Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada
Last Update/Review: August 6, 2002
The Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada is a series of nationally co-ordinated studies conducted by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial fisheries agencies. The surveys have been carried out at five-year intervals since 1975 to develop an understanding of, and trends in, Canada's sportfishery for freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing.
The 2000 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada is the sixth in the series of surveys. The Fish and Wildlife Division is conducting the survey throughout the province to obtain results based on the 2000 sportfishing season. Survey questionnaires have been mailed during the week of January 8, 2001 to a scientifically selected, random sample of about 6000 residents and non-residents who purchased an Alberta Sportfishing Licence in 2000.
The survey asks questions about the angler's experience, opinions and fishing activity including location, frequency and time spent fishing for seventeen species of fish. Expenditure information is obtained to estimate of the amount anglers spend to obtain their fishing experience and what kind of expenditures they incur.
In 1995, the year of the last survey, it was estimated that 232 465 licensed anglers in Alberta fished for 3.7 million days and caught 15.3 million fish, keeping only 4.6 million of the fish they caught. These anglers invested $312 million in Alberta, directly related to sportfishing. The report, Sport Fishing in Alberta 1995, provides information on angler demographics, fishing pressure, fish harvest and economic benefits within Alberta. More information about the Canada-wide results for the Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada is available on the website for the Statistical Services unit of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
