In 2006, non-treaty commercial salmon fisheries in Washington generated a gross
revenue of $7 M, which represents harvest and seafood revenue minus fishing and processing
costs (TCW Economics 2008). The 2006 economic impacts of non-treaty commercial salmon
fisheries was estimated at $21 M and 507 jobs, which includes the direct personal income and
secondary, indirect benefits to local economies of the persons employed in the fishing industry
spending their earnings (TCW Economics 2008). Wegge (2008) estimated the direct plus
indirect economic impacts of Washington’s 120 salmon and steelhead hatchery programs;
across the Puget Sound, Washington Coast, and Lower Columbia regions, the total contribution
of non-treaty commercial fisheries to personal income was approximately $14 M.
The 2006 total economic impact (again, direct and indirect personal income) of all
Washington State recreational fisheries, not just salmon and steelhead, was estimated at $393
M (TCW Economics 2008). Salmon and steelhead fisheries totaled 39% across all recreational
fisheries of a different metric, net economic value (described below under Social and cultural
section), so we suggest a coarse economic impact of $153 M for Washington’s recreational
salmon and steelhead fisheries. Furthermore, Wegge (2009) estimated the economic impact of Washington’s hatcheries to salmon and steelhead recreational fisheries in Puget Sound,
Washington Coast and Lower Columbia at $54 M.]