Recreational boating in the Gulf of Mexico: Growth and trends

Private recreational boating in the Gulf of Mexico is a leisure-time activity which brings pleasure to the millions who participate in it and enriches the economies of the states of the region. While this boating activity has positive benefits, it is not without its problem areas. This paper discusses both the nature and extent of the ownership of recreational boats in the Gulf of Mexico region, the measurable impacts on state economies as outlined in published sources, the prospects for future growth, and some of management issues whose resolution will, in great measure, be the determinants of the extent of that growth.