RBFF: Program led to more fishing license sales

Fishing license sales are trending upward nationally and states participating in the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation's Fishing License Marketing Program are seeing a higher-than-average increase.

According to Southwick Associates, data recently collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicate a nationwide 0.02 percent average increase in fishing license sales in 2009. When looking only at the 30 states participating in RBFF's program in 2008 and 2009, the data show a 0.76 percent average increase.

"We are extremely pleased with this news," RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson said in a statement. "Even though a number of different factors contribute to overall license sales, the data comparison shows the states participating in our program are selling fishing licenses at a much higher rate than the national average. And that's a good indicator."

Launched in March 2008 with 30 state fish and wildlife agencies, RBFF's Fishing License Marketing Program aims to recruit and retain lapsed anglers and generate awareness of the connection between fishing license sales and conservation efforts. Thirty-one states participate in the program.