As per the report U.S. commercial and recreational fishing generated more than $185 billion in sales and supported more than two million jobs in 2006. This new economic report released by NOAA’s Fisheries Service which mentioned the commercial fishing industry generated $103 billion in sales, $44 billion in income and supported 1.5 million jobs in 2006.
As far as the recreational fishing is concern it has generated $82 billion in sales, $24 billion in income, and supported 534,000 jobs in 2006. Jim Balsiger, NOAA acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service, informed that the report indicates that managing fisheries sustainable is good for the environment and the economy. He told that fishing helps create a substantial number of jobs around the nation.
According to the report the sales, income and job figures for each coastal state are given clear picture of the sector. The highest amount of sales generated by the commercial fishing industry were in California ($9.8 billion), Florida ($5.2 billion), Massachusetts ($4.4 billion), Washington ($3.8 billion), and Alaska ($3 billion). The most jobs were generated in California (179,000), Florida (103,000), Massachusetts (83,000), Washington (75,000) and Texas (47,000).
It is said that the recreational fishing generated its highest economic effect in total sales and jobs generated in Florida ($7.6 billion sales, 131,000 jobs); Texas ($2.2 billion sales, 34,000 jobs); California ($1.9 billion sales, 23,000 jobs); North Carolina ($1.2 billion sales, 24,000 jobs); and Louisiana ($1.2 billion sales, 27,000 jobs).
Experts told that the report is the first volume in a new series designed to give the public accessible economic information on fishing activities in the U.S., and is a companion to Fisheries of the United States, and the forthcoming Fishing Communities of the United States.
