Hey Sandhead, Max, et al...
I've posted the following stats before but I couldn't find it, so I will post it again. The survey, you will note, is somewhat dated, but is very interesting. It helps to put things into perspective.
Here it is:
2000 Survey of Sport Fishing in BC
·# of salmon caught in Lower Mainland: 493,955
·# of salmon kept in Lower Mainland: 134,521 (27.23% of salmon caught)
·recreational  anglers who released fish voluntarily: 58.1%
·recreational  anglers who released fish for mandatory reasons: 6.8%
·# of recreational anglers: 56,522
·# of salmon kept/ recreational  angler/year: 2.38 salmon
·average expenditure/ recreational  angler/year: $493.21
·average expenditure/ recreational  angler/salmon/year: $207.23
·salmon catches by sector:Commercial fishery:    81%
                                          Aboriginal fishery:   12%
                                          Recreational fishery:   7%
·sector revenues (2002) of all species: 
CommercialFishery:$358million                                       Sport fishery:         $675 million
Aboriginal fishery:   Not reported
·sector employment (2002) :      
Commercial fishery:    5,400 people
Sport fishery:   8,900 people
Aboriginal fishery:   Not reported
·DFO fish allocation principles:   - Conservation is first priority
- First Nations have next priority for food, social and ceremonial purposes, and treaty obligations
- Commercial and recreational fishery are then allocated surplus