The economic importance of recreational fishing across America is stunning, yet even just locally in Rep. Salud Carbajal’s 24th Congressional District, the economic contributions of anglers are impressive.

The true numbers are even greater because not all angler related revenue is reported.

The reported economic output within the 24th District back in 2021 (it will be higher now) was $120.1 million (840 jobs).

Statewide, it was $6.2 billion (43,200 jobs), and nationwide it was $148 billion (945,500 jobs).

Not reported are the revenue and jobs from local companies that produce products or perform services for people who fish.

Also not reported is the food safety and resource value of subsistence anglers who are fishing piers, jetties and beaches locally to try to put some protein on their kids’ plates tonight.

For example, there will be a Subsistence Angler Fishing Event (SAFE) at the base of Goleta Pier, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 13. I will teach folks how to catch more fish from piers, and I will be giving rods/reels, line, leaders and weights to truly subsistence anglers, while supplies last.

What’s reported are simply fishing license sales ($808 million); excise taxes ($715 million); and donations ($324 million), for a reported total of $120 million.

Those reported numbers for our local district are great, but they don’t tell the whole tale.

Anglers also support major organizations, which build habitat and fish hatcheries for flora and fauna of our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams.

Anglers contribute millions of hours of our time to volunteer for science projects and programs to help us better understand sea life and the health of the sea, in partnership with our ocean scientists.

Fishers fund much of the science and wildlife management, with the golden goal of sustainability, which allows subsistence anglers and others to fish and feed their families, while studying and improving fish stocks.

People who fish are fully engaged in wildlife management and habitat improvement, such as kelp restoration.

Much is heard about the evolving health of the ocean, and when there is something that affects a species of fish for example, adaptive fisheries managers may restrict fishing for a period or reduce bag limits.

We work hard at fisheries management.

When there is a problem, anglers are not to blame. I see the real stressors to be pollution, urban runoff, sewage spills, herbicides, pesticides, and numerous other evils. These are the real problems.

People who submit proposals to create Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where fishing is not allowed are failing to address the real stressors.

In MPA, only anglers suffer, along with all the ancillary businesses that depend on us and serve as major economic contributors to our local economy.

Again, anglers are not the problem. Instead of talking about shutting out hungry people, including disadvantaged folks, our focus should be on cleaning up and eliminating pollution, urban runoff, sewage spills, herbicides, pesticides and other real killers.

Fix the real problems, rather than unjustly blame anglers and make them suffer major losses.

I favor the concept of helping people to catch fish for their families, within the framework of tried-and-true wildlife management regulations. Recreational fishing should be allowed inside MPA, but those real evils should be regulated, managed and enforced.

Anglers in general are the good guys here and drive major economic benefits. Let’s protect anglers.