In 2007, visitors spent an estimated 3.2 million days sunbathing, boating, fishing, and recreating on the Indian River Lagoon (with the majority being fishermen). A visitor fishing the lagoon spent about $196 a day on lagoon-related goods and services.

Figures like these in the recent Indian River Lagoon Economic Assessment and Analysis add credence to the importance of recreational fishing in Florida. Karl Wickstrom’s column in the April Florida Sportsman details a long-ignored fact that commercial fishermen want kept quiet—recreational fishing is far more valuable to the economy.

The nearly complete assessment shows the spending habits and number of days on the water of visitors to the Indian River Lagoon. Statistics show Brevard County had the most activity on the water and Volusia County had the least—logical because the IRL runs through the entirety of Brevard, while it only begins at the southern tip of Volusia County.

The 2007 total for visitor expenditures for lagoon recreation-related goods and services was $531 million. This figure includes more than $76 million on boat fuel; $26 million on fishing tackle, bait and ice; $75 million on food and beverages at lagoon restaurants and bars; and more than $52 million on boat rentals. Visitor expenditures contributed $450 million to Florida’s economy (directly or indirectly), $217 million went to the incomes of more than 6,000 jobs related the lagoon, and $28 million went to tax revenues within the five-county area of the lagoon system.