The 2005 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada results were announced on August 28th by Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Loyola Hearn.

Hearn said that the survey found that millions of Canadians and international visitors enjoy fishing Canadian waters, and emphasized this government's commitment to conserving "Canada’s vast water resources, through initiatives such as our new National Water Strategy announced in Budget 2007.”

Though over 3 million anglers participated in recreational fishing in 2005, participation rates had dwindled over the previous decade due to the prominence of competing leisure activities. Over half of the anglers were in the 45-60 year-old range.   Anglers caught a total of 215 million fish, retaining only 72 million of those. The success of these catch and release programs showed the high value anglers place on conservation.  

Walleye surpassed trout for the first time since the initial 1975 survey to become the predominant species caught.

Local economies benefitted from anglers to a total of $7.5 billion in 2005, a 12% increase from 2000.  

The survey presents information about and describes the socio-economic role of recreational fisheries in Canada

To read the survey in full, go to the DFO’s Statistical Services web site at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/statistics/recreational/canada/2005/index_e.htl.