How much is recreational fishing worth to coastal towns?

The NSW recreational fishing licence is funding a major new study into the economic value of recreational fishing to coastal towns, the Director-General of NSW Fisheries, Steve Dunn, said today.

Mr Dunn said the $89,000 study is measuring anglers' expenditure and fishing activities in the communities of Port Macquarie and Narooma/Bermagui.

"This will help determine the economic importance of recreational fishing to coastal communities and help ensure anglers get the best services and facilities to suit their needs," Mr Dunn said.

"Recreational fishing is such a vital industry for rural and regional communities - injecting millions of dollars and generating thousands of jobs.

"We know that these communities are often dependent on recreational fishing and the flow-on tourism benefits.

"But we don't yet have any definitive figures on exactly how much this industry is worth to those regions."

The study involves more than 500 face-to-face interviews and 400 telephone interviews with anglers in Port Macquarie and Narooma/Bermagui. A final report on the study is due to be issued later this year.

Mr Dunn said an earlier economic study had shown that in the Snowy Mountains region alone, recreational fishing generates $70 million a year and 700 jobs, and the results from this coastal study are likely to be equally impressive.

"It will help us understand more about those spin-off benefits, and how we can work to enhance them," he said.

"The coastal study will be combined with the results from earlier research into spending by Sydney anglers around the State, also funded by the recreational fishing licence.

"Combining the two studies will help us to measure expenditure by all anglers - both residents and visitors.

"Funds from the recreational fishing licence are paid into the saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing trusts and can only be spent on projects to improve recreational fishing."

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Eric Aubert on 8437 4948 or 0419 185 375.