National Shooting Sports Foundation
Media Release, December 19, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New Jersey's 562,000 hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups, spending more than $1 billion a year on hunting and fishing, according to a new report.
The new report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors," spotlights the immense impact hunters and anglers have on the economy at the national and state level.
In New Jersey, spending by hunters and anglers directly supports 16,000 jobs, which puts $585 million worth of paychecks into pockets of working residents around the state. Of course, government coffers also benefit -- spending by sportsmen in pursuit of these outdoor activities generates $109 million in state and local taxes. These latest figures demonstrate that season after season hunters and anglers are driving the economy from big businesses to rural towns, through booms and recessions.
"Because sportsmen enjoy hunting or fishing alone or in small groups, they are overlooked as a constituency and as a substantial economic force," stated Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "When you compare spending by hunters and anglers to other sectors, their impact on the state's economy becomes more tangible."
- Sportsmen support as many jobs in New Jersey as
Continental Airlines and the University of Medicine and
Dentistry combined, two of the largest employers in the
state (16,000 jobs).
- Annual spending by New Jersey sportsmen is more than
the combined revenues of The Vitamin Shoppe, Forman
Mills, AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources
- three of the fastest growing companies in the state ($1
billion vs. $874 million).
- New Jersey sportsmen annually spend more than the
cash receipts for all agricultural commodities ($1
billion vs. $924 million).
- Annually, New Jersey sportsmen spend $130 million on
outboard boats and engines to get out onto the water and
around the marshes for hunting and fishing.
- New Jersey sportsmen outnumber the populations of
Newark and Jersey City (562,000 vs. 520,000).
- The economic stimulus of hunting and fishing equates to an astounding $2.9 million a day being pumped into the state's economy.
"Spending by sportsmen benefits not only the manufacturers of hunting and fishing related products, but everything from local mom and pop businesses to wildlife conservation," noted Doug Painter, president of National Shooting Sports Foundation. "And because most hunting and fishing takes place in rural areas, much of the spending benefits less affluent parts of the state."
On the national level, 34 million sportsmen age 16 and older spent more than $76 billion in 2006, supporting 1.6 million jobs. If a single corporation grossed as much as hunters and anglers spend, it would be among America's 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T. And if all hunters and anglers had voted during the last presidential election, they would have equaled 31 percent of all votes cast. If all hunters and anglers living in New Jersey voted, they would have equaled 17 percent of all votes cast in the state.
These statistics are impressive and, if anything, they underestimate the impact of sportsmen since they do not take into account the millions of hunters and anglers under 16 years of age or people who were not able to get out and hunt or fish in 2006. When sportsmen's spending is thought of in business terms and compared to other sectors of the economy, it is quite remarkable. From small rural towns scattered across our country's landscape to the bottom-line of Fortune 500 companies located in major cities, if you take away hunting and fishing you take away the equivalent of a multi-billion dollar corporation.
"It is a fairly simple equation – hunters and anglers mean jobs in states and local communities that have made the effort to maintain their hunting and fishing opportunities," said Crane. "The economic impacts that sportsmen have on state economies should be a wake-up call to state governments to welcome and encourage hunting and fishing in their state."
The report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors," was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation with support from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation and SCI - First For Hunters. The report uses the results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation and statistics provided by the American Sportfishing Association and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
National Shooting Sports Foundation
The report: "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors" along with STATE FACTS are available on the Web at www.sportsmenslink.org and www.nssf.org
Fish and Wildlife Public Opinion Survey Results Released Shows Strong Support for NJ Fish and Wildlife Agency and State Environmental Protection Initiatives
August 18, 2004
New Jersey residents continue to show support for state initiatives and policies of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and its Division of Fish and Wildlife according to a survey released by Responsive Management for the Northeast Conservation Information and Education Association (NCIEA). The survey showed New Jerseyans strongly support efforts to control sprawl from development, protect open space, upgrade protection for high quality waterways, increase protection for endangered and non-game species and protect and manage landscapes on a regional basis. The survey also showed residents strongly support the professional management of the state's fish and wildlife resources by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The study focused on the 13 member states of the NCIEA which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
Polluted water / water quality, habitat loss, urban sprawl and bear and deer management were perceived to be the most important natural resource issues facing the state today. Respondents showed deference for fish and wildlife habitat over human use of the land, and more respondents thought that the use and development of land should be restricted to protect fish and wildlife (88% agreed) than should be allowed for development. In fact, 84% disagreed that development for new home sites should take precedence over preserving wildlife habitat and 80% disagreed that landowners should be allowed to develop their land regardless of its impact on wildlife.
New Jerseyans were also shown to be very outdoor oriented with half of all respondents indicating they or someone from their household had gone out to observe wildlife in New Jersey in the past year. Visiting a state or national park, wildlife watching, bird watching, hiking, biking, fresh and saltwater fishing and hunting all ranked high on the list of favorite outdoor activities. This significant involvement in outdoor activities by residents again reinforces support for state policies to provide more recreational opportunities for people, and to expand protected open spaces through the state's Green Acres Program and partnerships with Federal, County, Municipal and Non-Profit agencies and organizations.
Public opinion and credibility of the state's fish and wildlife management agency, in this case the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife (Division) was looked at extensively. The survey found that while most people did not know which government agency was most responsible for managing and protecting fish and wildlife in New Jersey, more people had positive rather than negative perceptions about the Division. Indeed, a majority of all respondents agreed that the staff at the Division of Fish and Wildlife really cares about fish and wildlife, and substantial percentages agreed that the Division effectively balances the interests of hunters, anglers, conservation groups and the general public. Of those who had contacted the Division, a large majority (83%) was satisfied with the contact. Most people (82%) also thought the Division the most credible source of fish and wildlife information in New Jersey. In comparison, respondents felt that the least credible sources of information were spokespersons with advocacy organizations.
Other interesting findings obtained through this survey had to do with the funding of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and public perception of hunting, fishing and trapping. In an open ended question wherein respondents could name any funding source, New Jersey residents most commonly thought that unspecified taxes (42%), general state revenue (18%) and hunting and fishing licenses (17%) were funding sources for the Division. In fact, while true, more disagreed (33%) than agreed (16%) with the statement that: "fees from hunting and fishing licenses, excises taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, and a portion of the existing tax on motor boat fuel are the only sources of funds for the Division of Fish and Wildlife." "It does not receive funding from general tax revenues". A much greater percentage of respondents agreed (69%) than disagreed (15%) that the costs for managing fish and wildlife should be paid through specific user fees such as hunting and fishing licenses. A much greater percentage (73%) supported than opposed (17%) using general state tax revenues to provide information on fish and wildlife.
Regarding hunting, fishing and trapping, approval of fishing was the highest at 87% followed by hunting at 66% and then trapping at 45%. While many New Jerseyan's may not take part in these activities, the survey points out that most support these activities.
For the survey, telephones were used as the preferred sampling method because of the universality of phone ownership. Approximately 400 people in each state were contacted with a total of 5,251 respondents surveyed. Throughout the report, findings of this general population survey are reported at a 95% confidence interval. For the entire sample of New Jersey residents, the sampling error is at most plus or minus 4.90 percentage points. Survey result reports were compiled for each individual state as well as a report on the results for the entire northeast region.
Surveys like this are an important gauge of how well agencies are meeting their goals and working with their constituents, customers and the general public. Information gathered from this survey will enable the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Fish and Wildlife to better manage New Jersey's natural resources ensuring a healthy future for wildlife populations in the state, and meeting the needs of New Jersey residents.
Responsive Management is a nationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues.
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2004/opinion_survey.htm