The official representatives of the USA who oppose the principle of sustainable use at IWC 55 are out of step with many of their country’s recreational fishers and hunters.

The nation’s 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, reveals that 82 million Americans 16 years or older participate in wildlife-related recreation. During that period, 34.1 million people went fishing, 13.0 million hunting, and 66.1 million were involved in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity.

There is considerable overlap in activities among the anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers. 71 percent of hunters also fish, and 27 per cent of anglers hunt. 58 percent of anglers and 62 percent of hunters participate in wildlife-watching activities, while 33 percent of all wildlife watchers hunt and/or fish.

In total, anglers in 2001 fished on 557 million days, took 437 million fishing trips and spent over $35.6 billion on fishing-related expenses. The 28.4 million freshwater anglers spent 467 million days fishing on 365 million trips and spent more than $21.3 billion, while the 9.1 million saltwater anglers spent 91 million days fishing on 72 million trips and spent $8.4 billion.

The survey also reveals that among America’s youth (6 to 15 years old) there are 1.6 million hunters, 10.2 million anglers, and 12.6 million wildlife-watchers.

Sustainable use is big business in the USA, with sportspeople spending a total of $70 billion in 2001. On top of the $35.6 billion spent on fishing, $20.6 billion went on hunting, and $13.8 million on items used for both hunting and fishing. Wildlife watchers spent an additional $38.4 billion.

All of this data tells us that the United States is really a sustainable use nation, whatever their officials in Berlin may proclaim, and however they may vote. It tells us that the pressure put on them by animal rights NGOs is not representative of the real America.

(Source: 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, October 2002)