Economic impacts of onshore fishing, fishing tournaments, and marine-related museums, festivals, and educational centers on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Little research has been done to attach monetary values to marine resources on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We conducted on-site surveys (n = 630) to collect expenditures from participants of marine-related activities during 2001. This survey technique and subsequent analysis determined expenditures and economic impacts of marine-related activities to both the Mississippi Gulf Coast counties and to the state of Mississippi. It also presented an approach to integrate marine onshore angler impacts with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The survey response rate was 85%. Total sales impacts generated from expenditures totaled {dollar}31.8 million in the three county region, and {dollar}35.9 million statewide. In addition, 585 regional and 654 statewide full- and part-time jobs were supported, respectively.