2025 economic profile of the salmon recreational fishery

2025 economic profile of the salmon recreational fishery

All values are in 2025 dollars, unless otherwise specified.

Salmon tidal and freshwater recreational fishing contributes $293M (GDP) to the provincial economy, with a total employment and income contribution of 2,971 and $196M, respectively.

In tidal waters, 72% of licence holders purchase salmon stamps compared to 21% in freshwater.

Tidal water

In BC tidal waters, salmon are the primary target with Chinook as the most targeted species.

In 2025, 312K recreational fishers fished for salmon, with salmon accounting for 60% of the total fishing days and contributing $422M in total tidal recreational expenditures (or 62% of total expenditures).

In both tidal and freshwaters, it is required to purchase a salmon stamp to retain salmon.

Chinook were the most targeted tidal salmon species, representing 53% ($223M) of all salmon expenditures.

Tidal recreational salmon pieces caught by regions

West coast Vancouver island

• Chinook – 101,261 pieces
• Chum – 91 pieces
• Coho – 67,893 pieces
• Pink – 3,141 pieces
• Sockeye – 123 pieces

Strait of Georgia

• Chinook – 298,054 pieces
• Chum – 930 pieces
• Coho – 257,591 pieces
• Pink – 37,517 pieces
• Sockeye – 2,151 pieces

North coast

• Chinook – 28,421 pieces
• Chum – 756 pieces
• Coho – 45,863 pieces
• Pink – 14,755 pieces
• Sockeye – 130 pieces

Johnstone strait

• Chinook – 97,787 pieces
• Chum – 1,748 pieces
• Coho – 75,790 pieces
• Pink – 25,002 pieces
• Sockeye – 6,461 pieces

Haida Gwaii

• Chinook – 90,721 pieces
• Chum – 635 pieces
• Coho – 45,058 pieces
• Pink – 25,002 pieces
• Sockeye – 307 pieces

Central coast

• Chinook – 39,239 pieces
• Chum – 857 pieces
• Coho – 64,927 pieces
• Pink – 21,266 pieces
• Sockeye – 102 pieces

Barkley sound

• Chinook – 190,181 pieces
• Chum – 146 pieces
• Coho – 86,376 pieces
• Pink – 34,949 pieces
• Sockeye – 14,307 pieces

Freshwater

In BC freshwaters, 130K recreational fishers fished for salmon spending 13% of total fishing days in 2025 targeting salmon, contributing $105M in expenditures (or 15% of total expenditures).

Coho were the most targeted salmon species, representing 38% ($40M) of all freshwater salmon expenditures.

Salmon fishing in BC freshwater is highly concentrated, with 89% of fishing occurring in the Lower Mainland, Skeena, and Vancouver Island.

The top three water bodies for salmon fishing (Vedder River, Fraser River and Kitimat River) represent 30% of province-wide freshwater salmon fishing in 2025 and accounting for $28M in expenditures.

Source

• iSEA survey of tidal water recreational fishing 2025.
• iSEA survey of freshwater recreational fishing 2025.
• Internet Recreational Effort and Catch (iREC) survey.