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2. Recreational Fisheries 



a. Current Fishery Statistics (CFS) Series 



(1) Marine Recreational Fishing Statistics 



This series is published on an irregular basis. The informa- 

 tion included in this series is numbers of participsmts in 

 marine recreational fishing by state of residence and coastal 

 area fished, marine recreational catch of finfish by species 

 and region and expenditures by marine fishermen by year and by 

 coast. The data series involved are several and the frequency 

 rather erratic beginning in 1955 with the National Survey of 

 Fishing and Hunting by the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

 This series was updated with re-surveys in 1960, 1965 and 1970. 

 In 1960, 1965 and 1970, the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 (Commerce) and the Fish and Wildlife Service conducted salt 

 water angling surveys. Excluded are recreational catches of 

 crustaceans, mollusks and other invertebrates which are sig- 

 nificant quantities in some coastal areas. 



C2) Participation in Marine Recreational Fishing, Northeastern 

 United States 1973-74: Current Fishery Statistics No. 6236 



A more complete report of results from the survey on which 

 this report was based is currently undergoing an internal 

 editing process prior to its publication. A survey similar 

 to the Northeast survey was conducted for the Southeastern 

 and Gulf States and will probably be available about September 

 1976. Plans call for a similar Pacific Coast survey and a 

 national sampling program in the future. 



The published data series just described are in many cases likely to 

 be of limited value to the Regional Councils because of the time lag between 

 collection and publication. One of the most useful series on economic data 

 would be the Basic Economic Indicators, if completed for each fishery to be 

 managed, and maintained in an up-to-date status. Unfortunately the decision 

 to eliminate the EMRD places the future of this series in limbo. 



The NMFS collects more data than are reflected in the publications just 

 described. In the discussion which follows some of these data are described 

 briefly. Most of these data are accessible with varying degrees of ease. 

 Some appear in the publications series and are readily available but with a 

 lag. Others exist on computer tapes or on market report sheets and are not 



