Many things have driven the local economy in Vancouver in recent centuries. Commercial fishing, processing and water sports are all good examples. According to a new economy study from the provincial government, one other activity pulls in more money than all the aforementioned combined: sport fishing.
Recreational fishing now casts a shadow over other fishing activities, not including any revenues from secondary industries related to sport fishing such as boats, gear and accessories. Saltwater fishing in the Pacific accounts for approximately half of the gross domestic product, according to B.C. Stats, with inland fishing in fresh water lakes and rivers accounting for the other half.
As the profile of sport fishing has been raised in the province, lobby groups, such as the B.C. Wildlife Federation, are calling for the government, both federal and provincial, to make eco-concerns a higher priority, particularly in regards to the fragile salmon, trout and halibut resource management. The federation has urged fishery departments to monitor river volumes during spawning seasons and the harvest of halibut species by anglers who are not catch-and-release fishermen. Bill Bosch, president of the BC Wildlife Federation, said:
“This report has established a clear need for both the provincial and federal governments to wake up to the economic importance of investing in building and maintaining sustainable recreational fisheries across British Columbia.”
Employment in the recreation sector has also kept pace, creating many brochure printing opportunities for Vancouver Print companies eager to capitalize on tourists who stream to B.C. for its world-class fishing.
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