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FHS to be Used for 2005 Estimates
Beginning in wave 2, 2005, the For-Hire Survey
(FHS) will be adopted as the official methodology
for
producing recreational catch and effort estimates
from the Atlantic Coast for-hire fleet (party
and charter boats).
New Contractor takes over FHS
In May 2005, QuanTech, Inc. began conduct of
the For-Hire Telephone Survey (FHS) and the
Large Pelagics
Telephone Survey (LPTS) under a three-year
contract to NOAA Fisheries Service. Quantech is a
statistical
analysis and survey research firm headquartered
in Arlington, Virginia. QuanTech's Fisheries
Research
Group has extensive experience with fisheries
projects. They conducted the LPTS from 1999-2001,
the Large
Pelagics Intercept Survey since 1999, and currently
conduct the Commercial Mackerel Fishing Pilot
Study and the Chesepeake Blue Crab Survey.
QuanTech has
establish a toll-free phone and fax for the
FHS/LPTS, as well as an online webtool for vessel
reporting.
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Large Pelagic Survey Moves to Fisheries Statistics
Division
Beginning in 2005, coordination and oversight of the
Large Pelagic Survey will move from the NOAA Fisheries
Highly Migratory Species Division to the Fisheries
Statistics Division. The Large Pelagic Survey (LPS)
collects catch and effort data for recreational fisheries
directed at "large pelagic species" (e.g.,
tunas, billfishes, swordfish, sharks, wahoo, dolphin,
and amberjack) in the offshore marine waters of the
Northeast Region (Maine through Virginia). Responsibilities
associated with the coordination of the LPS include
selection and oversight of federal contractors to collect
dockside and telephone data from anglers, survey design
improvements, data quality assurance and accuracy checks,
generation of catch and effort estimates, and outreach
with LPS anglers and data users. More information about
the LPS, including a “do your own data query” page,
will be available on the Fisheries Statistics website
in the coming months.
Bluefin Tuna and Billfish Catch Card Census Programs
Move to Fisheries Statistics Division
Also starting in 2005 the Fisheries Statistics
Division will assume coordination responsibilities
for catch card census programs conducted in Maryland
and North Carolina. Recreational anglers who land
any one of five species (Atlantic bluefin tuna, blue
marlin, white marlin, sailfish, or swordfish) are
required to fill out a catch card in exchange for
a landings tag which must be attached to each fish
prior to removal from the vessel. When used in combination,
the catch card program and the LPS are intended to
complement each other and generate better data with
which to manage important large pelagic species.
NOAA Fisheries currently has contracts with the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources and the North Carolina
Department of Environment and Natural Resources to
conduct these programs. More information about the
catch card programs will be available on the Fisheries
Statistics website in the coming months.
National Academies to Review Recreational Fishing
Survey Methods
In February 2005 NOAA Fisheries Service contracted
with the Ocean Studies Board of the National
Academies to conduct an independent critical review of the Agency's recreational
fishing surveys.
The study will review the types of survey methods used to estimate catch per
unit effort and effort
in recreational fisheries, including state/federal cooperative programs. It will
also address the
suitability of these methods to management needs. Results are expected in May
of 2006.
The review committee is currently seeking input from
a range of interested stakeholders. They will
hold two more regional meetings.
The Gulf Coast meeting: July 7-8
in New Orleans, LA at Hotel
Monteleone.
The public portion of this meeting is currently planned for 10:20am-5:00pm
on July 7 and 8:30am-12pm
on July 8. A public comment period is scheduled for 4pm on July 7. Individuals
will be limited to 5
minutes to ensure that everyone gets a chance to speak. The draft agenda and
other information can
be found on the committee
website.
The East Coast meeting: September 22-23 (location
to be determined).
If you would
like to attend either of these meetings or
have comments or questions pertaining to this study,
please contact Christine
Blackburn at 202-334-2742
or take a look at the committee
website 
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