Economic Impact of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Expenditures on the Southeast U.S. Regional Economy: An Input–Output Analysis

Abstract

Wildlife-associated recreation expenditures make significant contributions to employment, value added, and inter-industry transactions, and promote conservation and environmental goals. Using 2006 expenditures incurred by anglers, hunters, and wildlife-watching recreationists in the Southeast region of the United States, this study quantified economic impacts of recreation expenditures for fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching using input–output analysis. Results are presented in absolute terms and relative to the Southeast regional economy and to wildlife expenditures nationwide. In total, the US$33 billion spent in 2006 by wildlife recreationists in the Southeast generated US$11 billion in indirect impacts and another US$9.6 billion in induced impacts. Wildlife recreational expenditures generated 0.7% of regional employment and gross output. Thirty-five percent of all wildlife-related expenditures occurred in the Southeast. There were broad differences by type of recreation activity and economic indicator that should be considered by wildlife recreation managers when allocating resources among these activities.