Photo of fly fishing for Atlantic salmon - Credit:: MAFW / Bill Byrne

Recreational Fishing

Fishing is fun. Surveys show that there are 34 million anglers in the United States - that's 16% of the population 16 years or older (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. 2001).

In addition to having fun, these anglers have a big impact on the community, spending 35 billion dollars annually on fishing and related activities. The American Sportfishing Association says the "overall impact to the economy is $108.4 billion, including 1.2 million jobs and $28.3 billion in personal income." (ASA, 1996).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides fishing opportunities on about half of its National Wildlife Refuges. It also works with the Department of Defense to provide fishing opportunities on military lands.

Beyond that, "providing recreational fishing opportunities is a cooperative effort between the [U.S. Fish and Wildlife] Service, other Federal agencies, States, Tribes, NGOs and the sportfishing community." (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. Conserving America’s Fisheries: Fisheries Program Vision for the Future. December 2002.)

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Photo of two men fishing for salmon. Credit: USFWS