NOAA Fisheries Releases Revised Recreational Catch Estimates

[B-Faithful]

http://boatinglocal.com/fishing/noaa...estimates.html

NOAA Fisheries Releases Revised Recreational Catch Estimates
By Staff on February 3rd, 2012

Photo/BoatingLocal
NOAA has released recalculated recreational catch estimates for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts going back to 2004 using what it says is an improved estimation method. The new method is part of NOAA’s overall work to improve the accuracy of the recreational catch data it collects and reports—and which it uses to set recreational catch limits and quotas.
According to NOAA, the improved methodology addresses a key issue identified in the 2006 report by the National Research Council, which identified a mismatch between the way NOAA gather information from anglers and how it uses those data to generate estimates.

NOAA has developed a suite of outreach materials to help answer questions and facilitate discussion about the new methodology and its impacts.

[SteveL]

The video link in the media piece with Forbes Darby is a very informative presentation on how the science behind the recreational fishing data collection requirement is informing fisheries management. Besides the changed methodology associated with the new federal and state angler registration requirements that have been in place last the last two years, this video explains the statistical methodology being applied to look back a number of years at previously collected rec fishing data and re-analyze it to produce more accurate estimations of recreational landings.

http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/mrip.../estimate.html

http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/index.html

[Deep 6]

The new National Registry, for which our license fees increased and made much more complex, supposedly provides "more accurate data"... Sorry, I don't buy it. An analyst can re-analyze and manipulate data to come out with any result that's sought.

The videos in this presentation don't justify the increase in fees we pay. The presentations seemed more like PR for NOAA. I do not see how a change in methodology similar to changing an algorithm justifies the increase costs. Our fees were increased merely so they could get a better count of recreational fishermen from the states so sampling is more accurate for the recreational catch estimates?

Waiting on the results so we can be told how many times per year as well as where we can go to fish. For sustainability of course!

[SteveL]

Deep 6,

Your response highlights your concern over increased license fees. If possible, please let us know which of your fees increased and how your license structure was "made much more complex" by NOAA's actions. Maybe you fished only in the MD coastal area and so you did not need a resident or non-resident license previously?

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http://dnr.maryland.gov/service/fish...se.asp#CBCSPFL

MD resident salt water $15.00, non resident $22.50

MD boat license, good for everyone on the boat in MD and VA waters $50 (with free online MD and VA STATE angler registration).

My license fees are unchanged and I do not need to register with the feds at NOAA because both MD and VA state registration requirements are all that are needed unless I want to retain certain tuna species.