Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive

The Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive (CIPS), probably better known today by its English name, International Sport Fishing Confederation, was founded on 22 February 1952, in Roma, Italy, with the “goal to promote, coordinate and improve all the activities in touch with the fishing from a sporting point of view”.

As a confederation, the CIPS is structured on three international sport fishing federations: the Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eaux Douce (FISPed – International Federation of Sport Freshwater Fishing); the Fédération Internationale de Pêche Sportive Mouche (FIPS-Mouche – International Sport Fly Fishing Federation); and the Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Mer (FIPS-Mer – International Sea Sport Fishing Federation). Besides these three federations, the International Casting Sport Federation (ICSF) is an associated member of the CIPS.

As of January 2026, one international fishing organization and 152 National Federations from 78 countries are members of the CIPS. The confederation’s head office is located in Roma, and its current President is Italy’s Claudio Ugo Matteoli. The CIPS is a member of the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS).

Fishing appeared at the Olympics only once, at the Paris 1900 Games, as a demonstration event. However, at the world level, CIPS helps organize several global events, like the World Freshwater Angling Championships (first edition in 1954) or the World Fly Fishing Championships (first edition in 1981).