beneficial effect on small-boat operators. 



NOAA, with its varied involvement in marine programs, also 

 provides valuable services to the water recr eat ionists. Through both 

 the National Weather Service and the National Ocean Survey, major 

 contributions are made to marine recreation. Examples are the 

 special Weather Service forecasts and Ocean Survey charts designed 

 for small-boat operators. The Weather Service regards about 2/3 of 

 its marine and Great Lakes program as recreation-oriented, and 

 about 20 percent of the NOAA charting service is for small craft 

 operations. 



Recreational Fishing 



The Nationwide Outdoor Recreation Plan, "Outdoor Recreation — 

 A Legacy of America," reports that 24 percent of the respondents of 

 the national recreation survey conducted during the summer of 1972 

 engaged in recreational fishing. Among the activities measured, 

 fishing was exceeded in popularity only by picknicking, sightseeing, 

 driving, walking for pleasure, and swimming. 



It is conservatively estimated that 33 million people in the United 

 States fish for pleasure and that more than 9 million of them fished in 

 the marine environment in 1970. These fishermen reported catching 

 817 million fish weighing a total of 1.47 billion pounds. 



It is important to note that while angling occurs on our beaches, 

 bays, and estuaries, with and without the use of boats, hook-and-line 

 fishing does not constitute the entirety of recreational fishing. 

 Subsurface activities, whether they be by diving and spearfishing or 

 wading and clamming, include a substantial number of participants. 

 Recreational fishing includes a great variety of personal interests 

 and is an activity that has a definite socioeconomic effect on our 

 coastal areas. 



NMFS in NOAA has been responsible for marine recreational 

 fisheries research and development of the Pacific, Gulf, and Atlantic 

 coasts. NMFS has recently been preparing a National Fisheries Plan. 

 It is expected that this plan will establish national policy for our 

 coastal fishery resources and for our fishing industries. It will 

 address food production and recreational fishing as well as lay out 

 an overall strategy for the future of U.S. fisheries. It is designed to 

 assist all those involved in marine fisheries. 



There is a great need for a sport-fishing plan. Although NMFS is 

 basically concerned with the commercial fisheries, it also has a 

 responsibility to marine sport fishermen. The number of recreational 

 fishermen has more than doubled from 1955 to 1970. NMFS has the 

 responsibility to restore and maintain fishery stocks important to 

 both the commercial and the recreational fishing industries. 



NOAA is well aware of the importance of marine sport fishing as it 



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