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The fishing and boating community has a record number of Hispanic American anglers – 4.2 million – so why do these anglers feel like the industry is still overlooking them? Three out of four Hispanic American anglers feel they don’t see themselves or people like them represented in the community. That’s just one finding of a new study from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), commissioned for Hispanic Heritage Month to lead the industry in becoming more inclusive.
Other key findings include:
1. 45% of Hispanics agree that fishing and boating are part of their cultural heritage.
2. Nearly 40% of respondents had gone fishing at least once in the past year, but 63% state they would like to fish more often.
3. 54% of Hispanics consider outdoor activities important to them and their families.
4. Hispanic anglers and non-anglers alike express a desire to appreciate and preserve natural resources:
- 82% consider it important to teach their children to value nature and the environment
- 78% value protecting aquatic resources, wildlife and endangered species.
5. Hispanic anglers are nearly twice as likely as non-anglers to feel safe in the outdoors by themselves. This perception of “belonging” can affect attitudes and behavior.
These findings indicate opportunities to better engage this audience and spread the joy of fishing and boating, and underscore RBFF’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment on the water through its Vamos A Pescar™ initiative. To help Hispanic families break through perceived barriers in the sport, RBFF’s George H. W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund awarded $78,000 this year to 15 Hispanic-focused fishing and boating programs across the nation. State agency partners fully matched the funds for a total of nearly $160,000 granted to the 2018 grantees.
About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation's aquatic natural resources. RBFF's recently announced 60 in 60 effort strives to attract 60 million anglers to the sport by the end of 2021. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns creating awareness about boating, fishing and conservation, and educating people about the benefits of participation. These campaigns help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org and TakeMeFishing.org/es, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.
