In just four years the youth fishing participants ages six to 12 dropped from 7.9 million to 6 milliion, according to to a co-published report by Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and Outdoor Foundation. The participation drop is roughly a 6 percent decline when looking at the entire population for the age group.
There is an encouraging number from the report though, and that's a steady retention rate. While the age group six to 12 saw a dramatic drop in participation the age group 13 to 17 saw a decline but only by two percent. This means that the loss rate from childhood to adolesence looks to be decreasing.
Here's why the youth are so important: 90 percent of outdoor enthusiasts were introduced to nature-based activities between the ages of five and 18.
The report also highlights important numbers that targets solutions to increasing particpation. Half of all youth ages 13 to 17 share experiences in outdoor recreation using mobile technologies or the internet. And about eighty-two percent of youth fishing participants ages six to 12 cited parents as an influence in their decision to participate in outdoor activities. What can be done knowing these statistics? That's what we are trying to solve with our partnerships.
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