U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Net Worth The Economic Value of Conservation

Fall 2011 www.fws.gov/fisheries/ [email protected] (703) 358-1792 Arlington, VA 22203 4401 NorthFairfax Drive Fisheries U.S. Fish - andWildlife Service Mr. MichaelDeRosa contact: report ormoreinformation, To receiveadditionalcopiesofthis Economics. Divisionof Wildlife Service’s and publishedbytheU.S.Fish and Ph.D., andJamesCaudill,Ph.D. prepared byJosephCharbonneau, 41-page peer-reviewedreport a Aquatic ResourceConservation,” Contributions fromFisheries and Assessment ofEconomic America’s Fisheries, An This reportisbasedon“Conserving Arizona andNewMexico. the spendingassociatedwithit, in generating timeonthewater, and contributes totheeconomy, theGilatroutnow conservation, a followingofanglers.Through extinction, thefishisnowsoughtby staring intothedarkabyssof it backfromthebrinkin2006.Once brought Dedicated conservationists to anglingforover50years. was anendangeredspecies,closed anglers, andeconomists.Thisfish myriad ways—byscientists, of theGilatroutismeasuredin worth”ON THECOVER: The“net

Melanie Dabovich/USFWS AMERICA’S AQUATIC GOODSANDSERVICES behind retailer CVS Pharmacies and behind retailerCVSPharmacies Profitable Corporations.That’s just Fortune 500ListofAmerica’sMost annual profitswouldrankNo.41onthe and privateorganizations. many partners:states,tribes,NGOs economy bytheFisheries Program and in annualcontributionstotheU.S. cultural—and economic. commercial, subsistence,social, scientific, aesthetic,recreational, ecological, include Nation. Benefits wealth ofour to thehealthand inextricably tied —are diverse onEarth richest andmost resources—the resources. These aquatic of America’s biological health habitatandsustainingthe conserving has beenaleaderinmanagingspecies, of theU.S.Fish andWildlife Service By BryanArroyo A companywith$3.6billionin How bigis$3.6billion? This reporthighlights$3.6billion Since 1871,theFisheries Program for fishoriginatingintheNationalFish industrial outputresultsfromangling $903millionin translates toindustry; commerce. Moneychanginghands brand Kraft. Verizon, butaheadofthegrocery Conservation inWashington, DC. Director forFisheries and Habitat Bryan ArroyoistheAssistant tremendous. $10 millionaday. annually. That’s $70millionaweek— Fisheries Program:$3.6billion Economic ContributionoftheNational fish andforpeople. isacommoditygoodfor conservation well-documented perspectivethat horizon. Thiseconomicreportlendsa lookingoutonthelong- conservation, Conservation stimulates Conservation The return oninvestmentis The return Think aboutit—theTotal Hatchery is theessenceof tomorrow. That dividends today pays Money invested businesses. multitude of 68,000 jobsina create morethan conservation and fisheries System. Habitat

Ranger Boats Imagine a business investment that annually returns 28 times its initial investment. Ranger Boats America’s National Fisheries Program does. Supporting 68,000 Jobs A total of 68,000 American jobs are attributable to the economic MAJOR PAYOFFS contribution of the National Fisheries Program. If all 68,000 of these jobs were part of a single company, its workforce numbers Each taxpayer would closely match that of these large U.S. companies: Merck; State dollar budgeted for Farm Insurance; Whirlpool; the program Comcast; and Boeing. generates $28 in economic returns.

The revenue generated can be seen at sporting goods stores, marinas, boat dealerships, guides USFWS and outfitter services; bait shops, gas stations, cafes, hotels, wildlife watching tour businesses and many other enterprises that exist for, or benefit from, the National

Fisheries Program and its many partners. Ranger Boats • Fish HatcheryStockingProgramsGenerates: Recreational AnglingResultingfromNational in localtaxrevenues •$35 million in federaltaxrevenues •$37 million in wages/salaries •$256 million •8,000 jobs in industrialoutput •$903 million in retailsales •$554 million angler-days 13.5 million

Henry Quinlan

Henry Quinlan

Hodgman Fall 2011

Species in Peril

Despite efforts to conserve fish and other aquatic resources, a growing number of species are declining. The Endangered Species List includes 139 fish, 70 mussel, 25 amphibian and 22 crustacean species. Here’s a sample of relevant Fisheries Program initiatives:

Maintaining populations of imperiled species at national fish . Rare species held in refugia are valued by the public at $456 million.

Propagating and restocking the razorback sucker to USFWS indigenous rivers in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and MAKING IT HAPPEN Utah. Fisheries Program professionals, facilities and partners work together in five core areas: Assessing non-point source pollution that Habitat Conservation stocking fish in conjunction with state threatens six rare Types of Projects: Restore, enhance DNRs. mussel populations in the Chipola River and protect habitat; restore in-stream Example: Stocked 9 million rainbow Basin in Florida. flows and fish migration, monitor habitat trout; each taxpayer dollar spent quality. generated $32.20 in angler retail sales. Example: Worked with Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to remove dams and Cooperation with Tribes Restoring fish passage for pallid other barriers to restore critical passage Types of Projects: Provide technical sturgeon migrating for the Okaloosa darter. Fisheries assistance, training, job opportunities for between critical Tribal members and fish for stocking on secondary channels Program dollars were matched almost 5:1 and the navigation with funding from partners. Tribal lands. channel of the lower Example: Restore coho salmon in the Mississippi River. Species Conservation Waatch River for subsistence on Types of Projects: Recover the Makah Reservation in Washington. Healthy Habitat, Healthy Economy threatened and endangered species, Nationally, fish populations managed for develop and implement subsistence have a minimum replacement Restoring or enhancing habitat is an essential function of the plans, restore native species, value of $301 million. Program. Healthy habitats ensure good control nuisance species. fishing, and protect homes, businesses, Science and Technology and roads from damaging floods. The Example: Worked with state, federal National Fish Passage Program and and Tribal resource agencies to recover Types of Projects: Conduct Wild Fish National Fish Habitat Action Plan are once-endangered Apache trout in Arizona. Health Surveys, lead advancements in key components in habitat management. The species is now abundant enough to diagnostics, nutrition, genetics, Working with partners, an annual propagation and marking. average of 890 miles of river habitat re- support . opened to fish passage has a value of $483 Example: Work with million when in full productivity, and with Cooperation with States industry and agencies to monitor, manage it an estimated 11,000 jobs. That exceeds a value of $542,000 per stream mile. Types of Projects: Develop and contain pathogens that could have recreational fishing opportunities, detrimental impacts on fish populations mitigation of federal water developments, and associated economic benefits. MAKING AN IMPACT

The Fisheries Program Reared and released generates major economic Gulf Coast striped bass benefits nationally and in to help restore a your backyard. commercial and recreational fishery in Alaska Louisiana. This effort Removed passage barriers to generated 3,000 angler conserve habitat and help days and $425,000 in sustain salmon runs in south- local economic benefits. central Alaska. Local anglers spent $989 million and Great Lakes generated $91 million in state Controlled non-native and local taxes. sea lamprey populations to help Central U.S. minimize impacts on Provided public fishing access sport species. This at Desoto National Wildlife effort provided Refuge. Desoto Lake receives economic contributions 26,000 visits per year, of $556 million and generating $1.3 million in 13,200 jobs. annual economic benefit for western Iowa and eastern Improved spawning Nebraska. habitat for lake sturgeon, walleye and New England other sportfish by Helped restore recreational providing fish passage angling for Atlantic salmon to reconnect habitats on and other species by both sides of Heiberg removing a dam and restoring Dam in Minnesota. fish passage in Souhegan USFWS River in New Hampshire. Hometown Benefits Western U.S. Aside from its $3.6 billion total economic impact and associated 68,000 Reared and released 12 Southeast jobs on a national scale, the Fisheries Program brings direct benefits million Chinook salmon Utilized national fish to Main Street, America. to support commercial hatcheries in Arkansas, With dozens of conservation offices, hatcheries, labs, health, and and recreational Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, technology centers -- and more that 800 dedicated professionals -- the fisheries in northern Mississippi, North Carolina, program's facilities and its employees are a significant economic force themselves, where they live and work. The Fisheries Program's local California. In the South Carolina, Tennessee economic impact translates to 5,692 jobs that stem from wages, Sacramento River and Louisiana to rear and supplies, and services rendered at Fisheries facilities, making a difference in hometowns across the country. alone, salmon fishing is release 22.3 million sport fish valued at over $100 in 12 southeastern states. million annually. Anglers responded with 3.2 million days of fishing, generating $239 million in economic Hold in refugia a unique strain of Lahontan output and supporting 3,100 jobs. extirpated from Lake Tahoe in the 1930s. This trout will be the centerpiece of a reintroduction program in several fisheries in Nevada. THE “The nation behaves well if it treats natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the POTENTIAL next generation increased, and not impaired in value.” FOR Theodore Roosevelt

Previous pages of this report have highlighted the monetary value of Fisheries Program work to MORE maintain and improve America’s aquatic assets. Statistics show strong economic performance — every $1 invested by taxpayers translates to $28 in economic impact. Facts, figures and examples illustrate the program’s $3.6 billion in annual contributions to the U.S. economy. But the Fisheries Program also contributes value in ways that can’t be computed. What’s the real worth of a parent’s joy in introducing their son or daughter to fishing? Or a youngster’s thrill as a bobber plunges beneath the water? What’s the real worth of citizens’ satisfaction in knowing local waters are clean enough to support sensitive species? Inflation takes a toll America has always been socially and culturally tied to its lands and waters, its wildlife and fish. Budget increases for the Fisheries Program have not kept Even in today’s modern world, with so many pace with inflation. In fact, in constant dollars, the nominally higher appropriation in 2008 was actually lower distractions from traditional outdoor lifestyles, than the 2004 appropriation. surveys show most Americans still care deeply about the health and wellbeing of nature. YEAR ACTUAL ADJUSTED Since 1871 — 30 years before Roosevelt APPROPRIATION APPROPRIATION became President — the Fisheries Program of the 2004 $114,321,000 $131,872,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been working to 2005 $114,569,000 $127,827,000 turn over our nation’s aquatic resources to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value. 2006 $116,488,000 $125,906,000 With adequate funding, this stewardship can 2007 $117,778,000 $123,775,000 grow to fit the needs of America’s future.

2008 $126,499,000 $128,025,000 CONSERVING

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 68,000 AMERICAN JOBS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE NATIONAL FISHERIES PROGRAM $3.6B TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TAX DOLLARS INVESTED INTO NATIONAL FISHERIES PROGRAM $28:$1 ECONOMIC RETURNS GENERATED PER TAX DOLLAR INVESTED INTO

DEFINITION re•turn on in•vest•ment (ri-turn awn in-vest-muh-nt) noun 1. A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments. To calculate ROI, the benefit (return) of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment; the result is expressed as a percentage or a ratio.