Tourism and fishing

ABSTRACT Recreational fishing is a major tourism activity and is integral to the “Blue economy”. Despite having high rates of participation and it being an important economic activity, especially in coastal, lacustrine and riverine areas, there is relatively little research on its various tourism dimensions, including its role in branding and marketing. This paper provides an introductory context for the first special issue on tourism and fishing in a tourism and hospitality journal. The introduction defines the subject area and highlights the main research themes, including the growing awareness of recreational fishing’s impacts on the environment as well as the increasingly contested relationship with commercial fishing. Areas for future research are identified with the need for students of tourism and hospitality to address the subject becoming of increasing importance given not only its economic significance but the growing threats of climate and environmental change and overfishing on the world’s oceans and wild fish stocks.