Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 12:56 PM
Subject: Preliminary Data Shows Americans Spent $120 billion
On Wildlife Related Recreation in 2006
Contact: Nicholas Throckmorton, 202/208-5634
America’s passion for wildlife and the outdoors continues to be a
major
Engine of the nation’s economy, according to preliminary survey data
Released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2006, more than 87 million Americans, or 38 percent of the United
States’ population age 16 and older hunted, fished or observed
wildlife.
They spent $120 billion that year pursuing those activities – an
amount
Roughly equal to Americans’ total spending at all spectator sports,
Casinos, motion pictures, golf courses and country clubs, amusement
parks
And arcades combined.
“This very important survey shows in real economic and participatory
terms
The impact that wildlife has on the nation’s economy, but simply
talking
About dollars and cents doesn’t fully capture the importance of
wildlife to
Our nation. Wildlife related recreation rejuvenates our spirit and
gets us
Outside pursuing healthy activities,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Director H. Dale Hall at the Outdoor Writer Association of America’s
annual
Conference in Roanoke, Va. “Americans should be proud that the
outdoor
Tradition continues to be such a prevalent part of our lives.”
Preliminary data from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting
and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation shows the importance of
wildlife-related
Recreation to the American people. Of all Americans age 16 or
older,
· 30 million or 13 percent fished and spent $41 billion on their
Activities,
· 12.5 million or 5 percent hunted and spent $23 billion, and
· 71 million or 31 percent observed wildlife and spent $45
billion.
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation
Has been conducted every 5 years since 1955 and is one of the
nation’s most
Important wildlife recreation databases. It is considered to be the
Definitive source of information concerning participation and
expenditures
Associated with hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife
recreation
Nationwide.
The Survey is conducted at the request of State fish and wildlife
agencies
And is funded by grants from the Multistate Conservation Grant
Program. A
Wide range of individuals and groups depend on the Survey to analyze
Participation rates, economic impacts of expenditures, demographic
Characteristics, and trends in participation and activities.
“This expenditure of $120 billion highlights the benefits of these
Activities on national and state economies,” said Survey economist
Jerry
Leonard. “It is roughly equivalent to one out of every one hundred
dollars
Of goods and services produced in our economy. And much of this
activity
Occurs in places which rely significantly on wildlife-related
recreation
Expenditures for their economic well being.”
After losing ground in the early 1990s, wildlife-related activities
such as
Bird watching and photography increased 13 percent over the last
decade.
In 1996, 62.9 million Americans observed wildlife; 66.1 million did
so in
2001, and 71.1 million in 2006. Wildlife watchers spending
increased 19
Percent, from $37.5 billion in 1996, $43.7 billion in 2001 to $44.7
billion
Last year.
The preliminary data shows decreases in both angling and hunting
Participation from 1996 to 2006. In 1996, 35.2 million anglers
fished
Compared to 34.1 million in 2001 and 30.0 million in 2006,
representing a
15 percent decline in participation of the ten year span.
“Participation levels in 2006 were likely reduced due to several
factors:
Higher gas prices, hurricanes, the increasing age of baby boomers,
and
Continuing urbanization,” said Leonard.
Anglers spent $40.6 billion last year, which is similar to 2001 but
16
Percent lower than 1996. While overall spending—including trips,
fishing
Equipment, special equipment, and other related items—was flat from
2001 to
2006, spending on fishing equipment such as rods and reels and
Travel-related items such as food and lodging were up.
For hunting, there was a 10 percent decline in participation from
1996 to
2006. In 1996, 14.0 million Americans hunted compared to 13.0
million in
2001 and 12.5 million in 2006. Hunters spent $22.7 billion last
year, 3
Percent lower than 2001 and 14 percent lower than 1996. Similar to
Fishing, while overall spending was down, expenditures on hunting
equipment
such as rifles and ammunition were up 3 percent since 2001.
It is important to note that the National Survey is a snapshot for
the
specific year in which it is conducted and does not necessarily
represent
the total number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers in the
U.S.
because they do not consistently participate every year. For
example,
examination of survey data shows that over the five year period from
2002
to 2006, cumulatively over 44.4 million fished and 18.6 million
hunted.
However, this information serves as a valuable tool to gauge general
trends
in the participation of Americans in wildlife related activities and
related expenditures.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife
and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife
Refuge
System, which encompasses 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands
of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69
national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological
services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws,
administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife
habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal
governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal
Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise
taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife
agencies.
FWS
See our
