Canadian recreational anglers spend an amazing $7.4 billion a year on the sport they love, and that isn’t just another fish story.

This huge impact on the Canadian economy is one of the reasons I helped to create the popular parliamentary Outdoors Caucus a few years ago. The all-party caucus focuses on Canada’s heritage activities that include fishing, hunting, trapping and sport shooting. Of all those activities, fishing is by far the most popular and lucrative for businesses involved in tourism, transportation, retail, boating, vehicle sales, and other related sectors.

Did you know that Canadian anglers spend almost four times the amount that is budgeted annually for the RCMP? In 2000, anglers spent as much on fishing as the entire country spent on beer sales. If the recreational fishing industry isn’t maintained and nurtured, it would have damaging economical consequences right across the country.

Perhaps ironically, some people believe that fishing should be stopped completely, but they may not be seeing the bigger picture. Recreational fishing doesn’t end with simply removing fish from their natural environment. Conservationists know that fish populations are in delicate balance and need to be supported to stay strong. During the 15 years from 1984 to 1999, anglers and hunters directly contributed more than $335 million to wildlife habitat conservation. That $335 million was used for real on-the-ground conservation that resulted in more than two million acres of conserved, restored or protected habitat that is available to all Canadians, whether they fish or not.

It is obvious that fans of fishing take great care to ensure future stocks remain for their children and grandchildren. In the year 2000, Canadian anglers devoted more than a million volunteer days to habitat clean-up and related activities. Canadian hunters devoted a million volunteer hours and have spent more than 14 million volunteer hours over a 15 year period.

The Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association compiled the numbers that demonstrate how important angling is to our economy. Their research shows that Canadians over age 15 who fish outnumbers those who play golf and hockey combined.

Hunter and anglers could fill every 1,000+ seat arena in Canada six times over. One government survey found that 18 percent of Canadians over age 15 go fishing, and 40 percent are interested in the activity. Industry sources estimate that eight million Canadians of all ages like to wet the line and chase the big one. For all these reasons, the parliamentary Outdoors Caucus will continue to protect the rights of anglers to enjoy this rich natural heritage resource.

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The audio version of Garry's May 25, 2009 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here