Outreach & Extension: Boating & Marine Recreation

Contact: Doug Lipton

While coastal-dependent businesses such as commercial fishing and seafood processing struggle to maintain a foothold, recreational marine trades such as boating are enjoying prosperity. Maryland’s marine recreation businesses can significantly contribute to economic growth in the coastal communities in which they are based. A study undertaken by marine economist and Sea Grant Extension Program leader Doug Lipton and his colleagues documented the value of recreational boating activity in Maryland at well over a billion dollars a year — and that's not counting the sale price of boats.

According to the report, approximately every 6.5 boats registered in Maryland lead to more than one full-time job somewhere in the state's economy and each boat contributes over $8,600 a year in economic activity. When factoring in boats that simply visit Maryland (are not registered in MD), boating’s total impact on the Maryland economy for 2006 is approximately $2.0 billion with over 34,500 jobs provided. However, with financial success comes the challenge of balancing continued growth with competing environmental and policy concerns including water quality, competition for waterfront property and increased costs of dredging. These issues will continue to be at the forefront of plans to develop the marine recreation sector on Maryland’s coasts.

Listed below are numerous studies the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program has completed that analyze the economic value of recreational boating in Maryland.

Transient Boating in Maryland:

The Economic Impact of Out-of-State Boater Spending

It is estimated that transient boaters spent $154 million in 2004 while in Maryland on items related to their boat or on trip-related activities. Transient boater spending had a $186 million impact on the Maryland economy in 2004 and can be linked to 2,627 full-time equivalent jobs.
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Economic Impact of Maryland Boating in 2009

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Boating 2000: A Survey of Boater Spending in Maryland

Maryland recreational boating expenditures totaled $1.6 billion.
Report Summary
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Recreational Boating in Maryland: An Economic Impact Study, 1993-1994

Maryland recreational boating expenditures totaled $1.01 billion.
Report Summary
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