Estimating the economic impacts of a trophy largemouth bass fishery: Issues and applications

We sought to apply economic impact assessment methodology to better understand the local and state-level economic impacts associated with a trophy largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides fishery at Lake Fork, Texas. A sample of 848 anglers encountered during creel surveys were sent follow-up mail surveys and asked about their trip expenditures. Creel surveys indicated 74% of anglers were nonlocal state residents, 11% were residents of the three adjacent counties, 10% were from adjacent states, and 5% were other out-of-state anglers. An estimated 204,739 one-person. multiple-day fishing trips were made to Lake Fork between June 1, 1994, and May 31, 1995. We estimate that US$27,487,000 was spent on fishing trips during the study period: $15.783,000 in the local area, $10,637,000 elsewhere in Texas, and $1,067,000 out-of-state. Local residents spent the least per angler/trip ($44) and out-of-state anglers from nonbordering states spent the most per angler/trip ($474). Anglers residing outside of the local area (nonlocal residents and border state and other out-of-state residents) made about $14,540,000 (92%) of the total expenditures in the Lake Fork area. These direct expenditures for local goods and services generated an additional $4,019,871 in economic output, resulting in a total output of $18,559,871 and 367 full- and part-time jobs. The total value-added generated by this increased level of output was estimated at $9,355,999. The total output associated with the fishery at the state level was $9,585,057, and nonresident angler expenditures created 163 jobs in Texas. Besides showing the extent of positive economic impacts of nonlocal fishing activity, these results reveal the extent to which private sector stakeholders benefited from recreational fishing at Lake Fork.