Recreational fishing worth millions to NSW coastal communities

The recreational fishing sector is worth more than $20 million to the economy of individual coastal communities every year, a new survey has revealed.

The survey has highlighted the importance of the recreational fishing sector to local communities across the state.

Around one million people wet a line in NSW at least once a year. This study reinforces that not only is it one of our most popular pastimes, it is also of great economic importance to NSW communities.

The study, funded by the state’s two Recreational Fishing Trusts, involved almost 1000 anglers and focused on two popular fishing areas: Port Macquarie and Bermagui/Narooma.

It found that recreational fishing is worth almost $25 million each year to the Bermagui/Narooma district and supports 260 direct and indirect jobs.

In fact, 19 per cent of all tourism employment in the area is linked to recreational fishing.

Similar results were recorded in Port Macquarie, with the survey revealing that the sector is worth almost $23 million to the area annually, supporting 276 jobs.

The study examined the daily spending and fishing habits of anglers, the number of fishing days each year for both locals and visitors, and expenditure on items such as bait, tackle, transport, accommodation, boat hire and dining out.

The results of the survey will help local communities develop tourism strategies to further cater for the booming recreational fishing market.

One-quarter of anglers surveyed in Port Macquarie were from the local area, 25 per cent were visiting from Sydney, 40 per cent from other areas of NSW and the remainder from interstate.

The story was slightly different in Bermagui/Narooma with one-third of anglers from NSW and the A.C.T., 40 per cent from Victoria, less than 10 per cent travelling from Sydney and the rest living locally.

Local anglers in both areas spent between $42 and $52 per day of fishing, while tourists spent between $200 and $210 a day.