Recreational Fisheries Statistics Queries

Guidance for Data Users

Fisheries analysts and stock assessors are encouraged to download the MRIP Data User Handbook for detailed information about downloading, exporting, querying, and performing custom analyses of our recreational fishing data. In addition, the 2021-2022 MRIP Data User Seminar Series addresses best practices for accessing, analyzing, and using recreational fishing data. Register for and/or watch recordings of these training sessions using the links below:

• Introduction to MRIP Data (Oct. 26, 2021)
• Statistical Methods and Procedures (Nov. 30, 2021)
• MRIP Query Tool (Jan. 25, 2022)
• Custom Domain Analyses (Feb. 22, 2022)
• Using Fishing Effort Survey Data (Date and Event Link TBD)
• Using Large Pelagics Survey Data (Date and Event Link TBD)

Recent Updates

For a full list of updates, please see our Estimate Updates page.

October 20, 2021

The following estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program are now available for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Hawaii:

• Preliminary Wave 4, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates
• Updated Preliminary Wave 3, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates

While Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) sampling has largely resumed following COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, suspensions in headboat sampling continued into 2021. NOAA Fisheries was able to fill gaps in 2021 headboat catch data with data collected in 2018 and 2019. These imputed data—also known as proxy, or replacement, data—match the time, place, and fishing mode combinations that would have been sampled had the APAIS continued uninterrupted. Imputed data were combined with observed data to produce catch estimates using our standard estimation methodology. To ensure imputed data weren’t over-represented against observed data, the original sample weights for the 2018 and 2019 catch records were down-weighted. Note: The use of imputed catch data had minimal impact on the agency's effort estimates, as the mail and telephone surveys that collect effort data continued largely uninterrupted.

September 30, 2021

New catch and effort queries ("Preview of Data Standards") have been added to the MRIP Query Tool. These queries provide cumulative estimates at the annual level (i.e., across all available waves for each calendar or fishing year specified) or through the most recent wave for which data are available at the time the query is run. The queries also provide a preview of the precision threshold, which does not publish statistically unreliable estimates (i.e., estimates with insufficient sample sizes or PSEs above 50%).

To access the new queries, open the MRIP Query Tool and select "Preview of Data Standards" from the Catch Data or Effort Data drop-down menus.

August 17, 2021

The following estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program are now available for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Hawaii:

• Preliminary Wave 3, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates
• Updated Preliminary Wave 2, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates

While Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) sampling has largely resumed following COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, suspensions in headboat sampling continued into 2021. NOAA Fisheries was able to fill gaps in 2021 headboat catch data with data collected in 2018 and 2019. These imputed data—also known as proxy, or replacement, data—match the time, place, and fishing mode combinations that would have been sampled had the APAIS continued uninterrupted. Imputed data were combined with observed data to produce catch estimates using our standard estimation methodology. To ensure imputed data weren’t over-represented against observed data, the original sample weights for the 2018 and 2019 catch records were down-weighted. Note: The use of imputed catch data had minimal impact on the agency's effort estimates, as the mail and telephone surveys that collect effort data continued largely uninterrupted.

Wave 2 estimates posted 6/17/2021 did not contain imputed headboat data.

Contribution of Imputed Data to Catch Estimates – A column was added to the MRIP Catch Time Series Query to indicate the extent to which imputation was employed. Depending on your selection, you will see column(s) indicating the contribution of imputed data to the estimate of the catch type selected. ** If no imputed data was used for your query results, these columns will not appear in output.**

June 17, 2021

The following estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program are now available for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Hawaii:

• Preliminary Wave 2, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates
• Updated Preliminary Wave 1, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates

Updated wave 1, 2021 estimates include a sample weight correction impacting catch and effort estimates in Florida.

June 15, 2021

The MRIP Data User Handbook contains detailed information about downloading, exporting, querying, and analyzing NOAA Fisheries’ marine recreational fishing data.

April 26, 2021

The following estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program are now available for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Hawaii:

• Preliminary Wave 1, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates

April 16, 2021

The following estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program are now available for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Hawaii:

• Final 2020 Catch and Effort estimates

While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS), its overall impact on recreational fishing data collection was lower than first expected, and NOAA Fisheries was able to fill gaps in 2020 catch data with data collected in 2018 and 2019. These imputed data—also known as proxy, or replacement, data—match the time, place, and fishing mode combinations that would have been sampled had the APAIS continued uninterrupted. Imputed data were combined with observed data to produce catch estimates using our standard estimation methodology. To ensure imputed data weren’t over-represented against observed data, the original sample weights for the 2018 and 2019 catch records were down-weighted. Note: The use of imputed catch data had minimal impact on the agency's effort estimates, as the mail and telephone surveys that collect effort data continued largely uninterrupted.

New Query Features
In addition to the posting of final 2020 estimates and survey data, the following 2 changes have been made to queries:

• Contribution of Imputed Data to Catch Estimates – A new column has been added to the MRIP Catch Time Series Query to indicate the extent to which imputation was employed. Depending on your selection, you will see column(s) indicating the contribution of imputed data to the estimate of the catch type selected. ** If no imputed data was used for your query results, these columns will not appear in output.**
• Include Missing Rows Option - A new option is available in several standard queries allowing the user to select to include rows with missing values for estimates where no estimate exists. This will provide a complete times eries. **When this option is not selected, rows with all requested estimates missing will not appear in output.**

For a full list of updates, please see our Estimate Updates page.

April 20, 2020

2017 estimates and survey data have been re-posted to account for corrections to sample weights and survey data. Impacted 2017 estimates include:

• Virginia through Maine party/head boat catch estimates
• Alabama waves 1-6 charter boat catch and effort estimates
• Mississippi waves 1-5 charter boat catch and effort estimates
• Virginia wave 6 Charter boat catch and effort estimates
• Variance estimates for East Florida charter boat wave 6 and New Hampshire charter boat wave 5

For a full list of updates, please see our Estimate Updates page.

To receive automatic notification of updates to MRIP estimates, data, template programs and queries, please click here to subscribe to our email subscription service.

Data Additions and Updates

• Preliminary estimates are available through wave 4, 2021 for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
• Final estimates are available through 2020 for the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
• Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Catch Card data is available through 2019.

For details on updates please see our Estimate Updates page. Additional data and information are available on our Data Downloads page.

Please direct questions to the Fisheries Statistics Division at st1rec@noaa.gov.

Usage

The data from these queries is used by state, regional and federal fisheries scientists and managers to maintain healthy and sustainable fish stocks. To properly interpret this information, it is important to consider the following key points:

• The percent standard error, or PSE, is a measure of precision presented with all estimates. Estimates should be viewed with increasing caution as PSEs increase beyond 30. Large PSEs – those above 50 – indicate high variability around the estimate and therefore low precision. Estimates with large PSEs should be viewed cautiously.
• When comparing catch estimates across an extended time series, note differences in sampling coverage through the years. Some estimates may not be comparable over long time series.
• Weight estimates are minimums and may not reflect the actual total weight landed or harvested. Tabular output provides the number of fish that are not represented by the weight estimate.

Changes may occur between preliminary and final estimates. Please review the Limitations and other sections on the Using the Data page for more information.

For other import tips on using MRIP data please see the Glossary.

If you want to cite a reference for data retrieved from our website, use "Personal communication from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division. [include date of query]"