For-hire Data Collection Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Red Snapper For-hire Advisory Panel December 2-3, 2014 Tampa, FL
Southeast Region Recreational Surveys MRIP For-hire Survey APAIS/CHTS (1981) TPWD Angler Survey (1983) LA Creel (2013) Southeast Headboat Survey (1986) MRIP None
Survey vs. Census Survey Collects data from a sample of the components of a fishery and then expands to an estimate of the total. Sample must be representative of entire population. Potential for bias must test assumptions. Estimates have two parts: a point estimate and measure of uncertainty (error) Examples: MRIP, LA Creel, and TPWD Angler Survey Census Complete data from all participants. General requirements: 1. Establish and maintain complete list of participants; 2. Include all participants in sampling unit; 3. Validate data collected; and, 4. Ensure reporting is enforceable and enforced. Census may not always be complete. May need to use statistical methods to correct for missing or unreported data. Example: SE Headboat Survey
Surveys: Estimating Recreational Fishing Activity Phone, mail, or e-mail surveys; boat and wet slip counts Dockside intercepts
Marine Recreational Information Program Access point angler intercept survey o Sites randomly selected in proportion to expected fishing activity o State employees and federal contractors: o Interview and count anglers o Count, weigh, and measure fish o Sample throughout the day o Intercepts used to estimate catch per trip
Marine Recreational Information Program Effort surveys Coastal household telephone survey o Random-digit dialing to coastal households o Conducted every 2 months o Collects data on fishing trips made in past 2 months For-hire phone survey Conducted weekly 10% subsample of charter vessels Collects data on trips and anglers during sampling period
Marine Recreational Information Program Data Availability By two-month waves (Jan-Feb, Nov-Dec) and year By mode (charter, private, shore) By area (inland, state, federal) and state (wfl-la) o Can post-stratify landings off wfl Provides landings in numbers (not vessel specific) o Weights estimated by SEFSC
MRIP Survey Improvements New Magnuson mandates National Saltwater Angler Registry launched Re-estimation of historic catch based on improved methodology Developed new mail effort survey based on pilot studies 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NRC findings released Research and pilot projects begin Launch of new angler catch survey protocols Alabama pilot study begins Benchmarking of LA creel survey and new mail survey
Southeast Headboat Survey Began in Gulf in 1986 Currently 68 headboats w/ Gulf reef fish permits Electronic logbooks computer or Web-based app o Weekly reporting o Trip-level data by vessel: effort and catch Validation/Biosampling o Conducted by NMFS port agents and state contractors
Southeast Headboat Survey Data Availability Daily trip records (effort, catch) Landings/discards by month and year By area and stat grid (10 X 10 min) Provides landings in numbers and pounds by individual vessel
LA Creel Began in 2013 (red snapper quota monitoring) 2014 included all species (no MRIP) Access point survey o Survey public sites in 5 basins o Sites randomly selected; Site pressures determined based on fishing intensity for each fishing activity (priv. inshore, priv. offshore, charter) and day type (weekend, weekday) o Survey effort at offshore sites increased during federal red snapper season o Intercept data used to calculate catch rates, collect biological data, and determine compliance levels.
LA Creel Effort o Separate surveys for private anglers and charter captains Angler Telephone Survey o Sample frame of LA license holders ~1,500 license holders contacted each week o Survey stratified into 5 regions based on geographic area, license densities, and license type: N LA, SW LA, SE LA, Non LA Residents, and persons with a recreational offshore landing permit (ROLP). o Phone calls increased to ROLP license holders during federal red snapper season
LA Creel Charter Telephone Survey o Includes all persons possessing a LA charter fishing guides license o Stratified into two groups: ROLP holders and non-rolp holders o 25% of ROLP captains and 5% of non-rolp captains contacted weekly; 100% of ROLP captains contacted during federal red snapper season Catch Estimates o Weekly landings by mode; no discard estimates
TPWD Creel Survey Began in 1974 Sites randomly surveyed in relation to amount of fishing activity Intercepts occur from 10 am to 6 pm Samplers: o Count and identify fish caught by mode of fishing; o Randomly select fish for measurement; and o Collect information on area fished and gear used. Effort: estimated via roving count of empty boat trailers and empty wet slips Landing estimates generated for high (May 16-Nov 20) and low use (Nov 21-May 15) waves
Recreational Data Timeliness Headboat LA Creel Headboat Collaborative Data Source HB Collaborative Headboat LA Creel MRIP Texas PWD Reporting Interval Daily Weekly Weekly Bimonthly Biannual MRIP TPWD Angler Survey
Pilot Tests Headboat Collaborative (Jan 2014-Dec 2015) AL Snapper Check isnapper panel and voluntary surveys MS red snapper aerial surveys FL offshore fishing permit; intercept sampling at offshore sites TX Snapper Survey voluntary angler survey; enhanced sampling during federal snapper season
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