Recreational Fishing up in 2009
Alexandria, VA – More anglers hit the water to go fishing in 2009 as recreational fishing license sales rose by 4.7 percent, according to a recent survey of recreational boaters.
Twelve states participated in the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Fishing License Sales Index. Four of the 12 participating states – Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas – were among the top 10 states in terms of the impact anglers have on the nation’s economy.
The RBFF/ASA Fishing License Sales Index is a strong indicator of fishing license sales. If the survey results are an indication of what happened nationally in 2009, it would represent one of the largest percentage increases in fishing license sales in over 30 years, said Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the ASA.
“The typical angler spends $176 a year on just fishing tackle alone and contributes over $40 annually to conservation via license dollars and excise taxes,” Nussman said. “When the license sales index moves by just a tenth of a point, 40,000 anglers have entered or quit sportfishing. Even a small uptick in the index represents big changes in recreational fishing participation.”
Fishing license sales and special excise taxes on gear and fuel generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for state recreation and conservation activities. In 2008, $720 million generated through excise taxes was distributed for fisheries management and recreational boating enhancement. Fishing license sales generated $600 million in revenue for state fish and wildlife agencies.
According to Southwick Associates, a Fernandina Beach, FL, firm that specializes in fish and wildlife economics and related business statistics, fishing license sales increased at a faster rate in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter. Increases of 20 percent or more were common in the first quarter.
However, a larger volume of sales occurred in the second quarter – the peak period for license sales nationally – and had the greatest effect on 2009 sales. Although the growth rate for license sales eased slightly in the latter half of the year, sales were still up for a majority of states in the index.
