Marine Recreational Information Program Update April 13, 2011

Overview 1.5 Things to know about the National Saltwater Angler Registry 2.NOAA hosts Data Timeliness Workshop estimates debut new methodology

Angler Registry 5 Things to Know 25 of 29 coastal states and territories exempt Changes in New York, New Jersey, Maine Over 700,000 registered anglers $15 registration fee in effect Jan 1, 2011 Pilot testing dual-frame phone and mail surveys to determine effort

March in St. Petersburg, FL Responding to stakeholder concerns about timeliness of data Discussed scientific and management strategies for improving timeliness and meeting ACL/AM requirements Data Timeliness Workshop

Check out for a video blog, list of participants, a workshop summary, and copies of presentations. Data Timeliness Workshop

New Estimation Methodology The potential for bias was the NRC’s chief concern about MRFSS potential for bias is the result of unaccounted for factors or untested assumptions

Current MRFSS Design MRFSS phone and in-person survey designs have potential for bias. Some examples: Fishing trips returning at times of day not covered by shore-side surveys (eg. nighttime or off-peak daytime) may catch more or less than those covered. Survey non-respondents may have different fishing activity or success rates than respondents. On-site intercept survey data not weighted to reflect complex, probability-based sampling designs.

The New Way: What’s Different Use selection probabilities to weight data –Assigned site-day probabilities are known –“Alternate site” probabilities can be estimated Take multi-stage cluster sampling design into account –Use available data on cluster sizes at each stage –Peak activity period counts must be expanded to estimate total counts for each sampled site/day Eliminate opportunistic sampling of fishing trips in other modes

Complementary Survey Design North Carolina Pilot Project –Revised sampling frame –Assigned to specific sites and clusters –Assigned order and length of time –Assigned specific day parts –Sample at night Video created in partnership with North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries available at Improved Sampling Design for Intercept Survey

Implementing the New Estimation Design 1.Method adopted by NOAA as best available science 2.Briefing Observer Team and coordinating with internal staff 3.Applying new methods to 2011 data 4.Re-estimating historical data in Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Puerto Rico back to 2003 What’s Happening Now

Final recreational estimates for 2010 and preliminary Wave 1 estimates for 2011available after mid-June. Catch estimates for the years 2003 to 2009 will be recalculated using the new estimation method, and will be updated at the same time as the final 2010 and 2011 Wave 1 estimates. What You Can Expect

Talking Points Project Updates Implementation Plan Others… What do you need from us?