Fish Facts

More People Go Fishing Than Any Other Wildlife/Fish Recreation Activity...

From 1980 to 1990, recreational fishing participation increased by 20%.

35.6 million people, 1 out of every 5 U.S. citizens, enjoy fishing.

More recreational fishing occurs on Forest Service lands (over 37 million days) than on any other Federal lands.

This Translates to incredible Economic benefits to National, State, and Local Economies...

Fishing contributes more to the Gross National Product than timber production.

In 1994, national recreational fishing expenditures exceeded $24 billion - $1.8 billion on National Forest Service lands.

In 1994, Forest Service related recreational fishing provided over 64,000 full time equivalent jobs - such as guides, restaurant, hotel operators.

In 1994, Forest Service related recreational fishing generated State sales tax, State income tax, and Federal income taxes of $82.2 million, $17.2 million, and $160.3 million, respectively.

The 1995 Forest Service Congressional Fisheries budget of $39.51 million resulted in net public recreational fishing benefits of $1.5 billion - a return of over $38 for each tax dollar invested.

In 1995, partners contributed $8.4 million toward 800 projects in the Forest Service "Rise to the Future" fisheries program.

Closer to Home...

The National Forest System encompasses about 2.1 million acres of fishable lakes, ponds, and reservoirs and 200,000 miles of perennial streams.

Between 1977-1993, the commercial salmon harvest from the Tongass National Forest averaged 120 million pounds per year with an average annual earnings of $66 million. Annual subsistance harvest of salmon in Southeast Alaska is in excess of 1.2 million pounds.

Between 1984-1993, the number of sport anglers in Southeast Alaska increased by 62%.

A $205,900 fish habitat improvement project on the Chewalla Lake on the Holly Springs National Forest, MS, has the potential to attract 20,000 visits - a net value of $1 million.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival WA, a 4-day event, attracts 13,000 visitors to celebrate the return of the salmon.

More than 88,000 children and adults took part in over 300 Forest Service-sponsored National Fishing Week events in 1995.

Each year 120,000 visitors learn about stream ecology through the Kokanee Salmon Education Program at Lake Tahoe, NV.