Design and Analysis Work Group Issue : Bias in catch and effort estimates Projects : –STATISTICAL ESTIMATION: Assess appropriateness of estimation procedures –CATCH ERROR: Develop studies to account for anglers not included in catch sampling frames (private access, night fishing, tournament fishing) –EFFORT ERROR: Develop studies to account for anglers not included in effort sampling frames (non-coastal, no phone, no license) –CATCH AND RELEASE: Examine alternate methods for collecting information about discarded catch Tab C, No. 3

Data Management and Standards Work Group Issue : Improve standardization of surveys among regions, between state and national surveys Projects: –Identify existing data collection programs and categorize common data elements –Establish minimum data elements and Regional / National standards

For-Hire Work Group Issue : Survey methods and reporting requirements should be different from private anglers Projects: –Documentation of existing for-hire data collection programs –Independent review of for-hire data collection methodologies –Pilot electronic reporting program for Puerto Rico for-hire catch and effort data

Highly Migratory Species Work Group Issue : Improve all data collection programs Projects: –Pilot study to characterize HMS charter boat fishery in GOM and South Atlantic –Pilot study to characterize HMS angling category fishery in GOM and South Atlantic –Evaluate LPS tournament data –Develop non-tournament HMS data collection program for Caribbean

Ongoing Project Angler License Directory Survey (ALDS) Implemented in Gulf of Mexico in 2007 Utilize state saltwater license databases as telephone survey sampling frames Integrate ALDS with Coastal Household Telephone Survey in “dual-frame” approach to cover all anglers (licensed and non-licensed) Collaborating with NC DMF to initiate in NC in late 2007 or early 2008