Fish, wildlife and Washington's economy (2011)

Spending by fishers, hunters and wildlife watchers generates more than $4.5 billion annually for Washington state’s economy. Many of the dollars they spend support small businesses and rural communities, keeping cash registers ringing in restaurants, motels, gas stations, convenience stores and sporting goods outlets.

Some 40 percent of Washingtonians participate in the outdoor economy by fishing, hunting or actively observing wildlife, according to a national survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Commercial fisheries, meanwhile, generate an average of $1.6 billion here annually by the time their catch is processed and distributed through wholesalers.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is the state agency charged with protecting native fish and wildlife, and providing sustainable fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of residents and visitors. Working throughout the state, WDFW’s 1,385 employeesâ€"field biologists, enforcement officers, land stewards, lab technicians and customer service staffâ€"manage hundreds of species, maintain nearly a million acres of public lands and serve the public.

WDFW activities are funded by a combination of state general tax revenues, recreational license fees and federal and local contracts.