Saltwater Recreational Fishing Surveys Underway:
Charter and headboat captains know that “For Hire” saltwater recreational fishing brings money and jobs into the state. But how many jobs? And what sectors of the economy benefit? The N.C. Fishery Resources Grant Program (FRG) is funding a study – designed by fishers and university researchers – that will help quantify the economic, recreational and cultural value of this industry.
North Carolina Watermen United (NCWU) – a trade association and advocacy group with more than 300 members – pursued the grant and its leaders are working with scientists from North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “All we need from the fishing community and the public is trust and cooperation,” says Ernie Foster of Hatteras, NCWU president.
During the 2007-2008 fishing seasons, the study will attempt to survey all charter and headboat captains and randomly sample their passengers all along the coast. The team hopes to collect more than 1,000 surveys to provide a comprehensive picture of the For-Hire fishery and better measure its economic benefits.
- How many people are traveling to North Carolina to fish? What attracts them to our coast? Which fisheries are the most popular?
- How many vessels are involved? How many fishers are employed?
- How much money are passengers spending in area businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and tackle shops. How much do these service and support industries benefit from the “ripple effects” of For-Hire fishing activity?
Information gathered in these surveys will help local communities plan for the future and give environmental managers and elected officials data they need to better manage and promote North Carolina tourism and natural resources.
In the bulleted list they forgot to mention:
- How cool will the revealed and stated preference demand model with the AC/DC treatment be? Will it result in a publication in a second tier environmental economics journal?