Survey Results

4.1 Angler Profile

In 2005, over 3.2 million adult anglers participated in a variety of recreational fishing activities in Canada (Annex A.3).^{Footnote 7} This was 10% lower than the estimate of 3.6 million in 2000 (Figure 4.1). Historical data show that the number of active adult anglers has decreased at an average annual rate of 2% during the past ten years.

The majority of active anglers in 2005 were residents fishing within their home province or territory (almost 2.5 million). The remaining active adult angler population consisted of just over 150,000 Canadian non-residents (Canadians fishing outside their home province or territory) and visitors to Canada (approximately 628,000).

Figure 4.1 Total Active Adult Anglers, All Angler
Categories, Canada, 1995, 2000, 2005¹

Note:
1. The 1995 and 2000 estimates have been adjusted to exclude the total number of active non-resident anglers in Quebec. The adjustment was done in order to allow comparison with the 2005 estimate.
Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.1.1 Resident Anglers

Resident anglers were mainly concentrated in Ontario and Quebec (Annex A.3). Given their large population base, this was not surprising and it has been a consistent trend since 1995. In 2005, resident anglers from these two provinces accounted for close to three-fifths of all active resident anglers in Canada. In terms of actual numbers, however, 2005 saw less active resident anglers in both provinces compared to 2000 (Table 4.1).

In general, resident angler participation rates showed a downward trend in most provinces and territories over the past ten years (Table 4.1). Resident angler participation rates have consistently been the highest in Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon.

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.1.2 Canadian Non-resident and Foreign Anglers

The non-resident angler category is made up of (1) Canadian non-residents who fished in jurisdictions outside their home province or territory; and (2) foreign anglers visiting Canada. In total, there were almost 780,000 anglers in these two non-resident angler categories in 2005 (Table 4.3).

Two out of ten were Canadians who fished outside their own province/territory. The remainder were foreign anglers, part of the 36 million travellers who entered Canada in 2005.^{Footnote 8} The overall trend shows an average annual decrease of 3% in the total non-resident angler population during last five years and 1% average annual decline since 1995.^{Footnote 9}

Note:
1. Participation rate is defined as the resident anglers' share of total population in the province or territory.
Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Note:
1. The 2005 Canada total does include the number of non-resident anglers in Quebec.
Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.1.3 Gender Profile

Male anglers made up 74% of resident adult anglers, 85% of Canadian non-resident anglers and 89% of all other non-resident anglers.  These distributions have shown very little fluctuations throughout the years (Figure 4.2).

Figure 4.3 illustrates the average age of male and female active anglers. In 2005, the average male angler was 49 years old whereas female anglers were generally 45 years old, compared with 44 and 41 years, respectively, ten years ago.^{Footnote 10} These were considerably higher than the overall 2005 average age for Canadian males (38 years) and females (40 years).^{Footnote 11}

Figure 4.2 Distribution of Active Anglers by Angler Category and Gender, Canada, 2005

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Figure 4.3 Average Age of Active Anglers, by Angler Category and Gender, Canada, 2005

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.1.4 Age Profile

Analysis of the age distribution reveals the aging population of active anglers in Canada. This is confirmed further by comparing the 2005 Canadian angler age profile with that of the general population (Figure 4.4). In 2005, for example, more than half of Canadian anglers were in the 45-64 age group, whereas only 26% of Canadians, in general, fell within the same age range.

Figure 4.4 Age Group Distribution, Canadian Active Anglers and General Population, Selected Age Groups (share of total), 2005¹

Note: 1. The age-group distribution of Canadian active anglers in this chart is based on the combined totals for resident anglers and Canadian non-resident anglers. Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.2 Fishing Effort

4.2.1 Days Fished

Given its direct correlation with the number of active anglers, the total number of days spent fishing has also seen a decline over the past 10 years. In 2005, anglers fished a total of 43 million days in Canada, 88% of which were days fished by resident anglers (Annex A.5).

The average number of days fished per angler remained relatively unchanged since 1995 (13 days)^{Footnote 12}. This suggests that although the number of people actively involved in a recreational fishing activity has been significantly lower, the people who remain active in recreational fishing appear to be applying the same amount of effort.

Canadian anglers fishing within their home jurisdictions accounted for about 38 million days fished in 2005. Only 2% of total fishing effort (992,628 days) could be attributed to Canadians fishing in other jurisdictions, while foreign anglers accounted for the remaining 10% (4.2 million days) in 2005. In terms of the average days fished for each angler category, resident anglers fished an average of 15 days, while the non-resident Canadian and foreign anglers groups averaged about 7 days each.

4.2.2 Non-resident Trip Characteristics

The survey also gathered general information on the overall tourism activities of non-resident anglers. It asked visiting Canadian anglers about their number of trips to other Canadian provinces/territories and it also asked foreign anglers on their total number of trips to Canada in 2005 (for any reason). The follow-up question obtained further information on how many of these trips were specifically for recreational fishing. As a whole, non-resident anglers made over 2 million trips within Canada in 2005 and more than half of their trips (58%) were spent fishing (Annex A.6).^{Footnote 13}

Canadian non-resident anglers fished on 34% of their trips to jurisdictions other than their own province/territory.^{Footnote 14} British Columbia's tidal waters continued to be a strong attraction for Canadian non-resident anglers partly because of popular species like chinook salmon and halibut.

Ontario had the highest share of foreign anglers in 2005 (75%), maintaining its status as the most popular fishing destination for non-Canadians. British Columbia finished second^{Footnote 15} followed by Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with 26,981 and 16,825 active foreign anglers, respectively.

4.3 Harvest

4.3.1 Fish Caught and Retained

In 2005, anglers caught 215 million fish of all species and retained nearly 72 million (Annex A.7). Resident anglers in all provinces and territories caught 157 million of this total harvest. Foreign anglers caught 54 million (25%) while Canadian non-resident anglers caught a relatively small proportion of the total fish harvest (4 million) during the year (Figure 4.5 and Annex A.8).

Resident anglers kept 39% of the fish they caught compared with 22% and 18% share of fish kept by Canadian non-resident and foreign anglers. On average, each resident angler kept 24 fish in 2005. Every Canadian non-resident angler kept an average of 7 fish, while foreign anglers retained an average of 16 fish of various species.

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

More than half of all reported 2005 fish harvests were caught in Ontario (115 million), followed by Quebec and three Western provinces (Figure 4.6). Ontario was the only province that saw an increase in total amount of fish caught between 2000 and 2005.

1. The estimate for British Columbia includes total fish harvests in both fresh water and tidal waters.
The Quebec estimate pertains to total fish harvested by resident anglers only.
Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

In terms of fish retained, however, the overall proportion of fish retained by anglers in Ontario was only 22%, compared to 67% for anglers in Quebec (Figure 4.7). Anglers who fished in Newfoundland and Labrador waters retained almost three-quarters of their catch that year.

Figure 4.7 Fish Retained, Share of Total Harvest, All Species,
Selected Provinces, 2005¹

Note:
1. The estimate for British Columbia includes total fish harvests in both fresh water and tidal waters. The Quebec estimate pertains to total fish harvested by resident anglers only.
Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.3.2 Species Profile

The top five species caught in each of the three angler categories covered 82% of total fish harvest in 2005 (Figure 4.8). The latest survey was also the first year in which trout was not the most predominant species caught nationally. In 2005, walleye ranked first and represented nearly a quarter of the total catch, followed by trout, perch and bass.

Figure 4.8 Total Fish Harvest, Selected Species, Canada, 2005

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Walleye was the number one species caught in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta (Table 4.4).  Walleye caught in Ontario accounted for the majority of the species caught nationwide by all anglers. 

Trout continued to be the most predominant species harvested by resident anglers (Figure 4.9). Brook trout, in particular, was the main species in all the eastern provinces as well as Quebec.  Lake trout, Arctic grayling and northern pike dominated the species caught in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon in 2005.  It is interesting, and yet quite reasonable, to note that although foreign anglers had the largest catch totals in all three territories, it was the residents that kept the greater proportion of fish accounting for at least two-thirds of the total fish kept in each territory.

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Figure 4.9 Total Fish Harvested by Resident and Non-resident Anglers, Top Species Caught, Canada, 2005

Source:
DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Despite the popularity of certain freshwater species in 2005, all anglers generally kept higher proportions of saltwater fish such as smelt and mackerel than freshwater species such as trout, perch and salmon. The species least favoured for retention were northern pike, bass and Arctic grayling.

It is also worth noting that cod retention rate in Newfoundland and Labrador, which was 40% in 2005, has declined dramatically since 2000 when it reached a high of 95%.  This could mostly be attributed to the fact that the southern coast of Newfoundland, the region with the highest catch rates of the species (93%), was the only zone open to any sort of fish capture and retention; all other sections of the province were on a strict catch and release mandate only.

4.4 Direct Recreational Fishing Expenditures

4.4.1 Total Direct Expenditures

All anglers spent a total of $2.5 billion in direct recreational fishing expenditures in 2005 (Annex A.9). In current dollar terms, this total has remained relatively stable throughout the years (Table 4.5). However, the inflation-adjusted estimates show that total direct recreational fishing expenditures decreased at an average annual rate of 1% in the past five years, and 2% since 1995.

Notes:
1. The 1995 and 2000 estimates have been adjusted to exclude the total number
of active non-resident anglers in Quebec. The adjustment was done in order to allow
comparison with the 2005 estimate.
2. Consumer Price Index.
Source: DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Transportation and food and lodging were the principal expenditure items of all anglers in 2005 (Figure 4.10). For every dollar spent on goods and services directly related to angling activities, sixty six cents went to cover transportation costs and food and lodging expenses during the year.

Not surprisingly, these two categories have consistently been the top trip expense items. Each active angler spent, on average, $260 to cover transportation and travel costs and another $238 on food and lodging expenses during fishing trips throughout 2005.

Figure 4.10 Total Direct Recreational Fishing Expenditures, All Active Anglers, by Expense Category, Canada, 2005

Source: DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.4.1.1 Transportation

Transportation expenditures covered all travel-related costs including air and bus fares, ferry costs, vehicle costs and aircraft rentals. In 2005, the total current dollar transportation expenditures of all active anglers reached $844 million.  Transportation expenditures increased at an average annual rate of 3% between 2000 and 2005. ^{Footnote 16}

Evidently, transportation costs were directly influenced by rising fuel prices during this period. Figures 4.11a and 4.11b compare the 2000 and 2005 monthly average retail prices for gasoline and how closely fuel prices followed the patterns in the energy index. ^{Footnote 17}

The average transportation cost per angler varied widely across the provinces and territories and were the highest for Canadian resident anglers who fished in B.C.'s tidal waters and for foreign anglers who fished in Newfoundland and Labrador ($538 and $467, respectively).

Figure 4.11a Average Retail Prices for Gasoline (cents per litre) and Energy Consumer Price Index (CPI), by Month, Canada, 2000

Source: DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Figure 4.11b Average Retail Prices for Gasoline (cents per litre) and Energy Consumer Price Index (CPI), by Month, Canada, 2005

Source: DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.4.1.2 Food and Lodging

Total food and lodging expenditures ($774 million) represented one-third of Canada's total direct recreational fishing expenditures. On average, an active angler paid $239 to cover food, lodging and accommodation expenses.  However, the average per angler cost could more than double these overall averages, depending on the category and fishing jurisdiction. For example, a foreign angler in Prince Edward Island spent over $700 (on average) to pay for food, lodging and accommodations in 2005.

As expected, lodging costs took up a higher proportion of the total food and lodging expenses of non-Canadian anglers who were more likely to stay at least overnight on fishing trips. This was in contrast to their Canadian resident and non-resident counterparts whose recreational fishing activities were usually in the form of day trips.

4.4.1.3 Package Deals

Total expenses on package deals reached $487 million in 2005. Package deals often include a wide range of goods and services such as food, lodging, transportation, fishing supplies, equipment, etc., with the objective of making it easier for anglers to plan their fishing trips, in exchange for a certain price.

Figure 4.12 Share of Total Direct Recreational Fishing Expenditures, by Expense Category, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Canada, 2005

Source: DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

4.4.1.4 Fishing Services, Fishing Supplies and Other Direct
Recreational Fishing Expenditures

Expenditures on fishing services, covering boat rentals and guide services as well as licence and access fees, summed up to $176 million in 2005.  Their share of total direct recreational fishing expenditures remained relatively unchanged from 2000 (7%).

Much like in other expenditure categories, there was a wide range in the average fishing services expenditure per angler in 2005. It could be as low as $3 per angler as in the case of resident anglers in Nunavut where there were no licence fees and only minimal access fees.  It could also be as high as $170 to over $200, the range of per angler amounts paid by non-resident anglers in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador (mainly to pay for guide services and licence fees).

Expenses related to purchases of lures, lines, tackle, bait, and other fishing supplies were $173 million in 2005 (or 7% of total direct expenditures). Resident anglers across Canada spent a relatively higher proportion of their fishing expenditures on fishing supplies (as high as 20% for resident anglers in Prince Edward Island), in comparison with non-resident anglers. In general, non-resident Canadian and other anglers spent approximately 3% of their total fishing expenditures on these supplies.

4.5 Major Purchases and Investments

In 2005, anglers invested $5 billion in boats, motors, camping gear, special vehicles, real estate and other durable goods related to their recreational fishing activities (Annex A.10). Of this total, an estimated $2.6 billion was directly or wholly attributable to recreational fishing (Annex A.11).  Similar to the trend in direct recreational fishing expenditures, total recreational fishing investments have also remained stable since 1995. ^{Footnote 18} 

Boating equipment and special vehicles accounted for nearly 60% of the $2.6 billion investments wholly attributable to recreational fishing. This was followed by investments on land and buildings ($493 million) and camping equipment ($325 million). The remaining 11% was dedicated to major purchases of fishing equipment and other miscellaneous investments (Figure 4.13).

Figure 4.13 Major Purchases and Investments Wholly Attributable to Recreational Fishing, by Investment Category, Canada, 2005

Source: DFO, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Investment activities by resident anglers essentially determined the general profile of investments related to recreational fishing, as their investments represented $2.4 billion or 93% the overall total in 2005 (Annex A.12).

Non-resident Canadians and foreign anglers invested $68 million and $107 million, respectively, in 2005. Investment spending by both of these angler categories was mostly on land and/or buildings purchases.