Saltwater Recreational Fishermen Boon for Economy, Says NOAA
January 12, 2009
Angela Annino of Connecticut holds up an impressive striped bass, one of New England's most popular sport fish.
High resolution (Credit: NOAA)
Recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana, and North Carolina receiving the largest share according to a new study issued by NOAA’s Fisheries Service.
At the national level, saltwater anglers are estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on trip-based expenses, such as ice, bait, and fuel, and another $25.6 billion on fishing equipment and durable goods like fishing rods, fishing tackle, and boats.
The top five coastal recreational fishing states are: Florida ($16.7 billion), Texas ($3.2 billion), California ($3.0 billion), Louisiana ($2.9 billion), and North Carolina ($2.0 billion).
In addition to quantifying angler expenditures, this study examines how these expenditures circulated through each state’s economy and the national economy using a regional assessment. The $31.4 billion in total U.S. expenditures in 2006 contributed $82.3 billion in total sales, $39.1 billion to gross national product, $24 billion in personal income, and supported nearly 534,000 jobs.
John Bartlett and his father show off a pair of mahi mahi caught near Oahu, Hawaii.
High resolution (Credit: NOAA)
The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures in the United States 2006 is available online. A hardcopy of this report may be obtained by contacting Scott Steinback via e-mail or by mail at the address below:
NOAA’s Fisheries Service
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.