New Report: Impact of Sport Fishing to BC Economy!!!

[Whole in the Water]

For anyone interested in knowing how much the recreational fishing sector contributes to the BC economy please check this report out. No big surprise to those knowledgeable about fishing that it is the RECREATIONAL sector the contributes the most economicaly, yet takes the smallest portion of the annual harvest. This is good ammunition to use to get the Prov. and Fed. Govt's to support this sector more as the economic benefits from sport fishing can benefit many people in various sectors in the economy both locally, provincially and nationally.

Better yet if you haven't already, please consider joining the Southern Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition and double your impact to bring about more support for recreational fishing!

http://anglerscoalition.com/?page_id=235

Then come out to the SVIAC first Annual General Meeting at the 4 Points Shereton In Langford (behind Costco) on Feb. 28, 7pm to see what this new and growing group is up to!!!

Recreational Fishing Matters (taken fromSFI-BC News Release)

Ironically, DFO and BC Stats just released its latest economic survey of the saltwater fishery in BC and found that that as of 2011, the BC sport fishery in produced nearly half (49%) of the GDP produced by all BC commercial fisheries, fish processing and aquaculture sectors. The sport fishery produced 8,400 person-years of employment (fully 60% of ALL the jobs created in all the fisheries sectors in the province) and $936 million in annual revenues (fully 43% of all fisheries revenues in the province). It is important to remember that our industry produces these sorts of returns despite utilizing less than 10% of the annual salmon harvest and 15% of the halibut harvest.

Here is the weblink to the report:
http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/AboutU...umbia_s_Fisheries_and_Aquaculture_Sector.aspx

 

[seadna]

I've seen similar studies from down here in WA too. It's important to get this message out to both the general public and the politicians. On a per pound basis, the recreational fishery generates >5x the economic impact. Hence if the province or nation wants the greatest public benefit from the public resource of fish, the allocation should be tilted much more to the recreational side. Also, the BC numbers include aquaculture in the economic impact and sport fishing still generates nearly 50% of all economic activity with 10% of salmon and 15% of the hali.

At some point, we may come to recognize that commercial fishing of the oceans needs to come to an end - just like commercial hunting on land did >100 years ago in nearly all parts of the world. The greatest economic benefit from the harvest of deer, elk and moose comes from recreational hunting and we've long since realized that the best management of land mammals was only possible once we took commercial harvest out of the picture. Ultimately, the same will happen with fish. In the long run, commercial fishing will have to move to aquaculture and in the long run that will likely need to be in closed containment systems to limit it's impact on wild fish. However, this paragraph is I'm sure, far too radical for most who like to believe that there's a near infinite supply of fish in the oceans.

So for now, it's better to just focus on the economic argument. Lose one job in the commercial fishing industry and replace it with several in the recreational fishing industry. Swap one $1's worth of fish from the commercial sector and turn it into $5+ worth of fish in the recreational sector. It's really that simple.

 

[steel_dreamin]

Why, if we contribute the most already under these tight regulations how will it change if they are relaxed in our favour?

Seriously.

 

[GLG]

Why, if we contribute the most already under these tight regulations how will it change if they are relaxed in our favour?

Seriously.

All those graph lines in the sport fishing part would go up.
If we could unleash the industry it would dwarf all other sectors.


Thanks for posting the link Hole in the Water will be sending that out and will be using it for the next election.
GLG

 

[Theb55]

Given we contribute 50%, and probably a lot more, understandably we should have half the seats at any negotiations. Correct?

 

[Whole in the Water]

one has to look no further than the east coast of canada to see where we are headed....they dont want rec fishing...it only gets in the way of their ultimate agenda....holmes*

So what's the answer to the problem? What tangible, actionable, practical solutions are there to offer?

Govt's have and always will respond to organizied political/public pressure from the that is backed up by defensible economic data, even more so if it is backed up by a workable plan.

Not trying to pick on anybody here, but blanket statements how nothing is going to work or change doesn't help much. Just some comments from a 'glass half full' guy

 

[fortyfour]

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports...time-for-a-boost-in-wild-salmon-money-1.67868

Heres a story from todays Times Colonist about the report.

 

[hambone]

Good article... Thanks for posting.
I recently read that Epic Fail article As well. Is it more less impossible to take the pacific coast out of the Feds control lol? Has it ever been tried.. I guess it's pretty much impossible to revamp the DFO, where do you even start?? Seems like we are just watching our wild salmon fade away.... I guess the average joe Canadian either doesn't care or doesn't know.... Sad

 

[sammyslabber]

weve been trying to use the economic arguement forever, but the govt just doesnt care......the fact that rec caught is worth way more than commie caught is nothing new....holmes*

I think the goverment is afraid of renegade commies…
We could take a page from the commie play book....
a) blockade the inner harbour with sport boats
b) have a sporty parade <> ring the parliament with sporty boats

 

[Theb55]

The Federal and Provincial governments are vulnerable to media publicity when it comes to not supporting small business. Neither really responds to those studies. Who does respond and pressures the government are individuals and businesses who profit. It's those businesses that need the info. What is lacking for them is a calculation of how much their income would drop if there were no or severely curtailed fishing.

 

[sammyslabber]

Good article... Thanks for posting.
Seems like we are just watching our wild salmon fade away.... I guess the average joe Canadian either doesn't care or doesn't know.... Sad

The Canadian public must wake up and smell the roses before they die off...as far as tax dollars go why does the goverment contribute our tax $$$ to support salmon farms; the statistics state they generate the least amount of the three sectors mentioned in the statistical data.The federal goverment policies reflect what is best for them and the companies who support them.
The feds can’t continue to implement their flawed fishery policies to exclude the sportsfishing sector, considering the amount of money generated by sports fishing.

 

[GLG]

Haidaman .... Another slipper skipper ........ un-welcome Captain....

 

[profisher]

Hey Haida, go to DFO and demand to look at the catch data from the commercial side from the 50's until now when some actual data was recorded. Your rant about who is responsible for the decline in fish numbers will be staring you in the face.

 

[Lipripper]

Well he didn't last very long.... lol

 

[scott craven]

it does not matter what happened between 1950 and now. its now you have to think about.

So 40 years of over fishing by Commercials is written off, and now its all the sportie's problem ?

 

[profisher]

Of course it matters what happened from the 50's until now...why do you think we have the problems now?!!!! You would rather all the sport boats disappear and be replaced by seiners and gillnets? Give your head a shake. One thing is indisputable world wide...when nets come up against fish.....fish loose every time!! For that matter, any time fish encounter a commercial fisherman making a living by the number of pieces or by the pound...fish loose.

 

[Lipripper]

i agree with haida man,

So you agree with yourself? What is it with this place lately?

 

[profisher]

Lippy give him a break he was feeling lonely.