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Benefits of Stock Recovery 



The potential benefits of recovery extend beyond the direct economic benefits 

 of each additional fish because restoring a depressed wild salmon stock 

 removes harvest constraints and thus allows more efficient harvest of all 

 intermingled healthy runs (Oregon Rivers Council 1992). Moreover, good 

 recreational fishing opportunity aids in attracting new industry to an area 

 (Oregon Rivers Council 1992). Although it is difficult to accurately predict 

 the economic benefits of salmon restoration, recovered salmon runs would 

 obviously be positive for the region's economy. 



The ICF (1988) study predicted a 10 percent increase in fishing would result 

 in $1.3 million more in household income for the recreational fishery. 

 Benefits would go almost entirely to boat fisheries, with the charter fleet 

 gaining about 75 percent and the private and rental boat fishery, 25 percent. 

 They also predicted a 10 percent increase in fishing, with no change in daily 

 catch rate and no offsetting decline in any other fishery, would result in 

 $634,000 more household income for the commercial fishery of the two counties. 

 Benefits would be split between the ocean troll and the gillnet fleets. 



Healthy fisheries are an important component of the Basin's economic 

 infrastructure. Rebuilding the salmon and steelhead habitat is critical to 

 the economic well-being of the Basin. The salmon restoration recommendations 

 in this report will produce economic benefits by creating jobs for local 

 workers . 



Value of Sturgeon Fisheries 



Commercial Fishery 



The 1982-85 ex-vessel value of all Washington commercial sturgeon landings 

 averaged $350,000 annually (ICF 1988). About 15 percent of the statewide 

 commercial sturgeon harvest originated in Grays Harbor, primarily from the 

 gillnet fishery (ICF 1988). 



Recreational Fishery 



Less than 10 percent of the Washington sport harvest comes from Grays Harbor; 

 the majority comes from the lower Columbia River (ICF 1988). Sport sturgeon 

 fishing generated about $323,000 annually in Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties 

 during the study period (ICF 1988). About 96 percent of the expenditures 

 involved in-state dollar transfers rather than new money for the state. The 

 recreational sturgeon fishery had a much different makeup than the salmon 

 fishery. About two-thirds of the income was generated by bank fishing trips, 

 and about one-third by private or rental boats (ICF 1988). 



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