History of WRFC
Held every three years, there have been nine previous World Recreational Fishing Conferences (WRFCs), beginning with the inaugural conference in Dublin in 1996, through to WRFC 9 held in Rotterdam in 2021.
Each WRFC has built on previous conferences, building an informed community in recreational fisheries worldwide and creating a collective body of knowledge in the growing discipline of recreational fisheries science. The conferences have helped develop a collaborative global community of researchers, managers, NGOs, industry representatives and government regulators that are developing and standardizing research approaches while working towards solutions for recreational fisheries issues.
Past Conferences
WRFC9
Rotterdam, Netherlands (Virtual)
June 28-30, 2021
WRFC8
Victoria, Canada
July 16-20, 2017
Theme: Balancing Values, the future of recreational fishing around the world
Host: The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC in cooperation with the Sportfishing Institute of BC
Attendance: 396 delegates from 21 countries
WRFC7
Campinas, Brazil
September 1-4, 2014
Theme: Change, transformation and adaptation in recreational fisheries
Host: State University of Campinas and Federal University of Uberlandia
Attendance: 209 delegates from 17 countries
WRFC6
Berlin, Germany
August 1-4, 2011
Theme: Toward resilient recreational fisheries
Host: Humboldt University in Berlin, IGB Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, the German Anglers Association, Besatzfisch in cooperation with the Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Humbolt University Berlin.
Attendance: 290 delegates from 33 countries
WRFC5
Fort Lauderdale, USA
November 10-13, 2008
Theme: The angler in the environment
Host: International Game Fish Association (IGFA)
Attendance: Delegates from 22 countries presented 150 oral papers and posters
WRFC4
Trondheim, Norway
June 12-16, 2005
Theme: Fishing is life – building partnerships across boundaries
Host: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Attendance: Approximately 200 delegates from 25 countries
WRFC3
Darwin, Australia
May 21-24, 2002
Theme: Regional experiences for global solutions
Host: Fisheries Group, Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development
Attendance: 196 delegates from 12 countries.
WRFC2
Vancouver, Canada
June 1–4, 1999
Theme: Evaluating the benefits of recreational fisheries
Host: Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia
Attendance: 63 delegates from 8 countries
WRFC1
Dublin, Ireland
June 11–14, 1996
A symposium on social, economic and management aspects of recreational fisheries was convened in conjunction with the nineteenth session of the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC).
Attendance: 119 delegates from 23 countries
