Marine Recreational Information Program Teams

Executive Steering Committee

The Executive Steering Committee (ESC) monitors the work of MRIP Teams and overall progress of MRIP, and identifies resource needs and program priorities for consideration by NOAA Fisheries. It also provides a process for overseeing the certification of new and improved recreational fisheries survey designs. The ESC includes senior managers and representatives from NOAA Fisheries and interstate marine fisheries commissions, as well as participants from the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), which was disbanded as of February 2025, and the eight regional fishery management councils.

Program Management Team

The Program Management Team:

• Identifies policy and process needs, develops policy advice, drafts policy and procedural documents, and oversees the maintenance of the MRIP Procedures Manual
• Maintains the MRIP Strategic Plan; oversees, monitors, and assures the completion of Strategic Plan Tactics and Annual Implementation Plan deliverables; and develops the Annual Implementation Plan Update
• Serves as a liaison to MRIP Regional Implementation Teams

The Program Management Team includes the MRIP Program Manager, the Executive Secretary of the ESC, and the MRIP Team Leads.

Program Management Team Documents

Program Management Team Terms of Reference (PDF, 2 pages). This document describes the goals; member expertise, roles, and responsibilities; and communication, reporting, and information and data sharing practices of the MRIP Program Management Team.

Regional Implementation Teams

Regional Implementation Teams develop Regional Implementation Plans that identify regional recreational fishing catch and effort information needs based on unique management needs and priorities in each region. They also help coordinate regional review of relevant programmatic policies, standards, procedures and other documents. In the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Regional Fishery Information Networks (FINs) serve as Regional Implementation Team leads. Ad hoc Regional Implementation Teams have been formed in the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and Alaska, and for highly migratory species in the Atlantic.

Regional Implementation Council 

Includes membership from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council; NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division; Alaska Department of Fish and Game; NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office; Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; and the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program.

Regional Implementation Team Documents

Regional Implementation Team Terms of Reference (PDF, 2 pages). This document describes the goals; member expertise, roles, and responsibilities; and communication, reporting, and information and data-sharing practices of the MRIP Regional Implementation Teams. View Regional Implementation Plans.

Transition Team

• Develops and recommends a standardized process to ensure continued consistency of the critical long-term trend information that helps inform management decisions when implementing new or improved survey designs
• Develops and recommends methods to compare historical estimates to estimates produced with new or improved survey designs, so meaningful comparisons can be made
• Works collaboratively to establish guidelines on improved survey and estimation design implementation to minimize disruptions to stock assessments, catch monitoring, and management regulations to the greatest extent possible

The national transition team includes representatives from state agencies; interstate marine fisheries commissions; regional fishery management councils; NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology; NOAA Fisheries Office of Sustainable Fisheries; NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division; and NOAA Fisheries science centers and regional offices. 

Transition Team Documents

Transition Team Terms of Reference (PDF, 1 page). This document describes the roles and responsibilities of the MRIP Transition Team.

Survey Operations Team

The Survey Operations Team works together to oversee the administration of survey operations to support national recreational fisheries data needs. This includes the conduct of survey methodologies and the management of information produced to meet MRIP standards. The Survey Operations Team:

• Coordinates the administration of MRIP surveys and information management for survey data and statistics
• Works to ensure MRIP survey standards are applied in the implementation of certified survey designs
• Reviews survey quality assurance and quality control measures
• Participates in regional implementation planning

The Survey Operations Team includes NOAA Fisheries Statistics Division staff who support survey operations and information management. It also includes recreational fisheries data and survey operations managers from the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) and other Fisheries Information Networks (FINs).

Survey Operations Team Documents

Survey Operations Team Terms of Reference (PDF, 2 pages). This document describes the goals; member expertise, roles, and responsibilities; and communication and reporting practices of the MRIP Survey Operations Team.

Research and Evaluation Team

The Research and Evaluation Team advises other MRIP Teams on topics relevant to survey methodology and sampling statistics. The Research and Evaluation Team:

• Prioritizes research needs identified in the MRIP Strategic Plan, Regional Implementation Plans, and annual Implementation Plan Updates.
• Develops mechanisms (e.g., ad hoc working groups, peer review panels, and requests for proposals) to test and evaluate new survey methods and potential improvements to existing methods.
• Evaluates survey designs for adherence to MRIP survey and data standards and industry best practices.
• Reviews project reports and provides recommendations regarding the acceptability of project methods, results, and conclusions.
• Evaluates and advises on catch and effort estimates identified for extended review through the estimate review process.

The Research and Evaluation Team includes NOAA Fisheries Statistics Division statisticians and other NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology staff whose duties involve the development and/or application of survey methods or sampling statistics. The Research and Evaluation Team is supported by a team of statistical consultants.

Research and Evaluation Team Documents

Research and Evaluation Team Terms of Reference (PDF, 2 pages). This document describes the goals; member expertise, roles, and responsibilities; and communication and reporting practices of the MRIP Research and Evaluation Team.

Communications and Education Team

The Communications and Education Team supports MRIP's strategic communications and programmatic goals and enhances partnership and customer relationships. This team supports two regional communications working groups. The Greater Atlantic and Southeast working groups include a subset of the Communications and Education Team, as well as outreach staff from regional fishery management councils and interstate marine fisheries commissions. These teams identify regional outreach priorities and opportunities for regional collaboration.

Communications and Education Team Documents

Communications and Education Team Terms of Reference (PDF, 2 pages). This document describes the mission, structure, membership, and meeting schedule of the MRIP Communications and Education Team.

More Information

• About MRIP