The percentage of women in the Northern Territory who fish recreationally has overtaken men, a new report by the national Fisheries Research and Development Corporation shows.

The Social and economic survey of recreational fishers 2018-21: Northern Territory report found in the NT 32.7 per cent of adults went fishing once a year, or about 60,800 people, numbers based on the results of a survey run from 2019 to 2021, and released this year.

It found 33 per cent of Territory women went fishing at least once a year, but did not give a specific figure for men, only showing on a graph there were slightly less men as a percentage than females.

Fishing rates in the NT were higher than the Australian average of 21.4 per cent, with the national average for women being 17.8 per cent, and national average for men being 25.3 per cent.

There were 20,000 recreational fishers across Australia questioned numerous times during 2019 to 2021 for the survey conducted by the FRDC, a federal government statutory corporation, co-funded by the government and fisheries and aquaculture, which leads research and development in those industries.

Amateur Fishing Association NT projects and administration officer Joanne Rudd said the female fishing participation rate in the NT came as no surprise.

“Territory women love fishing. We fish with our families, our friends, and our children. We love the challenge and the fun of fishing, and the connections it brings in our relationships and to the environment,” she said.

AFANT chief executive officer David Ciaravolo said the study showed the value of recreational fishing and fishing tourism has continued to grow, with locals and visitors contributing $270 million to the Territory’s gross domestic product in 2020, up from estimates of around $100 million in older studies.

He said the report showed there were 2,500 full time equivalent jobs supported by recreational fishing, 1,778 of which were direct jobs in charter fishing, tackle stores, accommodation and other retail or services used by fishers.

“It’s fantastic to see recreational fishing participation at an all-time high among diverse groups of Territorians, because we know from the social component of this study that people who go fishing are more connected to the environment and more resilient to the challenges that life throws at us from time to time,” he said.

“To capitalise on the economic value, and the clear appetite for Territory fishing experiences among visitors and locals, it will be essential to maintain the abundant fish stocks, like the barramundi which the NT is famous for, as well as to strategically invest in stewardship, management, research and recreational fishing infrastructure.”