Economic Activity Associated with Wildlife Observation Along the Texas Gulf Coast
Abstract
This report focuses on estimating the economic activity1 associated with wildlife
observation2 in Sabine Lake/Sabine-Neches Estuary, Galveston Bay/Trinity-San Jacinto
Estuary, Matagorda Bay/Lavaca-Colorado Estuary, San Antonio Bay/Guadalupe Estuary,
Aransas Bay/Mission-Aransas Estuary, Corpus Christi Bay/Nueces Estuary, Baffin
Bay/Upper Laguna Madre Estuary, and South Bay/Lower Laguna Madre Estuary. Each
bay/estuary area will define a separate geographic region of study comprised of one or
more counties. The results show trip- and equipment-related spending of residents and
non-residents on wildlife observation in each of these regions and the impact this
spending had on the economy in terms of earnings, employment and sales output.
Birding is assumed to be the main activity associated with wildlife observation in the
regions of interest to this study.