Increasing Public Relevancy – Current Sportfishing State and National Economic Impacts

Broad public support is needed to advance fisheries and conservation issues. However, considering only 14% of Americans fish (USFWS, 2016), most of the decisions affecting conservation and sportfishing are made by people who may not be motivated to advance conservation or access issues. The unengaged are, however, frequently focused on job creation and economic prosperity issues across all U.S. communities. By effectively communicating how anglers’ spending creates jobs and prosperity for families and communities everywhere and how fishing compares as an economic driver to better-known commercial and recreational sectors, we can engage broader audiences and increase their support for conservation, fisheries, and recreational needs. By helping to raise awareness of and engagement in fishing and conservation, this project addresses the “Relevancy & Inclusion & Participation” strategic priority. The currently available sportfishing estimates are based on 2011 and 2016 surveys. Most states ' sportfishing economic estimates are outdated, considering the significant economic shifts since that time. No other sources of reliable sportfishing economic data exist for all states and the nation. This project will apply the upcoming 2022 USFWS National Survey data with updated economic models to report the jobs, tax revenues, and other contributions sportfishing delivers. Backup approaches are provided in case the 2022 National Survey data prove inadequate. Results, with detailed breakouts by species and more, will be quantified for each state, U.S. Congressional district, and nation. Rather than dry technical reports, results will be shared using one-page visual-based formats, with a technical document available for reference when needed. This proposal is submitted to the Multistate Conservation Grant Program in coordination with a sister hunting and recreational shooting economic proposal from the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (SAF), to achieve combined cost savings between $18,000 and $28,000.