OUTDOOR RECREATION DEMAND 



Yearly summaries of the visitors to various State parks in Northwest 

 Florida were prepared by the Division of Recreation and Parks and its prede- 

 cessors. The number of visitors to State parks and recreation areas increased 

 20.1% from 1955 to 1980. From 1972 to 1976 the number of visitors to State 

 parks decreased 55.3% probably because of increased transportation costs. Of 

 the 858,036 visitors to State parks and recreation areas in 1980, about 

 550,000 were reported for St. Andrews State Park in Bay County. 



The U.S. Department of Interior (1979) reported annual visits to national 

 seashores. The Gulf Islands National Seashore recorded 2,375,300 visitors in 

 1976, 2,925,500 in 1977, and 3,971,600 in 1978. 



Sport Fishing 



Data on freshwater and marine sport fishing and related economic impacts 

 were reported by Bell (1978). Freshwater fishing licenses are issued to tour- 

 ists for 14-day, 5-day, and yearly time periods (Tables R/T 32 37). The number 

 of freshwater fishing licenses issued to tourists from 1954-80 increased from 

 4,930 to 9,201 (86%). In those years, the county, number, and percentage in- 

 crease of licenses issued were Escambia, 199 to 932 (368%); Walton, 1,030 to 

 3,101 (201%); and Santa Rosa 127 to 341 (168%). The numbers in Gulf and 

 Franklin Counties declined. 



Freshwater . Licenses issued to residents for fishing statewide increased 6.2% 

 (24,932 to 26,486) from 1954 to 1980. The largest increase was in Santa Rosa 

 County 1,292 to 2,539 (96%) and Bay County 5,369 to 8,912 (66%). Counties 

 showing a decrease were Gulf 5,878 to 2,398 (59%), Franklin 878 to 484 (45%), 

 and Escambia 7,198 to 5,742 (20%). For Northwest Rorida in 1960, nine 

 licenses were issued per 100 residents, but by 1980, only five were issued per 

 100 residents. Estimates of tourists and resident demand for freshwater sport 

 fishing are given in Tables R/T 8-16 in the Data Appendix. The demand for 

 freshwater fishing is expected to increase from 749,300 to 919,500 trips 

 (22.7%) from 1980 to 1990. The 1980 resident and tourist demand was 152 fish- 

 ing trips per 1,000 people. 



Sal twater . U.S. Department of Commerce (1980) provided saltwater sport fish- 

 ing statistics for the gulf coast including Florida. Major saltwater sport 

 species are sea catfish, spotted seatrout, croaker, pinfish, mullet, sand sea 

 trout, and seabass. In the Florida gulf area, there were 9.53 million fishing 

 trips of which 7.28 million were by coastal residents, 27,000 by noncoastal 

 residents, and 2.23 million by tourists. The estimated number of saltwater 

 sport fishing trips in the Florida gulf area was 2.15 million of which 1.24 

 million were by coastal residents, 5,000 by noncoastal residents, and 898,000 

 by tourists. The average number of trips per year per person was 5.9 for 

 coastal residents, 5.4 for non-coastal residents, 2.45 for tourists, and 4.4 

 for all. The average fishing trip was 3.8 hours long. The average cost per 

 trip was $10.20 and the average one-way mileage was 27.9 miles. The average 

 angler in a year fished 16.9 hours, spent $45.29, and traveled 247.8 miles. 



The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (1981), for all Gulf 

 States, estimated that groupers, jacks, porgies, and snappers made up 93% of 

 the number of fish caught and 99% of the weight. Annual capital expenditures 



184 



