The results of the Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada, produced every five years since 1975 by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada, are now in for 2005.
The most comprehensive assessment of recreational fishing in Canada and the seventh in the series, the survey reports that 3.2 million anglers participated in some type of recreational fishing in Canada in 2005.
"This survey highlights that millions of Canadians and tourists continue to enjoy recreational fishing in Canada’s oceans, rivers and lakes every year, and Canada’s New Government is committed to ensuring that our future generations can also enjoy activities like recreational fishing," said The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. "That is why we are taking action to conserve, protect and improve Canada’s vast water resources, through initiatives such as our new National Water Strategy announced in Budget 2007."
Angling participation rates however, continued their downward trend in most provinces and territories in Canada. This was thought to be due to changing lifestyles and other forms of recreation which compete for leisure time.
The survey also found that more than half of Canadian anglers were in the age range of 45-64 and that the average number of days fished over the course of the year was 13. Also of interest was the fact that foreign and Canadian non-resident anglers continued to show their love for fishing in cool, clean Canadian waters, making over two million trips to Canada in 2005.
It is estimated that over 215 million fish of all species were caught in Canadian waters in 2005 but only 72 million of those fish were kept, indicating that anglers in Canada understand and appreciate conservation and the importance of the catch and release program.
Resident Canadian anglers caught 157 million fish and foreign anglers caught 54 million, followed non-resident anglers. Walleye passed trout in 2005 as the most caught species for the first time in the survey’s history. Other top species were perch, bass and northern pike.
Anglers in Canada contributed an estimated $7.5 billion to the local economies in 2005. This was up 12 percent from the estimated $6.7 billion that was spent on fishing and related activities in Canada in 2000. Total investments directly related to recreational fishing in Canada in 2005 accounted for approximately $2.5 billion.
The Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada is produced in cooperation with the fisheries and licensing agencies of all provinces and territorial governments in Canada.
To download the full survey results please visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Web site at:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/statistics/recreational/canada/2005/index_e.htm
