PROGRESS REPORT. State: NEW HAMPSHIRE Grant: F-61-R-21/F16AF00163 NEW HAMPSHIRE S MARINE FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

PROGRESS REPORT State: NEW HAMPSHIRE Grant: F-61-R-21/F16AF00163 Grant Title: NEW HAMPSHIRE S MARINE FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS Project II: MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES MONITORING Job 3: COLLECTION OF MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING STATISTICS AND SUPERVISION OF PROGRAMS Objective: To collect marine recreational fishing statistics in New Hampshire that will be comparable with other state, regional, and coast-wide estimates, as well as provide administration, supervision, and technical support. Period Covered: January 4, 2016 March 3, 2016 This job was inactivated because funding transitioned in March 2016 to another source with administration through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program. No data was collected for the program during this period of performance but data is presented for the 2015 and 2016 years for informational purposes only. ABSTRACT Since 1997 the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has cooperated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) to conduct the field intercept portion of the Marine Recreational Information Program (formerly the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey). A new design for the field intercept portion of the survey was implemented by NOAA Fisheries in 2013, and data back to 2004 has been re-estimated with the new estimation methodology. A total of 201 assignments were conducted in 2016. Sampling efficiency increased with the introduction of the mixed boat mode in 2014 and full mixed-mode sampling in 2016. Recreational fishermen in New Hampshire caught an estimated 1,598,454 fish and harvested and estimated 526,041 fish in 2015. Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus and Pollock Pollachius virens accounted for a large percentage of F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 76

the total catch. Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus, along with Haddock and Pollock, made up the majority of harvested fish. The PSE target for catch was met for four of the seven species of special interest in NH in 2015, and was met for harvest as well for two of those species. Total annual effort in New Hampshire was the lowest in a decade at 221,277 angler trips for 2015. The effort estimate for the headboat mode had a proportional standard error below the target level in 2015. INTRODUCTION Information concerning the recreational segment of marine fisheries is vital for making management decisions concerning the resource and the associated fisheries. Since 1979 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has conducted a Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) to gather regional and coast-wide information concerning marine recreational fishing in the United States. Due to the regional emphasis of this survey, it did not produce state-specific information that was sufficiently precise or accurate, particularly in states with small coastal areas like New Hampshire (NH). Due to the need for more precise data, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) initiated a state survey of NH's marine recreational fishery in 1979. The survey was conducted annually from 1979 to 1996 (with the exception of 1983 and 1985) to obtain estimates of total catch, total effort, CPUE, percent species composition of the catch, and length frequency data for harvested fish. During these surveys, between 2,000 and 3,000 marine recreational anglers were interviewed annually. In 1995 a side-by-side comparison study was conducted of NH s Marine Recreational Fishing Survey (NH-MRFS) and the MRFSS. For this comparison both the number of field intercepts and the number of phone surveys for effort were increased in an attempt to improve the precision of the statelevel catch and effort estimates of the MRFSS to levels comparable to those obtained by the NH-MRFS. The results of the comparison study suggested MRFSS underestimated the effort and catch in the party charter (PC) mode during 1995, while the NH-MRFS underestimated the effort and catch in the shore (SH) and private rental (PR) modes (Grout and Heckman 1996). The results of the study, combined with the desire to eliminate duplication of effort between MRFSS and NH-MRFS, prompted NHFG to discontinue the NH-MRFS and collaborate with NOAA Fisheries in conducting the MRFSS in NH beginning in 1997. The coordinated effort collected marine recreational F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 77

statistics in NH that are comparable with other state, regional, and coastwide estimates derived from the federal MRFSS survey. The National Research Council (NRC) published a Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods in 2006. The publication reviewed recreational fisheries surveys and their suitability for monitoring many different types of fisheries and ability for providing the quality of information needed to support recreational fisheries management; finally the NRC provided recommendations for possible improvements. The MRFSS was noted in the review as having several flaws and the NRC recommended that the MRFSS be redesigned to improve the effectiveness and appropriateness of sampling and estimation procedures (NRC 2006). In 2013 as a result of the NRC s review, the NOAA Fisheries implemented a redesigned recreational fishing survey known as the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). In redesigning the survey much of the potential bias was removed without negatively impacting estimates. Changes are ongoing to the survey and it is projected that the estimates that come from the new intercept design and estimation procedures coupled with a new effort survey expected to be implemented within the next two years, will be much more precise than those that were produced using the MRFSS methodology. Prior to January 1, 2008, the project was previously funded under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act NA209 Job 1. PROCEDURES The MRIP has two basic components; a random telephone survey of coastal-county households for estimating fishing effort and an on-site intercept survey to collect catch data from marine recreational anglers in various fishing modes. The fishing modes are: shore (SH), private rental (PR), charter (CH), and headboat (HB). The field intercept portion of the MRIP is conducted by NHFG personnel in NH, while NOAA Fisheries contracts data entry, survey assignment draws, and the effort surveys. The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) took over the administrative role of the field intercept portion of MRIP in 2016 and Atlantic coast state fisheries agencies began performing the on-site portion of the survey in their respective states. In 2012 NMFS began using a new method to estimate effort and catch. The new estimation method was used to recalculate estimates back to 2004. Coupled with the new estimation method, in 2013 a new design was implemented for the intercept portion of the survey for the SH, PR, and CH modes. Some F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 78

of the major changes were the switch from an intercept based to an assignment based quota as well as implementing survey time blocks and allowing for sampling over the entire 24 hour period. There are five, six-hour time blocks: 0800 1400 hours, 1400 2000 hours, 2000 0200 hours, 0200 0800 hours, and 1100 1700 hours. Each assignment is drawn with a specific mode, time block, and site or sites. Interviewers no longer choose when to go to an assigned site, what the alternate sites would be, or when to end an assignment. All of these factors that are now built into each assignment remove potential bias from the survey and increase the precision of the estimates that are generated. To increase productivity of assignments the PR and CH modes were sampled as a combined mixed boat mode (MB) in 2014 and 2015, followed by a full mixed-mode sampling (SH, PR, and CH) in 2016 for site based assignments (all non-hb mode assignments). The number of assignments to be conducted is allocated annually by NOAA Fisheries (intercepts, prior to 2013). Annual survey assignments are distributed between two month intervals (waves) based on historical fishing effort. In NH the sampled waves include: Wave 2 (March April), Wave 3 (May June), Wave 4 (July August), and Wave 5 (September October). Wave 1 (January February) and Wave 6 (November December) are not surveyed due to the lack of fishing pressure. Only the HB mode is surveyed during Wave 2 in NH as there is little fishing effort in the other modes during those months. New Hampshire may annually perform additional assignments as needed. The increased sampling levels have historically been up to three times the base allocation in the SH and PR modes, aimed at achieving a proportional standard error (PSE) of 20 or lower for species of special interest. Prior to 2004 the recreational for-hire industry s data was captured using the PC mode. In this mode interviewers intercepted both party and charter boats dockside. Beginning in 2004 this was phased out and the forhire modes are now sampled separately. Charter boats are intercepted dockside for the CH mode and party boats (or headboats) are sampled at-sea (HB mode) for catch data. In conducting the on-site intercept surveys standard MRIP procedures were used as outlined in the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey Procedures Manual. The Coastal Household Telephone Survey component of MRIP is conducted with phone surveys of households in four coastal counties (Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford) in NH. The telephone portion of the survey is not conducted in Wave 2, because NHFG only samples the HB mode during April. F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 79

Quality control measures are conducted annually to ensure data collected are accurate, and that the interviewing field staff continues to follow proper survey procedures. All interviewers participated in annual training with materials provided by ACCSP. Unannounced quality control checks were performed during the season on field staff, which consisted of a procedural test and observation of at least one angler interview. Data were reviewed weekly before submission to the contractor in an attempt to correct errors before data entry. All biological information, including fish species, length, weight, and disposition was reviewed after each month. All estimates created from data obtained during a wave were reviewed periodically throughout the year. Marine Recreational Information Program estimates for catch, harvest, effort, and participation are available on the NOAA Fisheries website (http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/recreational/queries/). A comparison of old (MRFSS) and new (MRIP) estimates are also available on the NOAA Fisheries website (National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division, Personal Communication). Due to review of estimates and delayed incorporation of Vessel Trip Report data for the for-hire modes, final catch and harvest estimates are not available for 2016; however 2015 estimates have been finalized and are presented in this report. RESULTS All 200 allocated assignments and one extra Wave 5 HB assignment were successfully performed in 2016. During these assignments 1,228 intercepts were obtained in the PR, CH, and SH modes, and 824 in the HB mode. The effort per interview was highest in Wave 5 (Table 2.3-1). The numbers of PR intercepts rose from 2015 and are 50% higher than the number obtained in 2013, before mixed mode sampling was incorporated (Table 2.3-2). The number of CH intercepts also rose from 2015 and has seen a full three-fold increase from 2013 levels. Thirty-seven different taxa were reported or identified as being caught by recreational anglers in 2016 (Table 2.3-3). In 2015 marine recreational anglers in NH caught an estimated 1,598,454 fish (Table 2.3-4 and Figure 2.3-1). Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus and Pollock Pollachius virens accounted for 55% of the annual catch. Wave 4 had the highest catch in 2015, followed by Wave 3, then Wave 5. Wave 2 accounted for just 1% of the annual total, comprised mainly of a large amount of Acadian Redfish Sebastes fasciatus caught in the HB mode. Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus, Haddock, and Pollock had their highest catch in F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 80

Wave 4 (Table 2.3-5). In 2015 anglers in the HB mode caught 42% of the entire catch, PR mode anglers caught 30%, CH mode accounted for 28%, and SH mode anglers caught less than 1% of the annual catch (Table 2.3-5). The harvest in 2015 was estimated at 526,041 fish (Table 2.3 4). Atlantic Mackerel accounted for 44% of the harvested fish, while Haddock and Pollock combined made up an additional 44% of the harvest (Table 2.3-6). Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua was closed to recreational harvest and saw a 97% decrease in number of fish harvested over 2014(Table 2.3-7). Atlantic Mackerel and Striped Bass Morone saxatilis harvest numbers also fell in 2015 by 63% and 72%, respectively. Haddock had an 84% increase in number harvested over 2014. The MRIP estimated 221,277 angler trips occurred in NH during the 2015 fishing season (Tables 2.3-8 and 2.3-9). Effort was greatest in the PR mode; however, the effort in this mode was the second lowest in a decade and there was no estimated effort in Wave 5. Effort in the SH mode increased by 70% from 2014 to 57,185 angler trips. This was the third lowest SH effort estimate in a decade. The HB mode showed a 25% decrease in effort, while the CH mode had an estimated increase of 20% over 2014. In 2015 the wave and mode with the greatest estimated effort was the PR mode in Wave 4; Wave 4 also showed the greatest effort estimate for all of the fishing modes combined. In 2014 the SH mode had the highest PSE (36.1), which is the third highest in a decade within SH mode and across all modes within the same period (Table 2.3-9). The HB mode was the only mode to exceed the target PSE of 20 (0.4). In 2015 participation was estimated at 114,552 anglers; with 5% of anglers being residents of non-coastal counties in NH, and the remaining 95% of anglers were evenly split between residents of coastal NH counties and out-of-state residents (Table 2.3-10). DISCUSSION Overall catch estimates reflect high inter-annual variability, possibly due to fluctuations in the presence of highly migratory species such as Atlantic Mackerel, Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix, and Striped Bass (Figure 2.3-1). This was exemplified between 2006 and 2015, when the annual catch of Atlantic Mackerel varied from as low as 137,199 fish in 2007 to as many as 2,330,617 fish in 2011 (Table 2.3-7). Similarly, Striped Bass catch had a decadal high of 474,136 fish in 2006, but was 12% of that level in 2010 and 2015. F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 81

Climatic factors often influence the timing and extent of migration of these species. Much of the prey of these gamefish species is also migratory. Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus for example, migrate seasonally as adults, but also rely on temperature driven surface currents to reach their inshore nursery habitats in the Gulf of Maine (Collette and Klein-MacPhee 2002). The Atlantic Menhaden is a major prey item for both Bluefish and Striped Bass. During 2006 and 2007 the Department s Juvenile Finfish Seine Survey had the two highest geometric mean catch per seine haul values of Atlantic Menhaden in the past decade (Patterson et al. 2015) and it is interesting to note that both Striped Bass and Bluefish also experienced their two highest catches in the past decade during these years. There are many components that go into the catch and harvest estimates and any of these have the ability to affect the estimate and its associated error value. A low rate of encounter or a high effort PSE are two examples of factors that would negatively impact the catch and harvest PSE values. The error values for the SH and PR fishing effort estimates are generally much higher than those for the for-hire modes: for example, the PSE value for SH in 2015 was 36.1 and for the HB mode it was 0.4 (Table 2.3-9). Species such as Haddock, Atlantic Cod, Pollock, and Atlantic Mackerel, in general, are heavily targeted by the for-hire modes and benefit from a high rate of encounter on intercepts as well as a relatively precise effort estimate in those modes. Haddock and Atlantic Mackerel, two of the seven species of special interest to NH, met the target PSE for both catch and harvest, while Pollock and Atlantic Cod met the target PSE for catch (Tables 2.3-4 and 2.3-7). A low rate of encounter overall would likely happen if the fishery is highly seasonal, like the Winter Flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus and Bluefish fisheries in NH. Bluefish were only encountered during one assignment throughout the sampling year. Four Bluefish were observed and measured, which produced an estimated 2,321 fish caught in 2015. Expectedly, the associated catch and harvest error values are high at 92.1 for both estimates. Winter Flounder also typically have a short season and are caught as they enter the inshore and nearshore waters during the spring and early summer. Interviewers first intercepted successful flounder anglers in 2015 during mid-may and ending mid-july. The associated error is high for this species in 2015, similar to that of past estimates. Striped Bass had lower PSE values than Winter Flounder and Bluefish, but at 31.9 and 31.5, the catch and harvest (number) PSE values did not meet F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 82

the target in 2015. As a species that is heavily targeted by SH and PR anglers, the effort estimate error values are likely impacting the precision of Striped Bass catch and harvest estimates more than it s incidence of encounter. One way to positively affect the catch and harvest estimates in general is with an increase in sample size, which NH has historically done in the SH and PR modes. The introduction of the MB mode in 2014 also increased sampling efficiency considerably by allowing for the sampling of both the PR and CH modes during a MB assignment. During the first year of implementation the number of intercepts in the PR and CH modes increased by 45% and 185%, respectively (Table 2.3-2). Annual effort per intercept of all modes combined has also decreased since. In 2015 there was a decrease in the number of intercepts collected in both the PR and CH modes as well as an increase in effort per intercept for the mixed boat mode. With the shift to complete mixed-mode sampling in 2016, the number of intercepts in the PR and CH modes once again increased. The SH mode did not appear to benefit from this change, and saw a slight decrease in intercepts from the previous year. Although increasing the quantity of intercepts obtained in the SH mode may help to increase precision levels, most of the catch is encountered in the boat modes, so the PR and CH modes may be a better measure of sampling performance. Even if efficiency and sample size increase, the catch and harvest PSE values will continue to be inflated until the effort estimates are produced with more precision. To improve effort estimates NOAA Fisheries is currently benchmarking an alternate effort survey, which is mail based. It is expected to provide more precise estimates in the near future. The estimated angler trips for NH have varied greatly over the last decade, the peak occurring in 2007 at 501,517 trips. The following year effort dropped by over 33%. Effort remained in a general decline through 2015, when there were an estimated 221,277 trips; the lowest overall effort in the past decade (Table 2.3-9). The most notable decrease in 2015 was in the PR mode in Wave 5 where estimates indicated no fishing trips occurred (Table 2.3-8). This estimate was not corroborated by observations in the field or in the data that was collected during the on-site assignments. This is one example of the deficiencies of the current phone-based effort survey. The CH and HB modes have maintained near average levels of effort despite a tightening of groundfish regulations. There have been many changes recently to the size and bag limits for both Atlantic Cod and Haddock, and a F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 83

brief period of rolling closures. Further measures were implemented to completely close Atlantic Cod to recreational harvest in November 2014, which continued for the 2015 fishing year. Atlantic Cod harvest was very low (1,177 fish) in 2015 due to a yearlong federal harvest prohibition. Haddock on the other hand saw a near doubling in number harvested; with an estimated 139,765 fish harvested, the second highest in a decade. Year-class abundance and regulation changes are likely the cause of this increase. Haddock recruitment is characterized as being highly episodic, with the most recent strong year classes in 2003, 2010, and a possible strong year class in 2012 (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2014). The 2010 year class in particular was very strong and the reduction in size limit in 2015, to 17 inches made it possible for anglers to harvest fish from this abundant year-class. The updated MRIP design has been used for the on-site survey since 2013 and estimates are currently calculated using the updated MRIP estimation procedures. The participation estimates, however, are still calculated using the old MRFSS methodology. It may be this mismatch in survey design that has led to the extraordinarily low PSE values for the participation estimates since 2013 (Table 2.3-10). Participation estimates for recreational fisheries are published on the NOAA Fisheries website; however, the MRIP was not designed to produce these estimates and they are likely inaccurate. In summary, changes are ongoing to both the on-site intercept and effort portions of the MRIP to increase precision of the data as well as sampling efficiency. At this time, final estimates are not available for 2016. There is considerable inter-annual variability of catch, partially due to seasonal fish migrations. Haddock and Pollock accounted for a large percentage of the total catch in 2015; Atlantic Mackerel, along with Haddock and Pollock, made up the majority of harvested fish. The PSE target for catch was met for four of the seven species of special interest in NH in 2015, and was met for harvest as well for two of those species. In light of recent stock assessments for Atlantic Cod and Haddock, regulations have changed and may continue to change in the near future. The abundance of certain year-classes along with a decrease in the size limit were likely factors in a near doubling of Haddock harvest numbers in 2015. The overall annual effort was the lowest in a decade, partially due to the low estimated effort in the PR mode. F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 84

REFERENCES Collette, B. B., and G. Klein-MacPhee (Editors). 2002. Bigelow and Schrodeder s Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, 3rd Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 137. Grout, D.E. and K. Heckman. 1996. Programs Improving Management of ASMFC Managed Species in New Hampshire. 1995 Final Report. NMFS Federal Aid Project 3-ACA-006. NH Fish and Game Dept. 34pp. National Research Council (NRC). 2006. Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods, The National Academies Press, Washington, DC. Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2014. 59th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (59th SAW) Assessment Report. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. 14-09; 66 p. Patterson, C.,K. Sullivan, R. Zobel, M. Dionne, R. Heuss, R. Eckert, B. Smith, C. O Donnell, and E. Motyka. 2015. Estuarine Survey of Juvenile Finfish. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration, Project F-61-R-PIII-J3, Progress Report, Durham, 151pp. Personal communication from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division September 21, 2016 F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 85

Table 2.3-1. Assignments allocated by NOAA Fisheries, interviews obtained by the State of New Hampshire, and effort information for Marine Recreational Information Program field intercepts collected in New Hampshire, 2016. Wave 2 Allocated Completed (SH)0 NA NA Site 0 0 (PR)0 based NA NA (CH)0 HB 3 3 52 55.50 1.07 Wave 3 Total 3 3 52 55.50 1.07 (SH)70 Site 64 64 (PR)281 based (CH)117 384.00 0.82 HB 12 12 301 199.50 0.66 Wave 4 Total 76 76 769 583.50 0.76 (SH)147 Site 60 60 (PR)341 based (CH)163 360.00 0.55 HB 12 12 333 145.50 0.44 Wave 5 Total 72 72 984 505.50 0.51 (SH)23 Site 44 44 (PR)59 based (CH)27 264.00 2.42 HB 5 6 138 124.00 0.90 Annual Assignments Interviews obtained Effort hours Effort per interview Total 49 50 247 388.00 1.57 (SH)240 Site 168 168 (PR)681 based (CH)307 1,008.00 0.82 HB 32 33 824 524.50 0.64 Total 200 201 2,052 1,532.50 0.75 F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 86

Table 2.3-2. Assignments performed as well as effort hours and interviews obtained by the state of New Hampshire for Marine Recreational Information Program field intercepts, 2013 2016. Allocated Completed 2013: MRIP sampling design implemented. SH 51 51 287 1.07 PR 75 73 454 0.96 CH 42 41 99 2.48 HB 33 33 810 0.70 Total 201 198 1,650 0.94 2014: Mixed boat mode implemented. SH 46 46 280 0.99 2015 Number of assignments Interviews obtained MB 119 118 (PR)660 (CH)282 0.75 HB 34 34 761 0.65 Total 199 198 1,983 0.75 SH 46 46 258 1.07 MB 122 121 (PR)586 (CH)163 0.97 HB 33 31 698 0.65 Total 201 198 1,705 0.85 2016: Complete mixed mode sampling implemented. Effort per interview (SH)240 Site based 168 168 (PR)681 0.82 (CH)307 HB 32 33 824 0.64 Total 200 201 2,052 0.75 F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 87

Table 2.3-3. List of fish species of fish type reported caught by recreational anglers in New Hampshire from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2016. Supergroup name Common name Scientific name Anglerfishes Goosefish Lophius americanus Bluefish Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix Cartilaginous fishes Blue Shark Prionace glauca Sand Tiger Skate genus Spiny Dogfish Carcharias taurus Raja spp. Squalus acanthias Cods and hakes Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua Cusk Haddock Hake genus Pollock Red Hake Silver Hake White Hake Brosme brosme Melanogrammus aeglefinus Urophycis spp. Pollachius virens Urophycis chuss Merluccius bilinearis Urophycis tenuis Drums Weakfish Cynoscion regalis Eels American Eel Anguilla rostrata Flounders Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus Unidentified FlounderPleuronectiformes Windowpane Winter Flounder Scophthalmus aquosus Psuedopleuronectes americanus Herrings Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus Sand lances American Shad Atlantic Herring Atlantic Menhaden Alosa sapidissima Clupea harengus Brevoortia tyrannus American Sand Lance Ammodytes americanus Scorpionfishes Acadian Redfish Sebastes fasciatus Sculpins Longhorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus Sea Raven Sculpin family Hemitripterus americanus Cottidae Sea basses Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata Searobins Searobin genus Prionotus spp. Temperate basses Striped Bass Morone saxatilis White Perch Tunas and mackerels Atlantic Mackerel Morone americana Scomber scombrus Wolffish Atlantic Wolffish Anarhichas lupus Wrasses Cunner Tautogolabrus adspersus Tautog Tautoga onitis F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 88

Table 2.3-4 Estimates of New Hampshire s total catch and harvest, by species from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2015. Common name Total catch Catch PSE Total harvest Acadian Redfish 45,434 15.1 35,354 17.7 Alewife 454 84.1 0 0.0 Atlantic Bonito 13 96.0 13 96.0 Atlantic Cod 261,253 18.7 1,177 48.3 Atlantic Halibut 126 81.8 92 105.6 Atlantic Herring 1,171 79.6 0 0.0 Atlantic Mackerel 280,140 14.8 232,713 15.7 Atlantic Silverside 302 99.7 0 0.0 Atlantic Wolffish 1,958 30.1 0 0.0 Black Sea Bass 67 101.7 0 0.0 Bluefish 2,321 92.1 2,321 92.1 Cunner 9,521 44.4 2,411 24.8 Cusk 9,993 29.0 9,333 30.5 Goosefish 196 100.1 0 0.0 Haddock 461,325 15.0 139,765 13.5 Hake genus 231 100.9 0 0.0 Herring family 38 31.5 0 0.0 Longhorn Sculpin 5,008 29.7 490 95.2 Ocean Sunfish 361 90.7 0 0.0 Pollock 413,393 19.2 93,313 23.6 Red Hake 2,183 75.7 1,632 97.3 Sea Raven 554 54.7 0 0.0 Silver Hake 5,772 49.0 2,378 69.5 Spiny Dogfish 31,762 39.2 409 58.7 Striped Bass 57,892 31.9 1,827 31.5 Unidentified fish 95 101.6 0 0.0 White Hake 374 63.9 162 108.4 Windowpane 102 102.3 0 0.0 Winter Flounder 6,415 36.2 2,651 65.3 Totals 1,598,454 526,041 Harvest PSE F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 89

Table 2.3-5. Estimates of New Hampshire s catch, by wave, mode, and species, from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2015. Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5 Common name HB Total SH PR HB CH Total SH PR HB CH Total SH PR HB CH Total Acadian Redfish 15,902 15,902 0 151 13,466 6,678 20,296 0 2,195 2,321 601 5,116 0 0 723 3,397 4,120 Alewife 0 0 454 0 0 0 454 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Bonito 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 13 Atlantic Cod 512 512 0 13,848 44,088 35,020 92,956 0 47,812 29,553 31,175 108,541 0 0 6,479 52,766 59,244 Atlantic Halibut 0 0 0 0 0 34 34 0 92 0 0 92 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Herring 0 0 0 0 54 0 54 0 1,117 0 0 1,117 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Mackerel 0 0 0 20,260 322 718 21,300 0 144,697 95,086 9,166 248,949 1,528 0 6,689 1,674 9,891 Atlantic Silverside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 302 0 0 302 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Wolffish 77 77 0 0 396 294 690 0 475 128 392 995 0 0 0 196 196 Black Sea Bass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 67 0 0 67 0 0 0 0 0 Bluefish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,321 0 0 2,321 0 0 0 0 0 Cunner 517 517 0 319 1,545 92 1,957 0 4,580 949 235 5,763 0 0 1,284 0 1,284 Cusk 728 728 0 135 979 2,197 3,311 0 2,146 580 2,592 5,318 0 0 440 196 636 Goosefish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 196 196 Haddock 358 358 0 16,518 121,416 27,851 165,784 0 75,613 123,212 58,337 257,162 0 0 17,341 20,680 38,021 Hake genus 0 0 0 231 0 0 231 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Herring family 0 0 0 0 0 38 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Longhorn Sculpin 0 0 0 231 1,276 528 2,036 0 1,647 783 543 2,972 0 0 0 0 0 Ocean Sunfish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 361 0 0 361 0 0 0 0 0 Pollock 26 26 0 11,279 46,944 7,518 65,741 0 79,607 83,524 24,360 187,492 0 0 30,299 129,836 160,134 Red Hake 0 0 0 26 0 1,580 1,606 0 551 0 0 551 0 0 26 0 26 Sea Raven 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 416 138 0 554 0 0 0 0 0 Silver Hake 0 0 0 0 0 1,641 1,641 0 3,657 374 0 4,031 0 0 100 0 100 Spiny Dogfish 0 0 0 269 13,955 104 14,328 0 2,441 1,091 4,180 7,711 0 0 1,071 8,651 9,723 Striped Bass 0 0 907 9,535 0 3,154 13,595 1,740 37,657 0 3,304 42,702 1,595 0 0 0 1,595 Unidentified fish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 95 0 0 95 0 0 0 0 0 White Hake 0 0 0 0 0 61 61 0 313 0 0 313 0 0 0 0 0 Windowpane 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 102 0 0 0 102 0 0 0 0 0 Winter Flounder 0 0 279 4,581 0 0 4,860 145 1,410 0 0 1,555 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 18,120 18,120 1,640 77,383 244,441 87,508 410,973 1,987 409,572 337,739 134,885 884,182 3,123 0 64,465 217,592 285,179 F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 90

Table 2.3-6. Estimates of New Hampshire s harvest, by wave, mode, and species, from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2015. Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5 Common name HB Total SH PR HB CH Total SH PR HB CH Total SH PR HB CH Total Acadian Redfish 13,775 13,775 0 99 9,362 4,776 14,237 0 647 2,205 552 3,405 0 0 540 3,397 3,937 Alewife 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Bonito 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 13 Atlantic Cod 0 0 0 49 51 0 100 0 605 333 0 938 0 0 139 0 139 Atlantic Halibut 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 92 0 0 92 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Herring 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Mackerel 0 0 0 17,916 220 305 18,442 0 101,625 94,080 9,166 204,871 1,528 0 6,198 1,674 9,400 Atlantic Silverside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Wolffish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Black Sea Bass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bluefish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,321 0 0 2,321 0 0 0 0 0 Cunner 389 389 0 46 338 92 477 0 0 669 0 669 0 0 876 0 876 Cusk 728 728 0 135 979 2,139 3,253 0 1,601 580 2,535 4,716 0 0 440 196 636 Goosefish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Haddock 0 0 0 2,708 57,526 13,238 73,473 0 7,227 42,720 16,271 66,218 0 0 74 0 74 Hake genus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Herring family 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Longhorn Sculpin 0 0 0 0 490 0 490 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ocean Sunfish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pollock 0 0 0 1,320 9,487 1,886 12,693 0 18,303 8,645 8,794 35,742 0 0 9,714 35,164 44,878 Red Hake 0 0 0 26 0 1,580 1,606 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 26 Sea Raven 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Silver Hake 0 0 0 0 0 1,580 1,580 0 324 374 0 698 0 0 100 0 100 Spiny Dogfish 0 0 0 0 409 0 409 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Striped Bass 0 0 0 197 0 260 456 0 774 0 597 1,371 0 0 0 0 0 Unidentified fish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 White Hake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 162 0 0 162 0 0 0 0 0 Windowpane 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Winter Flounder 0 0 0 2,614 0 0 2,614 37 0 0 0 37 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 14,892 14,892 0 25,110 78,862 25,856 129,830 37 133,681 149,606 37,915 321,240 1,528 0 18,120 40,431 60,079 F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 91

Table 2.3-7. Annual estimates of catch and harvest of selected species caught by marine recreational anglers in New Hampshire as derived from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2006 2015. Species Year Numbers PSE Numbers PSE Bluefish Atlantic Cod Atlantic Mackerel Catch (Type A + B1 + B2) Harvest (Type A + B1) Weight (kg) 2006 31,851 24.2 8,940 27.6 20,944 26.8 2007 52,289 18.9 34,412 25.3 87,550 27.3 2008 8,586 44.5 6,019 52.6 16,490 50.0 2009 2,404 53.6 426 69.7 908 64.7 2010 2,223 37.0 1,662 44.6 6,175 45.5 2011 3,478 35.2 2,118 31.7 8,343 30.9 2012 14,416 30.7 9,446 39.4 14,540 34.0 2013 a 132 97.7 0-0 - 2014 2,504 65.8 947 70.2 2,409 70.2 2015 2,321 92.1 2,321 92.1 11,314 92.1 2006 312,629 10.9 65,391 14.8 283,343 19.5 2007 288,017 14.4 53,314 14.0 304,709 18.7 2008 313,269 14.9 80,944 17.9 348,561 21.5 2009 336,924 13.6 127,745 25.8 515,631 25.3 2010 209,756 12.1 79,872 17.9 330,235 18.5 2011 386,753 18.9 127,436 19.4 438,766 19.9 2012 214,469 19.6 64,413 22.3 129,075 22.2 2013 a 270,722 11.0 114,816 17.9 217,998 18.6 2014 176,775 13.9 44,424 17.3 104,100 18.0 2015 261,253 18.7 1,177 48.3 478 48.1 2006 148,133 24.3 115,485 26.9 40,648 28.4 2007 137,199 27.2 128,393 28.7 52,107 32.0 2008 532,220 21.7 496,930 22.9 107,968 26.3 2009 963,449 15.3 882,072 16.4 213,489 15.5 2010 312,964 26.8 294,834 28.4 78,709 28.0 2011 2,330,617 31.5 2,142,273 34.2 303,447 31.1 2012 1,275,642 21.2 1,115,907 23.8 188,503 22.9 2013 a 721,190 27.8 706,955 28.3 159,199 32.3 2014 657,056 16.8 627,712 17.6 143,740 18.5 2015 280,140 14.8 232,713 15.7 48,943 18.0 a Final estimates for 2013 for select species have changed from previous reports. PSE Note: Type A is catch observed by interviewer Type B1 is unobserved catch that is reported as harvested or released dead by the angler Type B2 is unobserved catch that is reported released alive by the angler F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 92

Table 2.3-7 (continued). Species Year Numbers PSE Numbers PSE Pollock Striped Bass Winter Flounder Haddock Catch (Type A + B1 + B2) Harvest (Type A + B1) Weight (kg) 2006 123,875 16.3 76,493 22.3 272,651 20.8 2007 87,456 24.4 70,261 29.4 206,409 29.2 2008 71,835 23.2 52,008 29.3 171,818 36.1 2009 89,353 12.7 39,650 18.6 92,200 20.6 2010 127,006 20.2 51,949 20.5 72,701 24.8 2011 204,439 20.0 100,712 26.0 254,481 42.1 2012 212,357 15.4 65,113 20.0 112,989 20.4 2013 a 354,240 15.8 117,530 15.9 234,182 17.7 2014 254,435 15.5 100,834 24.1 69,390 40.5 2015 413,393 19.2 93,313 23.6 125,798 25.4 2006 474,136 14.6 13,521 29.6 81,275 26.0 2007 263,720 22.4 6,348 34.0 30,909 34.2 2008 82,545 18.2 5,308 31.5 33,478 27.3 2009 66,030 19.7 8,587 22.6 51,576 25.1 2010 57,781 31.0 5,948 26.1 30,576 29.2 2011 131,397 30.4 32,704 31.1 168,191 32.7 2012 78,724 24.2 14,498 23.5 73,927 23.4 2013 a 99,383 23.8 17,268 26.8 102,826 27.0 2014 85,027 25.7 6,415 34.4 35,521 35.2 2015 57,892 31.9 1,827 31.5 13,886 32.7 2006 10,061 44.3 6,661 55.0 4,868 54.8 2007 16,748 32.4 9,367 40.2 6,374 40.5 2008 16,647 24.3 10,792 33.4 7,621 34.8 2009 14,421 40.4 9,584 52.7 5,369 53.0 2010 6,637 36.2 2,003 50.6 928 49.5 2011 13,551 65.8 12,174 73.0 7,886 71.6 2012 1,693 48.5 360 78.0 197 83.6 2013 3,321 73.6 0-0 - 2014 8,651 35.9 3,651 53.0 2,176 57.1 2015 6,415 36.2 2,651 65.3 1,605 63.2 2006 276,652 8.0 167,472 9.1 262,485 9.3 2007 140,879 13.2 97,300 16.9 151,746 17.6 2008 107,986 11.7 89,951 13.6 150,172 13.1 2009 128,105 10.0 100,284 11.8 162,490 11.9 2010 59,686 12.3 48,406 13.3 84,050 13.4 2011 95,627 18.1 75,917 21.7 129,070 21.8 2012 187,664 19.7 74,046 26.5 117,012 27.2 2013 a 329,745 11.2 71,628 12.8 116,575 13.0 2014 500,080 10.0 75,950 10.9 140,602 10.9 2015 461,325 15.0 139,765 13.5 155,154 13.0 a Final estimates for 2013 for select species have changed from previous reports. PSE Note:Type A is catch observed by interviewer Type B1 is unobserved catch that is reported as harvested or released dead by the angler Type B2 is unobserved catch that is reported released alive by the angler F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 93

Table 2.3-8. Estimates of effort (angler trips), by wave and mode, in New Hampshire s marine recreational fishery as derived from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2015. Wave Mode 2 3 4 5 Total PSE Shore NA 15,957 27,663 13,565 57,185 36.1 Private rental NA 12,583 66,090 0 78,673 27.2 Headboat 1,509 21,498 37,668 5,753 66,428 0.4 Charter NA 5,099 8,175 5,717 18,991 20.3 Total 1,509 55,137 139,597 25,034 221,277 13.5 Table 2.3-9. Annual estimates of effort (angler trips) in New Hampshire and the proportional standard error (PSE) of those estimates, by fishing mode and year as derived from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2006 2015. Shore Private rental Headboat Charter Total Year Trips PSE Trips PSE Trips PSE Trips PSE Trips PSE 2006 227,034 17.6 182,434 11.6 77,996 2.5 13,855 14.4 501,320 9.0 2007 155,290 16.3 232,705 15.5 96,952 1.0 16,570 7.2 501,517 8.8 2008 103,410 18.4 138,772 12.2 79,918 0.5 10,439 11.4 332,539 7.7 2009 154,828 17.4 147,426 11.7 86,263 1.0 12,069 11.5 400,587 8.0 2010 91,612 19.1 90,082 13.2 51,512 2.8 9,869 11.4 243,075 8.7 2011 47,653 26.3 178,372 17.0 44,027 2.1 26,518 14.6 296,570 11.2 2012 80,509 24.5 163,479 16.6 44,998 3.9 9,729 28.4 298,714 11.3 2013 a 89,464 41.7 107,371 21.9 99,116 1.0 15,733 9.9 311,684 14.2 2014 33,597 41.3 112,976 19.0 88,684 1.3 15,809 14.1 251,066 10.2 2015 57,185 36.1 78,673 27.2 66,428 0.4 18,991 20.3 221,277 13.5 a Final estimates for the charter and headboat modes have changed from previous reports for 2013. Table 2.3-10. Estimates of participation a (number of anglers) in New Hampshire s marine recreational fishery as derived from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2006 2015. Year Coastal PSE Noncoastal PSE Out-ofstate PSE Total PSE 2006 89,926 12.5 14,876 17.7 82,161 17.1 186,963 9.7 2007 96,636 14.4 12,842 20.7 62,596 15.7 172,073 10.0 2008 63,314 13.1 8,126 17.3 46,383 17.2 117,823 9.8 2009 67,393 13.0 8,749 23.2 58,239 18.1 134,381 10.3 2010 46,212 16.4 7,296 20.6 32,798 20.7 86,306 11.9 2011 56,177 21.8 9,830 29.0 30,483 21.9 96,490 14.8 2012 57,863 21.1 9,092 23.6 53,958 22.9 120,913 14.5 2013 68,198 8.7 19,265 9.8 65,797 8.4 153,260 5.4 2014 50,400 8.2 11,496 9.4 57,891 8.0 119,787 5.3 2015 54,230 8.8 6,004 10.5 54,318 8.6 114,552 5.9 a Participation estimates are calculated using MRFSS methodology. F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 94

Number of fish (thousands) 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Catch Harvest Year Figure 2.3-1. Total annual catch and harvest estimates of recreationally sought fish in New Hampshire from the Marine Recreational Information Program, 2006 2015. F-61-RII-3_16_AR Page 95