According to the authority the main purpose of the project is to provide accurate information on the economic contributions of angler spending to the Alaska economy at the statewide, regional, and key sub-region levels. This study will estimate the total expenditures associated with sport fishing in Alaska in 2007, as well as estimates of the total direct, indirect and induced economic effects of angler spending in terms of total jobs, total wages and salaries, tax receipts, etc. at various geographic levels and by residency.
Another vital aim of the project is to establish a consistent and repeatable methodology for collecting and reporting estimates of economic contribution of sportfishing in Alaska on a periodic basis (3-5 years) at the statewide, regional, and sub-regional level for the purposes of tracking and comparing such estimates over time, as well as making reasonably current estimates available to planning and regulatory decision-makers.
It is said that the study will provide more power to the Division of Sport Fish to manage sport fisheries according to the sustained yield principle and in ways that attempt to optimize social and economic benefits to Alaskans. The Division is also required to provide the Legislature with periodic updates on a number of key performance measures related to its management of fish and wildlife resources in Alaska.
In this project a third-party contractor will be surveying a sample of licensed anglers in Alaska to collect information on their expenditures for sport fishing in a given time frame (annual and trip-based). The project is said to provide a measure of raw economic activity generated by sport fishing activities in the state of Alaska in 2007. Measures of total direct, indirect, and induced economic impact (total expenditures, jobs, wages & salaries, tax revenues) will be reported at various geographic scales, including statewide and within key sport fish management regions and sub-regions.
