waterbodies. Stocking is the most common (applied by 95%) management tool for prevention of overexploitation, however the number of stocked species is low (2.2 ± 1). Different age groups of Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) are stocked in 93% of the waterbodies, regardless of their type and natural assemblage composition. Our analyses shows that the angling club leaders’ education level significantly influences their understanding of threats to fish stocks. Those with higher, specialized education demonstrated broader knowledge of these risks, whereas leaders with less education showed limited awareness. Our study highlighted that most Hungarian angling club leaders do not have enough reliable data about the state of their waterbody. Without these, adaptive and sustainable management is impossible, especially under the pressure of global climate change and biodiversity crisis. There is an urgent need of a paradigm shift in the management practices to establish a long-term sustainable framework of recreational fishery management. Should these measures be neglected, the ecological status of angling waterbodies will degrade. leading to an increase in harmful algal blooms and fish mortalities and the expansion of non-native fish species will continue.