# Presentation: 711779

**UNDERUTILIZED**
**GEAR**

**ECONOMICS OF SALTWATER ****RECREATIONAL**** FISHING**

- ROBERT F. ZALES, II
- PRESIDENT
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHARTERBOAT OPERATORS

## 
SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING BUSINESS

13 MILLION PARTICIPANTS ENJOY SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING

SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING PRODUCES OVER $30 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND 350,000 JOBS NATIONALLY

ANGLERS FISHING OFF FL, LA, NC SPENT BETWEEN $1.2 AND $8.4 BILLION ON MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING IN 1999

IN 2000 THE IMPACT OF TOTAL SPENDING BY THE DESTIN CHARTER FLEET OF 100 BOATS WAS $349 MILLION FOR THE 2 COUNTY AREA

**SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING BUSINESS**
**13 MILLION PARTICIPANTS ENJOY SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING**
**SALTWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING PRODUCES OVER $30 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND 350,000 JOBS NATIONALLY**
**ANGLERS FISHING OFF FL, LA, NC SPENT BETWEEN $1.2 AND $8.4 BILLION ON MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING IN 1999**
**IN 2000 THE IMPACT OF TOTAL SPENDING BY THE DESTIN CHARTER FLEET OF 100 BOATS WAS $349 MILLION FOR THE 2 COUNTY AREA**
** **

**TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT BY THE DESTIN CHARTER FLEET IS **
**ASSOCIATED WITH OVER $24 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX **
**REVENUE**
**$2 BILLION IN TAXES PRODUCED BY SALTWATER RECREATIONAL **
**FISHING**
**IN 2000 SALTWATER ANGLERS SPENT $1.5 BILLION ON FISHING TACKLE**
** **

**MRFSS HISTORY OF OVER ESTIMATES OF EFFORT AND HARVEST                   **
**POOR ESTIMATES HAVE CAUSED SEVERE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS**
**1987 GULF RECREATIONAL KING MACKEREL CLOSURE RESULTED IN $14 MILLION ECONOMIC LOSS TO ISLAMORADA, FL AND KEYS AREA**
**CLOSURES IN 1998, 1990, 1991, AND 1992 HAD ASSUMED SIMILAR NEGATIVE IMPACTS**
**GULF RECREATIONAL RED SNAPPER CLOSED IN 1997, 1998, 1999 AND FIXED 6 MONTH SEASON BEGINNING 2000 HAD ASSUMED ECONOMIC LOSSES FAR  IN EXCESS OF $14 MILLION**
**OTHER AREAS OF THE NATION EXPERIENCE SIMILAR IMPACTS FOR SPECIES SUCH AS SUMMER FLOUNDER, SCUP, BACACCIO**** **

## FOR HIRE SURVEY IMPLEMENTED 2000 AND EXPANDED TO EAST COAST IDENTIFIED FOR HIRE FLEET RESULTING IN LESS EFFORT AND LESS HARVEST

CALAFORNIA IDENTIFIED SALTWATER RECREATIONAL ANGLERS PROVIDING SIMILAR RESULTS

IDENTIFIED ANGLERS PROVIDE BETTER SAMPLING, MORE PRECISE HARVEST DATA

**CALAFORNIA IDENTIFIED SALTWATER RECREATIONAL ANGLERS PROVIDING SIMILAR RESULTS**
**IDENTIFIED ANGLERS PROVIDE BETTER SAMPLING, MORE PRECISE HARVEST DATA**

## IDENTIFY ALL ANGLERS AND INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR SAMPLING 

**LOGBOOKS AND OBSERVERS ON FOR HIRE VESSELS SHOULD PROVIDE IMPROVED DATA**
**INCREASE DOCKSIDE INTERVIEWS AND ADJUST INTERVIEW QUOTAS TO INCLUDE VESSELS NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS**
**WORK WITHIN NOAA TO INCLUDE WEATHER AND SEA STATE INFO FOR REALISTIC DATA**
**IMPLEMENT NOAA RECREATIONAL FISHERIES STRATEGIC PLAN BEGINNING WITH OBJECTIVE ONE**

## SALTWATER RECREATIONAL ANGLERS FISH FOR FUN AND  RELAXATION AND SPEND BILLIONS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENJOY THEIR ACTIVITY A BUSINESS EQUAL TO MANY FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES PRODUCING BILLIONS TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL FISHING COMMUNITIES

**SALTWATER RECREATIONAL ANGLERS FISH FOR FUN AND  RELAXATION AND SPEND BILLIONS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENJOY THEIR ACTIVITY**** ****A BUSINESS EQUAL TO MANY FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES PRODUCING BILLIONS TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL FISHING COMMUNITIES**

**REQUIRES PROPER MANAGEMENT AND RECOGNITION TO ENSURE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATION**