Education Centre

Economic

The following information is provided to help you understand the economic importance of fishing and related tourism in our Province.

  • Numerous studies show that B.C.’s public fishery contributes more than 2X to 3X than the commercial fishery to GDP and employs significantly more people, yet utilizes a small proportion of the resource.
  • What some might view as a recreational activity is actually a very important business sector for the BC economy.
  • In 2016, $1.1Billion in direct revenue to the BC economy.
  • 9000 jobs depend on the public fishery.
  • More than 450,000 fresh and saltwater anglers annually.
  • The public fishery harvests 10% of all salmon fisheries and 15% of all halibut fisheries, yet generate significantly more than the other 85 to 90%.

https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/rec/can/2015/index-eng.html#1-2

https://www.psc.org/download/333/specialreports/9337/economic-impacts-of-pacific-salmonfisheries.pdf

https://www.gofishbc.com/PDFs/Footer/2013_bc_freshwater_sport_fishing_economic_impact_r.aspx

https://publicfisheryalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2014-01_bcwf_sport_fishing_economic_impact.pdf

https://publicfisheryalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SCSA-vol2.pdf

https://www.conferenceboard.ca/research/angling-hunting-trapping-and-sport-shooting

https://publicfisheryalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lib_206.pdf

Conservation

Anglers in BC were the first conservationists in BC, and continue to contribute more to the public fishery than any other user groups. Examples:

  • Most of BC’s hatchery facilities are run by volunteers, most of which are anglers.
  • Various organizations representing public fishers donate significant amounts of money to research, habitat protection and restoration projects throughout BC.
  • Many anglers volunteer their time to sit on boards, committees and projects