December 7, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, NOAA Fisheries established a set of standards to guide the recreational fishing surveys administered and funded through the agency’s Marine Recreational Information Program. The standards reflect federal guidelines and best practices for the dissemination of statistical information, and will further ensure the integrity of data collection efforts, the quality of recreational fisheries statistics, and the strength of science-based management decisions.
Most of the standards are already in use by the program and its partners, including the:
- Adoption of quality assurance plans
- Adherence to certification guidelines
- Production of key statistics needed for the assessment and management of fish stocks
The transition to these standards is a key milestone in the Marine Recreational Information Program’s recently released 2021 Implementation Plan.
“These standards set clear criteria for what NOAA Fisheries considers a sound recreational fishing survey management practice,” said Evan Howell, Director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Science and Technology. “By establishing these standards, we have removed ambiguities about whether a practice should be considered a recommendation or a requirement. That will support sound survey design and high-quality data.”