Understanding the economic activity generated by recreational fishing in South Africa provides insights on the role of recreational fisheries for social development

• Published in: Fisheries management and ecology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 29 - 43
• Main Authors: Potts, Warren M., Saayman, Melville, Saayman, Andrea, Mann, Bruce Q., Van der Merwe, Peet, Britz, Peter, Bova, Christopher S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-02-2022
• Subjects: angling; Developing countries; developing world; dual economy; Economic activities; Economic activity; Economic analysis; Economic conditions; Economic development; economic impact; Economic models; Fisheries; Fishers; Fishery development; Fishing; Households; LDCs; Matrix methods; Recreation; Sport fishing; Tourism; South Africa
• ISSN: 0969-997X; 1365-2400
• DOI: 10.1111/fme.12515

While the economic activity associated with recreational fishing is well assessed in the developed world, substantially less is known in developing countries. South Africa is a unique microcosm for applying economic evaluation frameworks as its dualist economy shares characteristics of both the developed and developing world. Understanding participation levels and the role of dualism in economic activity linked to recreational fisheries is a crucial step towards leveraging the sector for economic development. A total of 1320 face‐to‐face and online questionnaires were used to estimate annual economic spend by recreational fishers, and the economic activity associated with this spend was modelled using Social Accounting Matrix analysis. Recreational fishing participation estimates totalled 1,327,633, which contributed ZAR 32.6 billion (US$2.2 billion) per year to economic activity and sustained 94,070 full‐time jobs. However, less than 10% of the economic activity benefitted lower income households, suggesting that the “first” and “second” economies of this dualist economy are disconnected. This is likely similar in other developing nations with international tourism‐driven recreational fisheries. To reduce this disconnect, changes in tourism policies to focus on local development, the identification of recreational fisheries tourism hotspots and the development of local education, skills and appropriate infrastructure through public–private partnerships will be necessary.