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 (Part One: Feb. 22, 2022) (Part Two: March 31, 2022)
• FES Queries and Custom Domain Analyses (June 21, 2022)
• Using Large Pelagics Survey Data (Date and Event Link TBD)

Recent Updates

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

June 21, 2022

A new effort query (“FES Distributions”) has been added to the MRIP Query Tool. This query includes three new queries of Fishing Effort Survey estimates:

• Estimated distributions of shore and private boat fishing trips by age
• Estimated distributions of shore and private boat fishing trips by gender
• Estimated prevalence of shore and private boat fishing among residents of coastal states

To access the new query, select “FES Distributions” from the Effort Data drop-down menu.

In addition, the following data products have been posted to the Recreational Fishing Data Downloads page.

• Public-use household-level data collected from completed FES surveys
• Public-use person-level data collected from households that responded to the FES
• A template program (SAS) that estimates shore and private boat effort distributions for custom domains across angler demographic characteristics

June 15, 2022

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

• Preliminary Wave 2, 2022 Catch and Effort estimates
• Updated Preliminary Wave 1, 2022 Catch and Effort estimates

May 4, 2022

The following estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program have been re-posted to account for errors found in For-Hire survey data:

• Final Waves 1 - 6, 2021 Catch and Effort estimates
• Preliminary Wave 1, 2022 Catch and Effort estimates

Impacted estimates include:

• Charter estimates in Florida

April 21, 2022

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

• Preliminary Wave 1, 2022 Catch and Effort estimates

April 18, 2022

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

• Final Waves 1 - 6, 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.

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 2, 2022 for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii.
• Final estimates are available through 2021 for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii. Final estimates for Puerto Rico are available through wave 4, 2017.
• Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Catch Card data is available through 2020.

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]"