Source: Sensual Shadows Photography, via Flickr

“Recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana and North Carolina receiving the largest share,” that’s according to a new study issued by NOAA’s Fisheries Service, one of god-knows-how-many “outdoor recreation is important for the economy” studies that some government agency or nonprofit will put out this year to try to get the public to take nature protection seriously.

Is it true? Sure, I think so — but everyday citizens pretty much don’t. At least that’s what the polling firm Responsive Management found when they asked them in a nationwide series of focus groups:

The idea that either fishing or boating, except for commercial fishing and/or boating, was a major economic issue, was not seen as believable.

Source: Anglers and Boaters Attitudes Towards Various Messages That Communicate the Benefits of Fishing and Boating: Results of a Series of Nationwide Focus Groups, Responsive Management, 2001

And here’s the thing about those everyday citizens — they don’t read dry government reports, so they will go right on doubting despite all the hard work that went into this one.

But while everyday citizens are very skeptical about claims that that outdoor recreation is a big part the economy as a whole, they still think it’s important — because it’s healthy for their bodies, and even more importantly, for their families. Stress relief and family togetherness consistently top the list for why most people make time to enjoy nature and the outdoors.

So NOAA, if you want regular folk to take fishing seriously, how about putting out a report documenting how many families will go saltwater fishing together next year?

How about estimating how many more hours of parent-child bonding there will be and how many less hours of TV watching there will be, thanks to saltwater fishing?

How about quoting some family counselors, ministers, or anybody else who can speak with authority to the benefits of the relaxation and togetherness that comes from spending time in the great outdoors, instead of bureaucrats and academics tossing around billions and millions and calculations and extrapolations?

Here’s the thing: everyday citizens will believe that. And they think it’s mighty important, too.