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Closing of Oregon Inlet Could Cost Local
Area Over $680 million
The effect of losing Oregon Inlet as a
navigable waterway for commercial and private boaters could be
devastating according to a newly released study. The Dare County Board
of Commissioners was presented with an Economic Benefits Study of Oregon
Inlet that was prepared by Moffatt & Nichol at the request of the Dare
County Oregon Inlet and Waterways Commission. This study was undertaken
to show the monetary value and affect on jobs that Oregon Inlet has on
Dare County and surrounding counties. According to this study, the
overall losses for Dare County as a result of the closure of Oregon
Inlet could reach an estimated $682 million in revenue and directly or
indirectly affect over 9800 jobs.
The study included commercial fishing, boat building, recreation
fishing, sport fishing and the tourist industry as factors that could be
affected if Oregon Inlet were no longer navigable. In using these
criteria, the study looks beyond the single indicator of commercial
tonnage that is commonly used to judge the importance of a waterway such
as Oregon Inlet to its local community.
The bulk of the revenue and job loss would come in the recreational
fishing industry where an estimated 8200 plus jobs would be affected by
Oregon Inlet’s closure. This includes jobs both directly and indirectly
affected by the loss of Oregon Inlet dependent recreational fishing. The
loss in revenue is estimated to exceed $500 million if that recreational
fishing portion of the local economy is lost.
Other local economic losses would come in the boat building industry (an
estimated $139 million), the seafood packing industry (an estimated
$33.4 million) and the commercial fishing industry (an estimated $7.1
million). Over 1500 jobs would also be affected in these three
industries and peripheral support industries.
The study was compiled through literature review to understand the
history of local Oregon Inlet dependant fishing and boating, survey
questionnaires of fisherman and boat builders who depend on Oregon Inlet
for their livelihoods, and through an economic analysis and monitoring
of direct and indirect impacts on local business and tourism should the
businesses involved have a decrease in patronage due to a closure of
Oregon Inlet.
The study will be used by the elected officials of Dare County when they
travel to Washington DC to meet with representatives there in an attempt
to secure funds for the dredging of Oregon Inlet. It is estimated that
$10 million per year will be needed to keep the inlet clear and passable
for all vessels that currently use it under normal weather conditions.
Last year only $7.1 million was budgeted for the dredging project which
allowed for only limited dredging of the channel. The upcoming federal
budget is currently being negotiated. The Senate version includes the
$10 million while the House version currently includes no funding for
the project.
For more information on the Study of the Benefits of
Oregon Inlet to the Economy of Dare County and the
Surrounding Region
[Presentation
to the Commissioners] and
[Final
Report]. Any questions can be directed to
Jenny Gray-Jones, Dare County Grants and Waterways, at
jgjones@darenc.com or by calling
(252)475-5628. |
