A
few years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported
that participation in recreational fishing had fallen rapidly
between 1991 and 2001 – from 35.6 million to 34.1
million.
Fewer
anglers means less money into fisheries improvements from
tackle add-on funds, less interest in fishing access improvements
and less interest in legislation to support fishery habitats
and fishing. Recently, an update was published that explains
some of the factors that caused 1.5 million fewer people
to fish, even though the population of the U.S. grew 13
percent during the same period.
A significant
proportion of the decline in fishing occurred in younger
people, which is the most important group when considering
that those who learn early usually stay involved. In 2005,
around 10 percent fewer 6-19 year olds had ever fished than
had in 1995. This fishing initiation rate declined twice
as fast in households with incomes under $40,000 than in
those over $100,000. As might be expected, initiation into
hunting and fishing is lowest in urban areas.
Initiation
of children into fishing also varies with geographic region.
The highest rate is in the west north central states (Missouri
through North Dakota; 61 percent) and lowest in the Pacific
west (California to Alaska; 32 percent). Louisiana is grouped
with the west south central states, where about 45 percent
of kids are taught to fish.
About
half of first-time fishermen were under 10 years old, but
still, surprisingly, about a third of first-time anglers
(and hunters) are over 21. Half of the latter group was
30-45 years old! Fishing is definitely an activity for which
it’s never too late to start.
“Dropping
out” of fishing is still a worrisome trend. In 1990,
65 percent of everyone who had ever fished was still active
in the sport. By 2005, only 57 percent of this group remained
active.
Why
did people quit fishing? The most common reasons for anglers
who have stopped fishing were that they didn’t have
the time or had too many family or work obligations. Only
a few people cited the cost or changing regulations, but
health reasons did affect some of this group.
All
the news in these reports isn’t bad. While fishing
retention rates are still dropping, they aren’t dropping
as fast as they did during the early 1990s. Hopefully, these
data indicate a turn-around in this trend, and fishing will
gain in popularity.
This
information shows us how critical it is to bring young anglers
into the sport if it is to remain a vital element in how
we protect and improve our waters. You can find more information
on the study at http://federalaid.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html.
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