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Perspectives of the European inland fisheries are reviewed traditionally, by subsectors, as commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries and aquaculture. However, it is a characteristically European phenomenon that these subsectors are becoming more and more interlinked with each other.

Historically, commercial fisheries in Europe have represented a source of valuable protein, while it is now seen as being a tool for the protection and management of the aquatic environment, creating favorable conditions for recreational fisheries.

Recreational fisheries in European inland waters still have a huge economic potential in spite of the fact that the number of anglers has stagnated in the last decade. The development of recreational fisheries has been supported by the aquaculture subsector, not only with fish for restocking but also by creating sites for this activity. This has resulted in decreasing angling 'pressure' on natural waters in many areas.

The perspective role of inland aquaculture as a source of fishery products has been undervalued in many European publications in the last decade. With the danger of an important shortage of marine fishery products, it is not acceptable to neglect land-based fish production.

As a result of enlargement, not only will the possibilities for aquaculture production be increased in the European Union but, at the same time, also the number of potential consumers who are inclined to eat freshwater fish.

Károly Pintér, PhD is the deputy director-general of the Game and Fisheries Department in the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development. He is involved in fisheries administration since graduation from the Faculty of Fisheries of the Agricultural and Technical Academy in Olsztyn (Poland) in 1973. He has been since 1992 vice-chairman, then since 2000 first vice-chairman of the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) of FAO.