New Economic Report Finds Commercial and Recreational Saltwater Fishing Generated More Than Two Million Jobs
January 8, 2009
U.S. commercial and recreational saltwater fishing generated more than $185 billion in sales and supported more than two million jobs in 2006, according to a new economic report released by NOAA’s Fisheries Service.
The commercial fishing industry—harvesters, seafood processors and dealers, seafood wholesalers and seafood retailers—generated $103 billion in sales, $44 billion in income and supported 1.5 million jobs in 2006, the most recent year included in the report, Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2006, which covers 1997 to 2006. Recreational fishing generated $82 billion in sales, $24 billion in income, and supported 534,000 jobs in 2006.
“The report documents clearly that managing fisheries sustainably is good for the environment and the economy,” said Jim Balsiger, NOAA acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Fishing helps create a substantial number of jobs around the nation.”
The report also breaks down the sales, income and job figures for each coastal state. The highest amount of sales generated by the commercial fishing industry were in California ($9.8 billion), Florida ($5.2 billion), Massachusetts ($4.4 billion), Washington ($3.8 billion), and Alaska ($3 billion). The most jobs were generated in California (179,000), Florida (103,000), Massachusetts (83,000), Washington (75,000) and Texas (47,000).
Saltwater recreational fishing generated its highest economic effect in total sales and jobs generated in Florida ($7.6 billion sales, 131,000 jobs); Texas ($2.2 billion sales, 34,000 jobs); California ($1.9 billion sales, 23,000 jobs); North Carolina ($1.2 billion sales, 24,000 jobs); and Louisiana ($1.2 billion sales, 27,000 jobs).
Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2006 also includes descriptive statistics on commercial fish landings, revenue, and price trends; recreational fishing effort, catch, and participation rates; and employer and non-employer establishments, annual payroll, and annual receipt information for fishing-related industries such as seafood retailers and ship and boat building.
The report is the first volume in a new series designed to give the public accessible economic information on fishing activities in the U.S., and is a companion to Fisheries of the United States, and the forthcoming Fishing Communities of the United States.
The report also provides a snapshot of fishery management plans, limited access privilege fishing programs (a type of catch share program), buyback programs, and ecolabeling programs as well as the status of fish stocks and an inventory of protected marine resources.
Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2006 is available online at: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st5/index.html
Hard copies of the report are forthcoming.
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. Visit http://www.noaa.gov for more information.
Related posts
Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Grants to Protect Coastal Wetlands - Texas Is Recipient
December 26, 2008
H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced today that twenty-five conservation projects benefiting fish and wildlife on more than 13,543 acres of coastal habitat in twelve States will be funded with $20.1 million from 2009 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program.
Texas will receive a federal grant of $740,425 to be matched with partner funds to complete a $1 million project.
Texas Parks and Wildlife, with assistance from The Nature Conservancy, will acquire a conservation easement on approximately 3,500 acres of coastal habitats in the Guadalupe River Delta in Refugio County. Blue crabs, a main food source for the endangered whooping crane that winters on the Texas mid-coast, inhabit the wetlands on the property. In addition to the cranes, many other species of fish and migratory birds use the forested and emergent wetlands. The project site, Swan Lake Ranch, is part of the San Antonio Estuary ecosystem and will make a significant contribution to a corridor of protected lands. There are 148,000 acres of land nearby held in conservation by TPW, the Service, Guadalupe Blanco River Trust and private landowners.
Nationally, the grants will acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat. Other states receiving funds include Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. These federal grants will be matched by nearly $27 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups.
“Coastal wetlands provide valuable habitat for many fish and wildlife species, help keep our oceans cleaner, and serve as buffers to protect coastal communities from storms and flooding” Hall said. “The Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is a great example of a voluntary approach to habitat conservation. By providing technical and financial assistance to our partners, we are able to enlist their help in conserving coastal areas threatened by development and predicted sea-level rise resulting from climate change.”
The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, drawing from Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue - money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment and motorboat and small engine fuels.
Including the 2009 grants, the Service has awarded more than $220 million to coastal states and territories since the program began in 1992. When the 2009 projects are complete, nearly 258,000 acres of habitat will have been protected, restored or enhanced.
For a list of all projects funded by the 2009 grant program, go to: www.fws.gov.
For more information, contact the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, or Division of Federal Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, or visit the program’s home page.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
Related posts
A DFG Holiday Tradition - Rainbow Trout Stocked in California Waters
December 23, 2008
In a holiday tradition beloved by anglers of all ages, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is planting rainbow trout across California this month. The fish are being planted in urban, suburban and rural areas.
“The holiday season provides an opportunity for Californians to spend quality time outdoors fishing with their families,” said DFG South Coast Region Senior Biologist Dwayne Maxwell. “We are pleased to provide anglers with exceptional opportunities to catch rainbow trout at lakes, reservoirs and streams throughout the region from Santa Barbara through San Diego counties.”
In DFG’s South Coast Region, DFG trout hatcheries will stock approximately 69,900 pounds of catchable size rainbow trout for holiday anglers this month in the following waters:
| County | Lake | Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara | Cachuma Lake | 6,300 |
| Ventura | Lake Casitas | 4,000 |
| Ventura | Piru Lake | 7,200 |
| Ventura | Rancho Simi Park Lake | 600 |
| Los Angeles | Alondra Park | 900 |
| Los Angeles | Belvedere Lake | 800 |
| Los Angeles | Castaic Lagoon | 9,200 |
| Los Angeles | Castaic Lake | 5,400 |
| Los Angeles | Cerritos Lake | 400 |
| Los Angeles | Downey Lake | 1,350 |
| Los Angeles | Echo Park Lake | 1,300 |
| Los Angeles | El Dorado Park Lake | 3,500 |
| Los Angeles | Hansen Lake | 1,100 |
| Los Angeles | Hollenbeck Park Lake | 200 |
| Los Angeles | Kenneth Hahn Lake | 800 |
| Los Angeles | La Mirada Lake | 800 |
| Los Angeles | Legg Lakes | 2,700 |
| Los Angeles | Lincoln Park Lake | 1,000 |
| Los Angeles | Magic Johnson Lake | 1,000 |
| Los Angeles | Peck Road Lake | 1,200 |
| Los Angeles | Puddingstone Lake | 3,000 |
| Los Angeles | Pyramid Lake | 3,600 |
| Los Angeles | Santa Fe Reservoir | 1,800 |
| Orange | Carr Park Lake | 200 |
| Orange | Centennial Lake | 900 |
| Orange | Eisenhower Park Lake | 200 |
| Orange | Greer Park Lake | 200 |
| Orange | Huntington Park Lake | 200 |
| Orange | Laguna Lake | 400 |
| Orange | Mile Square Park Lake | 500 |
| Orange | Ralph Clark Regional Park Lake | 500 |
| Orange | Tri-City Lake | 750 |
| Orange | Yorba Linda Regional Park Lake | 500 |
| San Diego | Chollas Park Lake | 500 |
| San Diego | Cuyamaca Lake | 2,600 |
| San Diego | Lindo Lake | 200 |
| San Diego | Lower Otay Lake | 700 |
| San Diego | Morena Lake | 1,600 |
| San Diego | Murray Lake | 1,800 |
In 2008, the South Coast Region will plant 819,200 catchable-sized rainbow trout (approximately eight to 12 inches in length) along with 43,000 one-pound trout and 25,000 fingerling trout in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Overall, DFG hatcheries will plant roughly seven million rainbow trout in 2009.
To purchase a 2009 fishing license as a holiday gift, please use DFG’s license agent search engine at http://dfginternal5.dfg.ca.gov/lasweb/.
Related posts
Bear Season Closes in California
December 15, 2008
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced the closure of the statewide black bear hunting season. Under regulations adopted by the Fish and Game Commission, the black bear season is closed when DFG verifies 1,700 bears have been taken by hunters.
DFG mailed notices to all bear tag holders reporting that the season is now closed. DFG wardens and biologists will also inform hunters they encounter in the field that the season is closed.
All bear tags must be returned to the DFG Wildlife Branch, 812 9th St., Sacramento, California, 95811, by Feb.1, 2009.
Hunters must submit the bear they harvested to DFG for validation within 10 days of taking a bear. Teeth are extracted from half the harvested bears to help Fish and Game determine the age and health of the state’s bear population.
Tags yet to be received by DFG will put the total harvest slightly above 1,700 bears. This will not have an adverse impact on the state’s bear population which is estimated to be more than 30,000.
Related posts
Take a North American Wildlife Safari At a National Wildlife Refuge Near You
December 4, 2008
Sleigh rides amidst thousands of elk wintering in Wyoming; trolley tours of bison roaming newly restored prairie in Colorado; a drive along lakes and marshes in Florida where alligators are commonly seen. These are just some of the opportunities national wildlife refuges offer visitors who want to see charismatic wild animals in their natural habitats.
The National Wildlife Refuge System offers a host of opportunities for outdoor recreation–especially the chance to see wildlife up close, without crowds of tourists. Refuges are often just an hour’s drive from most major cities and there is at least one in every state. Here is a sampling of ideas for a North American viewing safari:
Sleigh Rides with Elk
For those who love the snows of a Wyoming winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides provide an intimate view of elk on the National Elk Refuge near Jackson. Some 8,000 elk–the world’s largest wintering concentration–descend from Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks and other surrounding forest areas to pass the winter on the national wildlife refuge.
The refuge, created in 1912, was one of the first big game refuges established as a result of public interest in the survival of the Jackson elk herd. Today, the refuge continues to preserve much of the elks’ remaining winter range in the valley, approximately one-quarter of the original Jackson Hole winter range. Moose, bison and bighorn sheep also roam the refuge in winter, although catching a glimpse of one is more challenging.
For the 2008-2009 season, sleigh rides are scheduled daily from December 8, 2008, to April 1, 2009, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (If snow is sparse, wagons substitute for sleighs.) For more information and a virtual sleigh ride, visit http://www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge/Index.htm.
Endangered Columbian White-Tailed Deer
Drive on the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge near the Columbia River in Washington at dusk or dawn, and you may catch sight of the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer, a subspecies of white-tailed deer. The refuge, located in Washington and Oregon, was created in 1972 specifically to protect and manage the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer. They are easiest to spot in winter, when grasses are lower and they are more likely to be out mid-day.
The deer suffered heavy losses from floods in 1996, and again in 2006. There are now about 300 deer on the refuge, and another estimated 300 on neighboring lands. While the subspecies differs genetically from other white-tailed deer, it looks the same, said refuge manager Joel David.
For more information on visiting the refuge, see http://www.fws.gov/pacific/refuges/field/WA_julia.htm.
Bison on the Colorado Range
When the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado reintroduced bison on the refuge in March 2007, visits to the refuge swelled. Little wonder.
The refuge is just 11 miles from downtown Denver, and surrounded by suburban neighborhoods and Denver International Airport. It offers two-hour wildlife viewing tours on a trolley bus at 10 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.
“Just about anybody on the tour has the opportunity to see the bison,” says Sherry James, visitor services manager. “Sometimes they’re very close. If we can’t see them from outside of their fenced enclosure, we go into their pasture.”
Bison are North America’s heaviest land mammal. Bulls are about 6 feet tall at their shoulder hump and weigh up to 2,400 pounds; cows weigh up to 1,000 pounds and stand 5 feet tall. In the early 1800s, tens of millions of bison blanketed the Midwest and western plains. By the end of that century, they were nearly decimated by sport shooting and habitat loss.
The herd reintroduced at Rocky Mountain Arsenal has grown from 16 to 24 bison. In the long term, the refuge plans to expand the herd to 250 and to continue restoring short grass prairie habitat to cover much of the 17,000-acre refuge, James says.
Wildlife viewing tours are free, but reservations are required. For information or reservations, call 303-289-0930. For information about Rocky Mountain Arsenal Refuge, visit http://www.fws.gov/rockymountainarsenal/
Minnesota’s Elusive Wolves
Elusive grey wolves live on two of the northernmost wildlife refuges in Minnesota: one wolf pack on the 61,500-acre Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge and two packs on the 42,724-acre Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
While the wolves are difficult to spot, Visitor Services Manager Kelly Blackledge suggests that the best time to see them–or at least their footprints or scat–is winter. “You’ll sometimes see them crossing the lakes on the ice. They’re easier to see when there are no leaves on the trees and so there is more open viewing,” she said.
White-tailed deer are much easier to see than wolves on both refuges. At Tamarac Refuge, they often graze along the entrance road. For locations and visitor information on Tamarac, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/tamarac/. For Agassiz, visit http://midwest.fws.gov/agassiz.
No Matter the Season
Alligators Aplenty
It’s unusual not to spot an alligator on St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Visitors are likely to catch sight of one on the 6.8-mile wildlife drive that runs from the Visitor Center to the historic St. Marks lighthouse on Apalachee Bay. Boating on some of the lakes and estuaries on the 68,000-acres refuge or hiking one of its many trails may also provide a peek at the alligators, which can grow to be 14 feet long.
While not as commonly seen as the alligators, the Florida black bear is also making a strong comeback on the refuge, says Refuge Ranger David Moody. “Aligators are pretty close to a given. I see bears about every six weeks,” he estimates. Find out more about St. Marks Refuge online at http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks/
Moose and Bear Country
Aroostock County, Maine, claims to have the densest population of moose and black bears in the lower 48 states, and sightings are quite common during May through September at Aroostock National Wildlife Refuge near Limestone.
The largest member of the deer family, moose stand six- to seven-feet tall at the shoulder. Males weigh up to 1,500 pounds, and females more than 900 pounds. They browse on twigs and barks through the winter. In summer, they eat tree leaves, sedges, horsetail, pond weeds and grasses, as well as water lilies and other vegetation in shallow ponds.
The refuge has about six miles of trails through wetlands, spruce-fir forests, and northern hardwood forests. It is open sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. For information, call 207-328-4634. For more information about Aroostock Refuge, visit http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=53630
California’s Tule Elk
Prior to the mid-1800s, an estimated 500,000 tule elk lived in California. By the turn of the 20th century, unregulated hunting and loss of habitat nearly caused the extinction of this non-migratory elk species, which is found only in California. In 1974, a herd of 18 animals was established in a 780-acre enclosure at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge near Los Banos. The elk have thrived.
The refuge has a five-mile Tule Elk Tour Route takes visitors around an enclosed herd of approximately 50 tule elk. The tour route is open during daylight hours year-round.
“The cool thing about our elk tour route is that it pretty much guarantees people will see tule elk during their visit,” says Jack Sparks, outdoor recreation planner at San Luis Refuge. Best times to view elk are during calving season in April, and from August to October when the bugling male can be heard for miles around.
The refuge also has a 12-mile waterfowl tour route where visitors can see vast numbers of ducks and geese. A 2 ¼-mile tour route at the West Bear Creek Unit provides an intimate view of waterfowl, shorebirds, and riparian songbirds. On the nearby Merced National Wildlife Refuge tour route, visitors can view thousands upon thousands of sandhill cranes and Ross’ geese. More information is available by calling the refuge at 209-826-3508 or at http://www.fws.gov/sanluis/default.htm.
Related posts
NOAA’s Fisheries Service Releases an Additional $70 Million in Disaster Aid to West Coast Salmon Fishing Industry
November 26, 2008
NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced it is making an additional $70 million in disaster-relief aid available to West Coast salmon fishermen, completing a financial-assistance package announced in September, when the agency released $100 million in disaster assistance.
The agency will provide the money to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The commission is distributing the money to fishermen and related businesses affected by this year’s closure of the ocean salmon fishing season off California, Oregon, and Washington based on agreements with the three West Coast states.
To date, the commission has disbursed more than $73.6 million from the initial $100 million grant to eligible fishermen and businesses affected by the closure. That number is expected to rise to close to $100 million by the end of November.
The unprecedented collapse of Sacramento River Fall Chinook, combined with the exceptionally poor status of Coho salmon from Oregon and Washington, led officials to close all commercial and sport Chinook ocean fishing off California and most of Oregon last spring. Only a small hatchery-origin recreational Coho fishery off central and southern Oregon remained open, which also affected Washington fishermen.
The governors of all three West Coast states requested a federal disaster declaration as a result of the closures. The declaration, issued by the Secretary of Commerce, last May, paved the way for Congress to appropriate a $170 million disaster-relief package in July. The first funds were dispersed by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in early October.
The grant, developed by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in consultation with representatives of the West Coast governors, provides relief to affected commercial fishermen, wholesalers, processors, charter boat owners and recreational guides and businesses dependent on fishing.
So far, officials have sent aid to over 2,000 commercial fishermen with fishing permits. An additional 1,400 checks have been sent to businesses and others affected by the salmon closure. Businesses affected by the salmon closure can download application forms from the commission’s Web site at http://www.psmfc.org. Applicants must be licensed state permit holders or have purchased a state business license or permit in 2007.
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. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.