CONTACT: Scott Smullen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/29/96
The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded two contracts worth a combined $2 million to conduct nationwide surveys that track the efforts and catch of saltwater fishermen throughout the country, as part of a move to better monitor marine fisheries resources and assess the impact of recreational fishing on the nation's economy.
The two surveys will seek data in 1996 for NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service as part of the annual Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey. The survey has been conducted since 1979, with continued improvements in design.
Previous Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Surveys have indicated that more than 200 million pounds of fish were taken each year on about 70 million fishing trips by marine anglers. The annual survey has provided the fisheries service with a continuous time series of information on marine recreational fishing effort and catches of different marine fish species.
Macro International Inc. of Calverton, Md., will conduct a telephone survey of about 283,000 households along the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts in 1996, to assess how many household members fish in marine waters and how many fishing trips they take. The 1996 telephone survey contract, worth $828,497.33, was awarded on April 18. Telephone surveys for 1997 and 1998 are options in the contract, as are options for additional socioeconomic and specialized fishery surveys. Should NOAA exercise all of these options, the contract value would be worth about $3.7 million.
QuanTech Inc. Of Arlington, Va., will conduct a field intercept survey of more than 56,000 anglers returning from fishing trips along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The shore-side interviews will collect recreational catch data about different marine fish species. The 1996 intercept survey contract, worth $1,237,298.55, was awarded on April 22. Intercept surveys for 1997 and 1998 are options in the contract, as are options for additional socioeconomic and specialized fishery surveys. Should NOAA exercise all of these options, the contract value would be worth about $7.4 million.
Agency officials believe such information is essential for accurate assessments and responsible management of marine fish stocks. As such, survey data will contribute to the federal Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan being developed by 17 federal agencies and dozens of marine industry and user groups, tribes, and state fisheries agencies for implementation this summer. The conservation plan was created by President Clinton in an Executive Order in 1995 that recognized the importance of recreational fisheries. The order directed federal agencies to create the plan to provide for increased recreational fishing opportunities nationwide through a coordinated effort of conservation, restoration and enhancement of U.S. aquatic resources.
###NOTE: Data from past marine recreational fisheries statistics surveys can be found on the National Marine Fisheries home page at: http://remora.ssp.nmfs.gov
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