Underwatertimes.com News Service - January 12, 2009 21:27 EST
NOAA mahi mahi

John Bartlett and his father show off a pair of mahi mahi caught near Oahu, Hawaii.

Recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana, and North Carolina receiving the largest share according to a new study issued by NOAA's Fisheries Service.

At the national level, saltwater anglers are estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on trip-based expenses, such as ice, bait, and fuel, and another $25.6 billion on fishing equipment and durable goods like fishing rods, fishing tackle, and boats.

The top five coastal recreational fishing states are: Florida ($16.7 billion), Texas ($3.2 billion), California ($3.0 billion), Louisiana ($2.9 billion), and North Carolina ($2.0 billion).

In addition to quantifying angler expenditures, this study examines how these expenditures circulated through each state's economy and the national economy using a regional assessment. The $31.4 billion in total U.S. expenditures in 2006 contributed $82.3 billion in total sales, $39.1 billion to gross national product, $24 billion in personal income, and supported nearly 534,000 jobs.

The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures in the United States 2006 is available online. A hardcopy of this report may be obtained by contacting Scott Steinback via e-mail or by mail at the address below:

NOAA's Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

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.