Saltwater Fishing - A Big Industry for Florida
Florida has the nation’s largest recreational fishing industry, contributing in excess of $5 billion annually to the Gross State Product. The funding required to advance the development of fish rearing for stock replenishment represents a small fraction of the value to Florida’s economy that would be supported by this undertaking.
Thirty-nine percent of the recreational saltwater fishing in the US occurs in Florida waters. In addition, the number of anglers coming to fish in Florida is increasing at a rate of approximately 7% annually. Saltwater fishing and the many related industries are a growth industry for Florida. Sustaining this industry and ensuring the future abundance of fishery species requires investment in fish hatcheries and habitat restoration.
This investment leverages the existing advertising investment promoting Florida as “The Fishing Capital of the World”, which drives millions of visitor’s destination decisions.
Economic Impact
The construction of the hatcheries and their associated facilities will be an immediate economic benefit to the local communities by providing construction, site operation, and management employment opportunities.
- Immediate Construction Jobs -- 3,479
- Permanent Green Jobs -- 129
- Indirect Green Job Creation in Local Communities -- 40
The $1.4 billion that resident and non-resident saltwater anglers spend preparing for and conducting saltwater fishing trips in turn produces an estimated $119.7 million in indirect business taxes. The $1.3 billion that Florida resident saltwater anglers spend on the purchase of saltwater fishing equipment and accessories (not including the purchase of boats, vehicles or homes purchased to engage in saltwater fishing) results in an additional $125 million in indirect business taxes.
The future viability of sport fishing will be an important consideration for the boating, angling and tourism communities to continue to enhance investment in related businesses. These investments will enhance the future attractiveness of Florida as a destination for sport angling and related tourism.
The hatcheries will enhance the return-on-investment and sustainability of the angling economy (e.g., angler benefits, boating-related spending) and protect and enhance previous investments in infrastructure (fishing piers, boat launch facilities) while generating self-sustaining funding (e.g., fishing licenses, boat fuel tax).
A significant proportion of saltwater angling takes place from private boats and this related boat ownership (e.g., boat purchases, maintenance, boating trip related spending) is an important element of the State’s economy.
A reduction in fishing effort will have a significant negative impact on this economy and its businesses including marinas, dealerships, hotels and restaurants. The hatchery network will serve as a means of sustaining and enhancing fisheries and associated state and local economies.
Green Jobs
The hatchery network provides linkages to Florida's outstanding research institutions (Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University) and a number of universities, colleges and K-12 schools. This linkage further assures that our future generations will be well-educated, enhancing future green jobs related to the marine resources. Jobs for individuals with varied backgrounds – entry-level and vocational training to advanced degrees – will be developed.
The hatchery network will demonstrate Florida’s continued preeminence in aquaculture science and technology and will serve to enhance the educational opportunities for experts in fisheries development and management. This will allow Florida to continue to lead the world in fisheries enhancement and protection.
Public-Private Partnership
The hatchery network is part of an integrated approach that brings together public and private partners focusing on environmental stewardship that includes habitat and environmental restoration, recreational sport fish enhancement, and education and outreach. The partnerships in support of the hatcheries provide the angling community with some specific ways that these anglers can support and invest in the future of Florida’s sport fisheries. They also serve as tangible evidence that the state is investing in the future of sport angling and enhancing angling communities.
The hatcheries will serve as a practical demonstration of benefits of partnerships between anglers, environmentalists, resource managers, the sport fishing industry, and economic development agencies and organizations.
Teaching Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
The educational programming provided at the hatcheries will develop future citizens and sport anglers that are more ecologically aware and understanding of the compatibilities between ecological and economic sustainability.
Hatcheries can work to boost the stocks of depleted fisheries that would require too long to recover on their own or severe fishery restrictions and to provide juvenile fish to a farming industry that cannot afford to develop the hatchery infrastructure on its own.
Each facility will be LEED-compliant, utilizing energy-efficient design and construction techniques and utilizing a mix of solar, wind and other alternative power generation techniques, meeting the Governor’s request to reduce the State’s carbon footprint.
Marine Sciences Leadership
The hatchery network will demonstrate Florida’s continued preeminence in aquaculture science and technology and will serve to enhance the educational opportunities for experts in fisheries development and management. This will allow Florida to continue to lead the world in fisheries enhancement and protection.
Hatcheries are required to achieve an economy of scale and to integrate research disciplines around a common goal of increasing production efficiency and product quality while supporting habitat restoration and conservation.
This program is a demonstration of the power of employing new aquaculture science and technologies in conjunction with evolving fisheries management concepts and methods.
Florida has many talented researchers working for a myriad of research universities and other organizations with decades of experience developed from multiple sources of funding, affording Florida an unprecedented synergy that could result in the quick development of a wide range of commercial opportunities.
Florida is a leader in technology development, marine recreation, food production and proactive environmental management and the hatchery network would represent a fusion of those State priorities. Associated research programs in fish nutrition, health and molecular genetics are consistent with Florida’s investment in and promotion of its growing biotechnology industry.
Building a Sustainable Future
The construction of hatcheries and their associated facilities will provide an immediate economic benefit to local Florida communities by providing construction and green employment opportunities. Further, the hatchery network will serve as a means of sustaining and enhancing Florida's fisheries and the billions in business associated with fishing and boating. Finally, Florida has billions invested in boating and fishing infrastructure and hatcheries are a small investment in creating a sustainable boating and fishing future for Florida's long-term green economy.
