2011 National Marine Recreational Angler Expenditure Survey

U.S. law mandates NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to estimate the economic impacts of the policies it implements.   In 2011, NMFS is surveying saltwater anglers across the nation to update estimates of the overall economic contributions of saltwater recreational fishing to the U.S. economy.

The 2011 National Marine Recreational Fishing Expenditure Survey began on January 1, 2011 and will collect economic data from marine anglers in all coastal states across the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) and in Puerto Rico. These data will be used to estimate angler expenditures on marine recreational fishing trips and fishing-related durable goods such as fishing tackle and gear, boats, vehicles, and second homes. The data on expenditures will be used to estimate the economic impacts of marine recreational fisheries in each state and nationwide. By surveying the recreational fishing community, NMFS is addressing one of the recreational fishing community's top priorities as identified at the 2010 Sportfishing Summit. This presentation will provide details on the survey methods, the population being sampled, the types of expenditure information collected, and the methods for estimating the economic impacts of these recreational expenditures.