of many species is relatively scarce. Although there are many data gaps on 

 how fish species live and interact with each other and their environment, the 

 major data gap is the lack of reliable sport and commercial catch statistics. 

 Commercial landings statistics gathered by the National Marine Fisheries Ser- 

 vice are helpful, but the data generally are insufficient for the needs of 

 today's fishing management requirements. Reliable or useful data on sport fish 

 catches is virtually nonexistent. Nationwide sport fishing surveys by the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service provide about the only data available. Re- 

 liable and timely catch statistics for fishing mortality analysis must be 

 available before some of the more basic fishery management questions can be 

 answered. 



Although Federal and some State funds have been provided for sport fish- 

 ing surveys (Florida in 1980 contributed $100,000 to the National Marine Fish- 

 eries Service to increase the number of Florida interviews in an effort to 

 achieve better accuracy), their continued funding is also in question because 

 of fiscal constraints. Some surveys such as mail questionnaires, are subject 

 to major, innate weaknesses, such as reliance upon information "remembered" by 

 fishermen. These mail surveys are complex and difficult because the total 

 population is sampled rather than only fishermen. A sport fisherman list is 

 possible only if the fishermen are licensed. The best technique may be to 

 count and interview during or just after fishing. 



Because of the critical need for catch statistics and the scarcity of 

 funds for such surveys, licensing of sport and commercial fishing may be con- 

 sidered. Proponents say that a sport and commercial license would at least 

 identify all the fishermen (making surveys more efficient), and provide a ros- 

 ter that could be used in fishermen surveys. Opponents simply feel it is 

 another unnecessary tax. The commercial license has been strongly supported 

 in Florida by the commercial industry for several years, but it has been ex- 

 tremely controversial despite the three major national recreational fishery 

 organizations that are strongly in favor of it. A general feeling in the 

 State and Federal Governments is that the resource users should bear the brunt 

 of costs related to that resource. As governmental funds begin to decline, 

 the public attitudes toward a sport license may change as well. A proper 

 license would be inexpensive, yet it would provide funds and information long 

 needed for effective marine resource management. 



Coastal habitat is necessary for producing marine resources, yet we know 

 little of how much there is, how much has been altered, and how much of that 

 remaining has been adversely affected by man's alterations or threatened by 

 it. This deficiency is a major data gap. Documentation of habitat loss will 

 be time consuming and expensive. Satellite imagery is a relatively new tool, 

 but one which can, by comparing old. and new aerial photographs, identify 

 habitat change. This infomiation will be beneficial in documenting not only 

 the importance of habitats in general, but also in evaluating any new or pro- 

 posed action that will result in habitat loss or alteration. It may identify 

 areas where restoration will be most beneficial. 



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