Recreational fishing is probably
the most important and popular water-based recreational activity
in Canada. Not only is fishing popular right across Canada, but
in many of the more remote parts of the country, it is a major part
of the local economy. The text below consists of a description of
the map, which shows data on the basis of watersheds, and then gives
further details from the data source used for the map.
In 1997, Statistics Canada conducted a survey on behalf of a nationwide
partnership of 16 federal, provincial and territorial agencies interested
in nature-related activities. The Survey on the Importance of
Nature to Canadians asked 87 000 Canadians 15 years and over
about relevant activities in 1996.
Some of the major findings of the survey related to recreational
fishing were as follows:
- In 1996, an estimated 4.2 million Canadians fished for recreation
in Canada (17.7 percent of the population aged 15 years and over).
- Recreational fishing was more popular among men than women.
- Fishing was also more popular among rural Canadians than among
urban Canadians.
- Participation was more concentrated among those younger than
45 years of age than among the older age groups.
- Fishing was more popular among Canadians with education beyond
high school but less than university.
- The personal incomes of participants were higher than for the
Canadian population in 1996 and were particularly concentrated
in the $30 000 or more personal income ranges.
- The number of people participating is shown in Figure 1. Newfoundland
and Yukon residents have participation rates well above the national
average (17.7%), whereas participation in Prince Edward Island
is considerably below this average. (There is very little open
freshwater in Prince Edward Island).
- The database also gives frequency of participation. Nationally,
there were 72 million trips in 1996, an average of 17.2 days per
participant. The number of trips per participant is considerably
higher than this average in Newfoundland (24 days per participant),
and somewhat lower in Quebec (13 days).
The forms that recreational fishing takes are varied. To distinguish
between them, two forms were defined. The first, fishing as the
main activity, occurs when recreational fishing is the main reason
for a trip. The second, fishing as a secondary activity, occurs
when recreational fishing is a secondary reason for taking the trip.
In 1996, 3.1 million Canadians participated in recreational fishing
as the main activity, whereas 2.2 million fished as a secondary
activity see figure 1 below.
[D] Click for larger version, 8 KB Figure 1. Participation in Recreational Fishing, 1996
More detailed results are available from the survey for participants
in fishing as the main activity:
- The majority of these anglers fished in freshwater lakes, rivers
or streams (96.4%). Fewer fished in the Pacific Ocean (5.8%) or
the Atlantic Ocean (4.1%).
- Three quarters (75.6%) caught fish on their trips during the
year.
- Nearly one-third of these anglers (30.4%) visited national or
provincial parks or other protected areas for the main reason
of fishing for recreation.
|