An economic valuation of the Namibian recreational shore-angling fishery

A roving creel survey of recreational shore anglers in Namibia was used to determine catch and effort of line-fishing. A stratified sample of 240 angl ers was surveyed to determine expenditures. Results showed that, between Oc tober 1996 and September 1997. some 8 800 anglers spent around 173 000 days angling and had direct expenditures of N$29.7 million. In all, 93% of angl ing took place in the West Coast Recreational Area. Some 44% of anglers wer e foreign visitors who contributed 55% of the expenditures. Value added to gross national income within the shore-angling fishery was N$14 million, eq uivalent to 3.6% of the value of the whole fisheries sector. The expenditur es ultimately amounted (through a multiplier) to a gross national income of N$3 069 per angler, or N$27 million in aggregate. These amounts could be s ustainable ii policies to reduce fish mortality without affecting angler nu mbers are implemented.