A new study commissioned by the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association shows that of the $680.6 million anglers in Oregon spent on trip-related and equipment purchases in the state in 2011, $444 million was due to the availability of public lands.
The study, conducted by Southwick Associates in October 2013, showed that public lands help make up 65-percent of the fishing-related spending in the state. The study also outlined that the spending supports 7,204 jobs and $249.7 million of income statewide. The study focStudy shows Sandy River public lands feed into economy used on the sportfishing economy when it comes to its relation to public lands.
The study also broke out nine areas of the state where there are public lands and found that the central Oregon coast was the biggest beneficiary of the economy impact of public lands, with 1,130 jobs, $69.6 million in retail sales and $120 million in economic output coming from public lands.
Southern Oregon was the second-highest beneficiary of fishing-related activity on public lands with 1,074 jobs, $66.2 million in retail sales and $114 million in economic output.
Overall, the study found, that anglers spent more than $148 million on food and lodging, $95 million on transportation and more than $68 million on fishing rods, reels and tackle in 2011 statewide.
The study also focused on how Land and Water Conservation projects benefit the local Oregon economy, and used the Sandy River Area of Critical Environmental Concern as a case study. The Sandy River ACEC offers exceptional recreation opportunities for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature study and non-motorized boating or floating. The 29,000-acre Sandy River ACEC project is likely to be an important resource for outdoor recreation. For example, if the project attracted 5% of total fishing activity within the area it could be expected to account for 4,640 fishing day trips per year, according to the study.
Southwick officials estimated the Sandy River ACEC would generate more than $4.6 million in economic impact, creating more than 50 jobs earning more than $1.6 million in wages. The tax revenue generated from these new public lands is estimated to be more than $700,000 annually.
“Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor exists because people love to have adventures on public lands around Oregon and the Northwest,” said B.G. Eilertson, buyer with Fisherman’s. “This study shows that the economic impacts of public lands leads to more purchases of everything from windbreakers to binoculars and fishing rods.”
Southwick Associates was founded in 1989, serving state fish and wildlife agencies, sportfishing and hunting industries, and non-profits. It specializes in economic and business statistics related to fish, wildlife and outdoor recreation.
The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association was established in 1993 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of sport fisheries and the businesses dependent upon them.
For more information contact Liz Hamilton at 503-631-8859 or nsializ@aol.com.