I was doing some searching for some Ontario Angler Stats. I found some on the Fish Ontario Website, but they are from 1996.
Participation by Ontarians in Recreational Fishing
In 1996, of the estimated 4.2 million Canadians who fished for recreation in Canada, 1.5 million (36%) were residents of Ontario.
Ontario resident anglers caught more than 74 million fish and released almost two-thirds of them.
* The most frequently caught species were yellow perch, walleye, and bass (smallmouth and largemouth)
Source: The Importance of Nature to Canadians: 1996 Survey Highlights (prepared by Environment Canada)
The Cost of Licenses:
A 7-day Ontario fishing license for non-residents is $36.00 (Canadian), and a license for the season is $23.00 (for Ontario Residents).
I am thinking:
If you take the number of Ontario Anglers and assume a portion of the 1.5 million of them are children and seniors (they do not require licenses), it is quite easy to figure out how much sportsmen contribute to fish conservation.
Let’s say 1.25 million of the Ontario Anglers purchase licenses (this accounts for children and other groups that do not pay fees) that cost $23.00.
1 250 000 x $23.00 = $28,750,000
That is HUGE number that you and I contribute to our fisheries on a yearly basis. This dollar amount does not include an increase in anglers from 1996 to 2006 ( I wish i could find current data). The number is probably 30+ million now. That figure blows my mind! I wonder if we can say the same for organizations like oPETAo (read between the small o’s)? At least our money goes directly to fish habitat and conservation and not making calendars with partially clothed celebrities!
Another reason to fish proud and to fish hard!
We are making a difference for wildlife and our environment. I hope the Government can spend these funds wisely and give the anglers the ear our contributions deserve!
Bill Anderson
Muskoka Outdoors
