Recreational fishing injected hundreds of millions into Queensland economy

It’s a popular pastime in Queensland, and now a new report has revealed how much money recreational fishing is injecting into the Sunshine State’s economy.

Recreational fishing is supporting thousands of jobs and injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s economy every year, according to a new report into the popular pastime.

The report, commissioned by Fisheries Queensland, has also revealed the Covid-19 pandemic is estimated to have created a 0.4 per cent increase in spending within the sector.

The hobby is leading to a direct injection of more than $138 million a year into Queensland’s economy, as well as about $195 million in flow-on benefits – making a total of about $333.7 million.

Recreational fishing is leading to a direct injection of more than $138m a year into Queensland’s economy.

Queensland Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said this included more than $97m spent on equipment, about $24 million on road transport and $51 million on retail trade.

“Of course, on top of that $333.7 million, recreational fishers travel to their fishing spots, stay in hotels, buy petrol, book airline seats, and take their families,” Mr Furner said.

“The economic report estimates this more than doubles the total value of recreational fishing to around three-quarters of a billion dollars.”

Mr Furner said the report also found that recreational fishing provided 3136 full-time equivalent jobs in the Sunshine State.

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“These figures are conservative and the sector’s economic contribution is even higher, because the analysis didn’t include spending by tourists and visitors who go recreational fishing,” he said.

The region where recreational fishers made the biggest contribution to the economy was the South East corner, with the Wide Bay Burnett and Dry Tropics regions rounding out the top three.