Number: RS21312
Title: How Many Commercial Fishermen?
Authors: Eugene H. Buck, Resources, Science and Industry Division 
Abstract: Current estimates of the number of U.S. commercial fishermen are suspect, yet accurate numbers are important for forecasting and planning for the impact of proposed legislation and programs, such as disaster relief and capacity reduction under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Accurate figures can help Congress predict budget implications and allocate limited budget resources for these programs. Part of the problem lies with how "commercial fisherman" is defined and how employment data are collected, and resolution may hinge on finding better ways to identify and count people who work in a very fluid and transient industry.
Pages: 6
Date: Updated September 19, 2002