According to the most recent assessment from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the country’s outdoor recreation industry is booming.
We are coming off a banner year for outdoor sports, which range widely from fishing and boating to snowmobile enthusiasts and weekend campers. Combined, Americans and visitors to the United States contributed $1.2 trillion to the economy in 2023, while supporting five million American jobs.
For those finance folks who like to key in on such stats, that’s a whopping 2.3% of the nation’s gross domestic product.
This marks the seventh consecutive year the BEA has tracked the sector, underscoring how resilient and important outdoor “fun” is to local communities, small businesses, and families across the country.
If you’re reading this column, then you know boating and fishing are hugely popular on Chesapeake Bay and in the Mid-Atlantic. These pursuits give people an opportunity to enjoy the Bay’s natural resources, connect with family and friends and disconnect from the oftentimes frenzied cacophony of 21st century life.
Just as importantly, boating and fishing support thousands of small businesses. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, country-wide 93% of boat builders are small businesses and 95% of boats sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S.
According to the data highlighted by the sport fishing trade group American Sportfishing Association, every year 57 million Americans wet a line in one of the thousands of U.S bays, rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes and oceans each year.
When they do, they help provide a massive economic bump to the nation’s economy while helping create and support almost a million jobs.
“This BEA data proves what the fishing industry has always known — outdoor recreation is an economic force in the United States and is only getting bigger,” the American Sportfishing Association said in a statement. “Lawmakers have the opportunity to put this data to use by crafting policy that supports and promotes access, habitat improvement, and clean water to benefit our outdoor recreation economy.”
Positive duck numbers
After a relatively balmy — albeit downright windy — fall, the air temperature is beginning to feel ducky along our part of the Atlantic flyway for ducks and geese. The annual survey released earlier this fall shows some duck species reproduced better than biologists expected.
Specifically, estimates of population levels were up in the northern breeding regions although they were down in the pothole prairie areas.
Despite this encouraging bump in numbers compared to last year, habitat conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited say the overall population levels remain below the long-term average, which underscores the importance of continuing to protect and enhance bird habitats across the continent.
Here are a few highlights, courtesy of Ducks Unlimited:
- 2024 marks the first documented increase (+5%) in year-to-year total surveyed breeding ducks in the traditional survey area since 2015.
- Eastern survey area duck numbers increased in five out of the six major species while pintails saw a small drop.
- Mallards are up by 8% and wigeon numbers by 55%. Pintails are down 11% from 2023, but still are at a level to allow the opportunity for a three-pintail daily limit in the 2025–26 hunting season under the recently approved interim pintail harvest strategy.
Striper comments due
The East Coast’s Striper Board will meet Dec. 16 th in Arlington, Virginia, to finalize the revised 2025 management measures, which are intended to accelerate rebuilding of stripers in order to meet the 2029 target.
To voice your opinion to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, email to: comments@asmfc.org. The deadline is midnight on Dec. 10.
Calendar
Through Dec. 10: Striper season in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including Maryland’s side of the Potomac River. Creel is one rockfish per day per angler. Slot size is 19 inches to a maximum length of 24 inches. See Maryland DRN website for more details.
Through Nov. 29: Eastern Zone, second split of regular duck season. Check Maryland DNR website for details.
Through Nov. 29: Western Zone, second split of regular duck season. Check Maryland DNR website for details.
Dec. 5: ASMFC striper board “Informational Webinar at 6 p.m. Visit asmfc.org for details.
Dec. 10: ASMFC Striped Bass board comments deadline. Send via email to comments@asmfc.org by midnight.
Dec. 16: ASMFC Striper Bass Board meeting, Arlington, VA. Details at asmfc.org.
Dec. 20-Jan. 4, 2025: First split, migratory Canada Goose (Atlantic Population). The bag limit is two (2) geese per day.
Jan. 15, 2025-Feb. 1, 2025: Second split, migratory Canada goose (Atlantic Population). The bag limit is two (2) geese per day.
Send outdoors calendar listings and photos to cdollarchesapeake@gmail.com