June 29 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce, invites comment to OMB by August 2, 2023 regarding the Fishing Effort Survey of the Marine Recreational Information Program. (Comments due 30 days after submittal to OMB on July 3, 2023.)
Marine recreational anglers are surveyed to collect catch and effort data, fish biology data, and angler socioeconomic characteristics. These data are required to carry out provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as amended, regarding conservation and management of fishery resources.
Marine recreational fishing catch and effort data are collected through a combination of mail surveys, telephone surveys, and on-site intercept surveys with recreational anglers. The Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey (FES) is a self-administered, household mail survey that samples from a residential address frame to collect data on the number of recreational anglers and the number of recreational fishing trips. The survey estimates marine recreational fishing activity for all coastal states from Maine through Mississippi, as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Currently, MRIP produces estimates for two-month reference waves. The proposed collection will include experimental work to evaluate shorter reference periods that would more fully support fisheries management and stock assessment needs.
FES estimates are combined with estimates derived from complementary surveys of fishing trips, the Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey, to estimate total, state-level fishing catch, by species. These estimates are used in the development, implementation, and monitoring of fishery management programs by NOAA Fisheries, regional fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries commissions, and state fishery agencies.
NOAA Marine Recreational Information Program Research:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/recreational-fishing-data/marine-recreational-information-program-research
NOAA submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202306-0648-012 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-13802
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806