Number of Anglers in Alberta
Last Update/Review: August 6, 2002
The graph and table below show the number of sportfishing licences issued in Alberta each year dating back to 1963. As described below, not all people legally angling in Alberta hold licences. It is estimated that a total of about 373,000 people fished in the 2001—2002 fiscal year.The number of licensed anglers in the province is a concern to fisheries managers. They need to know how many people are fishing, how many days they fish and how many fish they catch so they can make informed decisions about conserving our fisheries while maintaining fishing opportunity. Information is obtained by conducting surveys of licensed anglers to inquire about their fishing activities. The most extensive survey occurs as part of the Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada. Also, by purchasing sportfishing licences, anglers make significant financial contributions to fisheries conservation in the province through the Alberta Conservation Association.
Youth under the age of 16 and Alberta seniors (65 and older) who go fishing do not require a licence and are not included in the values listed below. Estimates of youth anglers and their fishing activities are obtained during the national survey of licensed adults and youths in their household. The average over the past three national surveys is about 108,000 youth anglers.
Since 1970, when seniors were given an exception from the need to purchase a licence, there has been no accurate record of the number of seniors fishing in Alberta. A conservative estimate of the number, calculated using age ratios in angler counts taken at a variety of water bodies, is 0.17 times the number of Alberta resident licences issued for the year, or about 38,500 in 2001-2002.
A value of 373,000 is a reasonable projection of the number of anglers fishing annually in Alberta. This projection includes the 2001—2002 number of licences issued (resident, non-resident and 5-day non-resident) at 226,449 and estimates of 108,000 youth anglers and 38,500 senior anglers (372,949 in total, rounded to 373,000).
The following table lists the actual figures used in creating the above graph.
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