24 



U.S. MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES 



DATA COLLECTION . While data on commercial fisheries 

 have been collected for many years, detailed 

 statistical information on marine recreational fishing Is 

 also required to support a variety of fishery 

 management and development purposes. These 

 include the objectives of the Magnuson Fishery 

 Conservation and Management Act, Public law 94- 

 265, as amended. However, prior to 1979, the lack of 

 a continuous and systematic collection of marine 

 recreational fishery data prevented the 

 accomplishment of ttiese goals. Therefore, NMFS 

 began a new comprehensive Marine Recreational 

 Fishery Statistical Survey (MRFSS) in 1979. Data 

 collected through the MRFSS show that recreational 

 fisheries can have a tremendous impact on fish stocks. 

 For several Important management species 

 recreational landings surpass commercial landings. 

 Surveys have been conducted In the following areas 

 and years: 



Atlantic and Gulf, 1979 through 1993; 

 Pacific, mid-1979 through 1989, 1993; 

 Western Pacific, 1979 through 1981; 

 Caribbean, 1979, 1981. 



Preliminary estimates of catch and trips from the MRFSS 

 for the Atlanfic/Gulf and Pacific coasts for 1993 are 

 presented In the following tables. Summary graphs for 

 1 983- 1 993 (Atiantic/Gulf) and 1 98 1 - 1 993 (Pacific) catch 

 and trips are also shown. The survey is being 

 conducted in 1994 along the coast of the entire 

 continental United States except the states of 

 Washington and Texas. 



The MRFSS data collection consists of an 

 intercept survey of anglers In the field and an 

 independent telephone survey of coastal county 

 households. These Independent components, along 

 with census Information, are combined to produce 

 estimates of recreational catch, fishing effort, and 

 participation. Estimates are generated by subregion, 

 state, species, mode and area of fishing. In addition, 

 information on catch rates and measurements of flsh 

 lengths and weights are obtained. 



The MRFSS Is only one of several NMFS 

 programs which collect data on recreational fisheries. 

 Specialized surveys which target Important 

 management species are also conducted. A major 

 effort to collect economic data on recreational 

 fisheries In the Northeast region Is planned for 1994. 



DATA TABLES . The total number of fish caught Is 

 presented for twenty commonly caught species groups 

 on the Atiantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. Total number 

 caught Includes those fish which were brought ashore 

 In whole form and were available for Identification, 

 weighing, and measuring as well as those fish which 

 were not available for identification. This latter 

 category Includes those fish which were used for bait, 

 discarded, filleted or released alive. Each species 

 group may contain one or more species, genera, or 

 families. 



Total catch is distributed by subregion, fishing 

 area and mode. The fishing areas are; ocean 3 miles 

 or less from land, ocean more tinan 3 miles from land, 

 and Inland (sounds, rivers, bays). However, ocean 

 data for the Gulf coast of Florida are reported as 10 

 miles or less from land and more than 10 miles from 

 land. 



The fishing modes are; shore (man-made 

 structures and beach/bank from previous surveys), 

 party /charter boat, and private/rental boat. In 1993 

 partyboats were not sampled by the MRFSS In the 

 South Atiantic and Gulf subregions; therefore estimated 

 catches are given for charterboats only for these 

 subregions. 



Trip estimates and participation estimates are 

 presented for coastal residents (generally residing wltt^ln 

 25 miles of the coast), non-coastal residents, and non- 

 residents fishing outside of their home state. Estimated 

 number of ti'lps are also shown by fishing mode. 



The 1993 survey did not include the states of 

 Texas or Washington. Sampling was not conducted 

 during January/February In the Atlantic coast states 

 north of Florida, or In November/ December In states 

 north of Massachusetts. More detailed Information will 

 be available In a separate MRFSS report to be 

 published later. 



PRELIMINARY 1993 MRFSS DATA . The U.S. marine 

 recreational flnfish catch In 1993 (excluding Alaska, 

 Hawaii, Washington, Texas, and Pacific coast salmon) 

 was an estimated 293.0 million fish. Approximately one- 

 half of Vnese fish were released alive. The total marine 

 recreational finflsh harvest (excluding flsh released 

 alive) was an estimated 146.0 million flsh weighing an 

 estimated 194.6 million pounds. These flsh were taken 

 on an estimated 53.4 million fishing ti'lps. Seventy-eight 

 percent of these trips were taken by residents of the 

 state tine fishing trip was made from. 



