loss of opportunity is a driver for sure. Currently many streams closed to salmon fishing (even catch & release ) so the V/C is one of the few places to go where you can not only catch something, but also retain it.
Add in a growing population. I remember fishing when there was only 700,000 people on the lower mainland and now what is it ?
A crazy 2,632,000 people.
yeah but a much smaller proportion of the public fish every year, population is going up but the amount of people buying licenses has been pretty consistent for a long time.
For salt water license, in 1999, 223,985 salmon stamps were sold, in 2021, 221,529, in 2019 pre covid even, 233,866
For fresh water Conservation Surcharge Non-Tidal Salmon
LY10/11 LY11/12 LY12/13 LY13/14 LY14/15 LY15/16 LY16/17 LY17/18 LY18/19 LY19/20 LY20/21 LY21/22
72,198 62,892 53,821 60,845 83,692 60,443 55,945 51,143 62,029 45,840 55,187 53,221