From the IGFA -- Did You Know?

• Recreational fishing in Europe is responsible for:
• 2900 companies
• 60,000 jobs
• 5 billion Euros, annually
• Europe has 25 million recreational anglers that spend an estimated 25 billion Euros each year.
• New Zealand anglers spend an average of $900 per year.
• Australiananglers spend an average of $100 per year.
• Nearly 40 million Americans fish.
• That's more than the number of people that play golf or tennis combined.
• Recreational fishing in the US supports more than one million jobs.
• Recreational fishing in the US supports more than $45 billion in annual retail sales.
• The total economic output of recreational fishing in the US is over $125 billion annually.
• US anglers and boaters spend over $600 million annually on excise taxes that go towards fisheries conservation and enhancement.
• US anglers directly invest $1.2 billion annually to preserve, protect and enhance the sport of recreational fishing.