Recreational Fishing

Canada

2000 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada - Survey Highlights

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Direct Expenditures

Despite a decrease of almost 14% in the number of anglers, only a limited decrease of 5% in direct expenditures was reported. An overall drop in the numbers of resident anglers, despite consistent average spending, was responsible for the decrease. Anglers spent $2.4 billion on goods and services directly related to their angling activities (Table 8, Figure 3). Resident anglers spent $1.4 billion of this amount (59.7%), or $533 per angler (no change from 1995). Canadian nonresidents spent $138 million (6.8%), or $794 per angler and foreign nonresidents spent $830 million (34.6%), with an average of $1,072 per angler.

Transportation costs was the largest single category for resident anglers at $575 million, or 40% of all trip expenses. The next largest outlay by residents was for food and lodging, for which residents spent $486 million, or 34% of the total. As a single category, non-resident Canadians spent more on food and lodging (34%). However, transportation costs and package deals were areas of significant expenditure, accounting for 26% and 25% of total expenses, respectively. Non-Canadians spent the largest amount of their direct expenditures on package deals, totaling $342, or 41% of all trip expenses. An additional $271 million was spent on food and lodging costs, accounting for an additional 33% of direct expenditures.

Over 41% of all expenditures were made in Ontario, followed by 19.7% in British Columbia (expenditures in tidal waters at 10.8%; in freshwater at 8.9%), followed by Quebec at 19.5%. For those purchasing package deals, most was spent in Ontario at 41%, followed by Quebec at 17% and British Columbia tidal waters at 16%.

Ontario residents accounted for 33% of all expenditures made by resident anglers followed by Quebec at 29%. Nonresident Canadians favoured British Columbia, with 31% of their total direct expenditures made for fishing in tidal waters. Nonresident non-Canadians spent an overwhelming 62% of their direct expenditures in Ontario.