In Berlin, children are still only allowed to fish for coarse fish on their own at the age of twelve. An alignment with Brandenburg’s regulation, where they are allowed to catch roach, lead or rudd alone at the age of eight, is still not in sight. “The state fishing license law has not yet been changed, but it is still planned. We cannot give a specific point in time at the moment,” said Derk Ehlert from the environmental administration of the German Press Agency.
For years, the state anglers’ association has been hoping for an alignment with the Brandenburg regulations. “We are one region. How can it be explained that in Berlin you can only fish independently at the age of twelve, but 500 meters beyond the city limits at the age of eight?” says President Mathias Frey. The earlier you introduce the children to fishing, the more knowledge you can impart to them, says Frey.
In the youth center in Heinersdorf, the association introduces several hundred children and young people to fishing every year. “Why shouldn’t the children be able to apply the knowledge they have acquired there independently at the age of eight?” asks Frey.
As early as 1999, the then Berlin Senate announced that it would be aligned with the regulations in Brandenburg. In May 2020, the environmental administration said that a vote was currently being taken on the extent to which the Berlin regulation could be adapted to that of Brandenburg. An amendment to the fishing license law is planned for 2021/2022. But that was it.
“Driving license for anglers” in Brandenburg only required from the age of 18
According to fisheries scientist Robert Arlinghaus, early entry is important to generate interest. “70 percent of anglers start their hobby before the age of 15, a third before the age of 9. The average age is around twelve years,” says the professor, who works at the Humboldt University in Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries.
In Berlin, children under the age of twelve may only fish when accompanied by a fishing license holder. From the age of twelve they need a youth fishing license – a kind of license for anglers. In Brandenburg, children and young people up to the age of 18 do not need this.
The German Animal Welfare Association is critical of independent fishing at a young age: “Children and young people are often unaware that they are causing suffering to fish through improper handling,” said James Brückner, head of the department for nature and species protection. According to him, only young people with previous training and examinations should be allowed to fish. (dpa)
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