Mississippi Fisheries Recovery Report(FRR) Program

What is the Mississippi Fisheries Recovery Report Program?

The Mississippi Fisheries Recovery Report (FRR) Program is designed to collect trip information on bycatch and area fished from the charter boat industry. Bycatch is an important component in fishing mortality in many fisheries. Currently little information is available for the length distribution of bycatch species and area fished within the charter boat industry. Additionally, information obtained on area fished will include pressure and utilization of Mississippi's artificial reefs. Our understanding of where you fish and what you catch will help us better understand and design our artificial reef program to suit the public's needs. Your help in gathering this data will also help in understanding our local fishery resources and their recovery.

FISHERMEN CAN PARTICIPATE IN ONLY ONE (1) MONITORING RESTORATION OR ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM MANAGED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES WITHIN ANY 24 HOUR PERIOD.

When are fisheries recovery reports due?

Fisheries recovery reports (FRR's) are due by the 10th of the month for the preceding month. Fisheries recovery reports can be sent as often as you like as long as all the reports generated in a month are sent to the MS Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) by the 10th of the following month.

Where are completed fisheries recovery reports sent?

Please send your reports to Attn: FRR Coordinator at the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

Attn: FRR Coordinator

1141 Bayview Ave

Biloxi, MS 39530

Phone contact:: Melanie Lane, Christine Johnson or Mike Buchanan at (228) 374-5000

Obtaining Fisheries Recovery Report Forms.

The MDMR will provide all forms. Obtaining report forms is the responsibility of the charter boat owner or captain.

For assistance in obtaining report forms call the MDMR Office at (228) 374-5000 during regular working hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Melanie Lane, Sally Richards, Christine Johnson or Mike Buchanan will be able to assist you.

Confidentiality and Reporting Requirement

The information provided on FRR is protected under state confidentiality Ordinance 9.003.

Section 1. CONFIDENTIALITY: All data collected or otherwise obtained by statistical personnel in the course of their duties and other landings data collected by information confidentiality officers of the Department of Marine Resources are confidential, and unless specific authorization is given are not to be divulged, except in aggregate form, to any person except employees of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources designated as information confidentiality officers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS), or agencies of other states that have executed a memorandum of understanding for the sharing of statistical information with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the NMFS; whose duties require this information, and have provisions at least as protective for maintaining the confidentiality of such information, except as permitted by law or court order. Information confidentiality officers for the Department of Marine Resources shall be designated as such in writing by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Executive Director. Aggregate form, with respect to data, shall mean data or information submitted by three or more persons that have been summed or assembled in such a manner so as not to reveal, directly or indirectly, the identity or business of any such person. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will not voluntarily release confidential information to other state or federal agencies, except as provided for above, and to the fullest extent possible, will oppose other agency and congressional subpoenas to obtain confidential information. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will not disclose confidential statistics under court order without specific approval by the State Attorney General's Office.