An ad hoc committee will assess progress in updating marine recreational fisheries data collection through the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) referencing the recommendations in the 2006 NRC report Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods. Based on this assessment, the committee will identify potential areas for improvements or changes of direction that would substantially increase data quality for fisheries management, taking into consideration potential loss of information from disruption of the time series. The committee’s report will:

1. Describe the approach and effectiveness of steps taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to improve the quality and accuracy of marine recreational fisheries catch, effort, and participation statistics (in response to NRC 2006), including, but not limited to:

a. Establishing registries of anglers and for-hire vessels and using the registries appropriately as sample frames for recreational catch and effort surveys;

b. Improving the effectiveness and appropriateness of sampling and estimation procedures, applicability to various kinds of management decisions, and usefulness for social and economic analyses; and

c. Providing for ongoing technical evaluation and modification, as needed to meet emerging management needs and changes in communication technologies (e.g. smart phone apps, internet-based social networking).

2. Assess the strength of the scientific process, including the engagement of external scientific and technical expertise, used by NMFS in developing, testing, reviewing, and certifying new sampling and estimation procedures.

1. Evaluate the communication of information on survey method development, survey method descriptions, and survey results to stakeholders and application of stakeholder input in the design and implementation of new sampling and estimation procedures. Stakeholders include at least three distinct sub-groups (with some overlap among them):
   1. Data collection partners, such as the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) and the Fishery Information Networks (FINs);
   2. Data customers (parties that use NMFS data for stock assessments, management actions, and social and economic studies);
   3. Entities affected by the estimates (anglers and recreational fishing businesses, commercial fisheries, non-consumptive users, etc.);
2. Determine if the degree of coordination among federal, state, and territorial survey programs is sufficient to provide a clear, national perspective on marine recreational fisheries; and

5. Evaluate plans for maintaining continuity of data series to minimize disruption of management programs and stock assessments. This will include evaluation of the strategy for moving from the phone based survey to a mail and web-based survey as a means to estimate fishing effort.