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A picture of the threatened bull trout, a fish that is part of a habitat conservation program by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). FWS fisheries are not only beneficial in restoring and maintaining fish populations, but are a great return on investment, according to a report by the agency. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Government funds invested in maintaining and restoring wild fish populations are bringing in a hefty return, according to a federal report released last week.
Federal support of fisheries makes a big economic impact, especially in the Southeast region. “Conserving America’s Fisheries, an Assessment of Economic Contributions from Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Conservation,” reported that each dollar invested in fishing programs generates about $28 in return.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) stated that $3.6 billion and 68,000 jobs across the nation are directly or indirectly associated with the fisheries.
Hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation contribute about $730 billion to the U.S. economy. According to the report about 1 in 20 American jobs are in the recreation economy, with more people working in recreation than are doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
“We like to encourage people to get out more, like hunting and fishing activities, which is called the ‘Big Six,’ under the support of Congress, which is also a part of the Refuge and Improvement Act. They [the Big Six] include hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education, and environmental interpretation,” said Tom MacKenzie, spokesperson for the Southeastern region of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service, in a telephone interview.
According to MacKenzie, “The Southeast region is well known for strong ethics in hunting and fishing throughout the country. The use of lakes and open spaces [are] readily available and most folks have their own private land to use, and the West has more federal land for public use.”
The Southeast region is well known for strong ethics in hunting and fishing.
—Tom MacKenzie, Florida Fish and Wildlife Service
Examples of fishing-related businesses that contribute economically in the South and elsewhere are sporting goods stores, marinas, guide and outfitter services, boat dealerships, bait shops, gas stations, cafes, hotels, and many others, according to the report.
MacKenzie said, “Sales taxes from rifles, fishing, and sports activities goes back to the conservation activities such as enlargement facilities, purchasing more land for these recreations.”
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said, “When we invest in restoring fish and wildlife habitat and creating opportunities for people to enjoy outdoor recreation, we are investing in economic growth and jobs for the American people.”
Since its inception in 1871, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program has been at the frontier of managing species, conserving habitat, and sustaining the biological health of aquatic resources. According to Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “These benefits are ecological, scientific, aesthetic, recreational, commercial, subsistence, social, cultural, and economic in nature.”
The Service Fisheries Program plays a key role in conserving fisheries with the help of key partners from states, tribes, federal agencies, and private interests.
Industrial output of $900 million and retail sales of $550 million is solely generated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services National Fish Hatchery System. These programs generate approximately 8,000 jobs and $256 million in salaries and wages, according to the report.
With its partners, the National Fish Passage Program’s role is to reopen approximately 890 miles of river habitat annually. Doing that increases fish populations, and generates $483 million in revenue while supporting 11,000 jobs.
The passage programs employ 800 people nationwide, in 65 Fish and Wildlife Conservation offices, 70 national fish hatcheries, 9 fish health centers, 7 fish technology centers and 1 historic national fish hatchery. Passage programs remove dams, culverts, impoundments, and encasing, which render streams inhospitable to fish, and block passage for anadromous fish like salmon that must return to their spawning grounds to breed.
They play a critical role in supporting the fish hatcheries system. The hatcheries culture more than 100 aquatic species.
The programs have restored fish passage to wetlands in Florida and in the Lower Mississippi River. Dam and culvert removal restored stream habitat and access to over two miles of high quality spawning and rearing habitat for rare endemic aquatic species of Florida’s Panhandle, in the northwest corner of the state.
Removing the Crantock Mill Dam in North Carolina restored high quality habitat for anadromous and riverine fishes. It helped protect the Okaloosa darter, which is a federally endangered species.
