Fishing Therapy: What are the benefits?

Fishing Therapy: What are the benefits?

"There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind." Washington Irving

We fishers have all experienced Irving's serenity during our fishing lives and have suspected that “Fishing is good for the soul and general well-being”.  We should never be made to feel guilty about taking time out to do what’s good for us as those around us also benefit.  This includes perhaps the satisfaction of sharing a tasty fresh fish supper or is it that the act of fishing has invoked that feeling of serenity thorough being in tune with your senses and nature?

Mankind has fished throughout our existence – it continues to satisfy vital needs. Recent research has focused on benefits other than our physical sustenance to investigate and document how the act of fishing also meets our psychological needs.     

There are a number of published articles about stroke victims who have experienced the benefits of fishing in aiding their recovery process.  Likewise, people with depression, disability and ageing have also found fishing to have therapeutic benefits.  The Australian National Sports Fishing Association have developed a program Fishing 4 Therapy (i) in which participants with disability and acquired brain injury aged between 16-60 years are provided with the opportunity to fish.  The participants have demonstrated quite remarkable results in improved well-being. The program continues to run in Sydney, NSW with Sweetwater Adventures (ii).

In the USA there are a number of popular programs available for war veterans such as Fishing for Heroes (iii) and Wounded Warrior Outdoors (iv).  These not-for-profit organisations have published information on the remarkable outcomes of the programs in achieving improved self-esteem, self-determination, increased socialisation, mobility, and general well-being.  Proof of the success of these programs is demonstrated by their continuing popularity.  The programs are largely supported by caring local and national businesses and organisations that provide funding as a community responsibility towards people that are injured in the line of duty to their country.

A recent Australian research paper Identifying the health and well-being benefits of recreational fishing by Prof A. McManus, Dr W. Hunt, J. Storey, J. White (2011) (v) investigated recreational fishing as a cost effective, healthy life-style activity and focused on the benefits of fishing for young families, youth and adults. This paper explores participation in outdoor activities by encouragement in early childhood years and looks at the benefits of maintaining fishing activities throughout an individual’s lifetime. The researchers noted that fishing provided significant benefits particularly for children and youth with behavioural and mental health issues. This suggests again that fishing can have a calming or therapeutic effect.

If such remarkable benefits are known to exist it is surprising that fishing programs are not more readily available throughout communities.  As a community development worker, I am aware of the incredible outcomes that can be achieved through community capacity building particularly in supporting programs for community members with disability or disadvantage.  I would encourage individuals, businesses and organisations to develop and support the implementation of fishing activity programs within their local communities.

 
I believe one should never disregard that primeval desire to fish or deny oneself the serenity of the mind.  You probably have formed your own opinions about why you like fishing. By sharing the joys of fishing, even if its bragging about 'the big one that got away', you can encourage others to adopt this healthier outdoors lifestyle and discover the benefits of fishing. If more people fished would our communities become more relaxed and in tune with nature?

"Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers."  Herbert Hoover

 

May you find serenity & have many fishing tales to tell!          

 

Caro

 

Deep End Fishing Charters

http://www.deependfishingcharters.com

 

Article References:

(i) http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/fishing-4-therapy-achieving-amazing-things
(ii) http://www.sweetwateradventures.com.au/

(iii) http://www.fishingforheroes.com/
(iv) http://www.woundedwarrioroutdoors.com
(v)  Identifying the health and well-being benefits of recreational fishing: Prof. A. McManus, Dr W Hunt, J. Storey, J. White Project  No. 2011/217
http://www.tarfish.org/documents/Health%20and%20Wellbeing%20of%20Rec%20Fishing%202012.pdf