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DeWine Highlights Lake Erie’s Economic Impact
Gov. Mike DeWine used what will be his final Fish Ohio Day as governor to highlight Lake Erie’s role as more than just a world-class fishing destination. He said the lake serves as a major economic engine for communities along Ohio’s north coast, including Put-in-Bay.
Speaking Tuesday during the Fish Ohio Day luncheon at the Shores & Islands Ohio Welcome Center in Port Clinton, DeWine said Lake Erie’s value reaches well beyond outdoor recreation.
“Lake Erie is a wonderful place,” DeWine said. “It’s a great place to fish, a great place to walk, great to hike and do all kinds of things. But in addition to that, it has a huge economic impact on our north coast.”
The governor noted the steady stream of visitors who come to the region each year, filling hotels, booking charter fishing trips and supporting local businesses.
“You go into motels, they’re filled. You talk to charter boat captains, and they tell you how many people they’re taking out every single year,” DeWine said. “A lot of economic activity is going on, and what’s responsible for it is Lake Erie.”
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His comments coincided with the release of updated tourism data from Shores & Islands Ohio President Larry Fletcher, who outlined the growing economic influence of Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline.
Fletcher reported that the eight Ohio counties bordering Lake Erie produced $20.6 billion in tourism-related economic activity during 2025, representing a 3% increase over 2023. Tourism in those counties supports 135,200 jobs and generated $2.74 billion in tax revenue, an increase of 5.5% from 2023. Although they make up only eight of Ohio’s 88 counties, they account for 28% of the state’s tourism-related tax revenue.
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For Put-in-Bay and other Lake Erie communities, those numbers reflect the importance of the annual tourism season. Each year, thousands of visitors travel by ferry to enjoy boating, charter fishing, restaurants, wineries, hotels, attractions and the island’s one-of-a-kind Lake Erie experience. Tourism continues to serve as the backbone of the local economy.
DeWine also emphasized that maintaining Lake Erie’s health is essential to preserving both its recreational opportunities and the economic benefits it provides.
“We have an obligation to preserve and protect Lake Erie,” he said. “It’s not by chance that Lake Erie is as strong as it is. We’re preserving it, we’re protecting it, and we do this with some amazing people who work hard every day.”
Reflecting on his final Fish Ohio Day as governor, DeWine said protecting and investing in Lake Erie must remain a long-term commitment beyond his administration.
“We’ve got to continue year after year,” he said. “It’s like anything else. You have to continue to invest.”
Fish Ohio Day annually brings together anglers, tourism officials, conservation organizations and elected leaders to celebrate Lake Erie’s internationally recognized fishery while showcasing the lake’s critical role in Ohio’s tourism industry and outdoor economy.
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please visit the Put-in-Bay Gazette subscription form. This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to putinbayohio.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!
