I see the cheering section has arrived....
I did read the BC Government produced stats, Did you boys read it or are you just reading the links Fisherbob is providing?
Gillis statement: "For instance, in 2011, according to DFO and Stats BC, sport fishing produced revenues of $925 million, contributing $325 million to BC's GDP and 8,400 direct jobs."
BC government statement: "Sport fishing contributed $325.7 million to the province’s GDP in 2011, a slight decrease (-0.2%) from the previous year.
. Approximately 8,400 people were employed by the sport fishing industry in 2011, up from 8,000 in 2010.
. Sport fishing revenues were estimated at $936.5 million in 2011, up 0.8% over the 2010 value."
Gillis statement:"Salmon farms specifically contributed just $8.5 million to our GDP."
BC government statement: "Gross domestic product in the aquaculture industry fell 7.2% to $61.9 million in 2011, driven by a decline to $8.5 million in the salmon farming industry (-7.3%), ......."
It's a shame that we allow a business that contributes a measly $8.5 million to BC's GDP, while allowing it to destroy an industry that contributes $325 million to BC's GDP!