New research revises estimates of how many fish Americans catch through recreational fishing. Drawing on more than 15,000 fishing reports from 36 states, the study finds that recreational freshwater anglers in the lower 48 states catch and keep substantially more fish than previously estimated by official accounting. The researchers use these reported catch-and-retain figures to estimate the food value of that fishing to households. They calculate that recreational fishing results in about $3 billion worth of food on Americans’ tables each year, based on the volume and value of fish kept by anglers. The findings emphasize that recreational fishing constitutes a large component of fisheries activity that is not fully captured in existing estimates. The research therefore suggests the scale of recreational freshwater fishing in the United States is larger than policy and management figures have indicated, using expanded, state-based report data to derive updated totals.
Study finds US recreational anglers catch more fish than official estimates
New research revises estimates of how many fish Americans catch through recreational fishing. Drawing on more than 15,000 fishing reports from 36 states, the study finds that recreational freshwater a...
- Researchers analyze more than 15,000 fishing reports from 36 states.
- The study focuses on recreational freshwater anglers in the lower 48 states.
- Recreational anglers catch and keep more fish than previously estimated by official bodies.
- The researchers estimate recreational fishing provides about $3 billion in food value annually.
- The findings are based on reported catch-and-retain data rather than prior official estimates.
One of the United States' largest fisheries is hiding in plain sight. Recreational freshwater anglers in the lower 48 states catch—and keep—far more fish than any official body has estimated, according to new research from our team of North American fishery scientists.
3 months agoCombining more than 15,000 reports from 36 states, researchers estimate that recreational fishing puts $3 billion worth of food on Americans’ tables each year.
3 months ago
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