Our recreational fishing data collection partnership program operates through continuous evaluation and improvement of our survey methods. We welcome input that could improve survey efficiency and/or data quality. Our primary goal is to develop survey designs that collect the best data possible to inform stock assessments and recreational fishing management decisions.
There are some requested survey changes we have more flexibility to implement and therefore may be done in a shorter time frame. This includes changes to sampling draw processes (for instance, making sampling more efficient through refining interview locations and timing based on level of anticipated fishing activity as part of the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey, or APAIS).
However, requests to modify questions or add additional questions to our recreational fishing surveys pose more constraints.
Questions to consider when proposing changes:
- Does the proposed change(s) align with the goals of the survey and the estimates it produces? Is the survey the most appropriate avenue to obtain the additional data desired? Is it effectively acquiring data from the requestor’s target population? Does the survey have sufficient sample sizes to produce data reliable enough for intended uses?
- Is the proposed change(s) permanent or temporary?
- Does the proposed change(s) Introduce systematic differences to the catch or effort estimates the survey produces and/or disrupt regional consistency in the survey? If so, these proposed changes would need to be tested and results compared to the existing survey to ensure continued production of consistent regional stock estimates. A transition plan would need to be developed to implement the new design and calibrate the historical estimates to reflect the updated design, in close coordination with partners. This can result in a multi-year process.
- Does the proposed change(s) necessitate review and clearance by the White House Office of Management and Budget, per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)?
- Does the proposed change(s) have the potential to increase refusal rates and/or introduce new reporting bias that could impact resulting estimates?
- Does the proposed change(s) require additional resources to implement?
What is the process for proposing changes to a survey?
- The proposal should be raised through a Regional Implementation Team. For instance, this includes the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) in the Atlantic region and the Gulf Fisheries Information Network (Gulf FIN) in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) region.
- This team will collaborate with NOAA Fisheries to determine an appropriate path forward.
- The team will work with the relevant regional and state partners on appropriate next steps.
It’s generally easier to accommodate additional questions once the survey has concluded, as either add-on questions or a supplemental survey. For instance, following an APAIS interview, the interviewer could provide the angler with a handout/QR code to take a separate survey. Depending on the entity administering the supplemental survey, however, this may also require PRA clearance. Established citizen science or regional Fishery Management Council programs may provide additional avenues to collect supplemental recreational fishing data.
What is the Paperwork Reduction Act?
All federally administered information collection initiatives affecting more than 10 members of the public—and subsequent changes to those questionnaires—require PRA clearance. This law is intended to minimize over-burdening the public with federal survey requests and to protect personal information.
How does the PRA process work?
For requested permanent changes to a NOAA Fisheries survey, NOAA Fisheries will prepare the PRA submission, in collaboration with the requestor. For temporary changes or add-on questions to the survey, NOAA Fisheries can provide template examples and technical support as needed to support partners.
Depending on the volume of submissions to the White House Office of Management and Budget, it can take a minimum of 6 to 9 months to receive a PRA clearance decision. If approved, clearance is generally good for three years. NOAA Fisheries’ preference is to bundle any suggested changes together for consideration, providing ample time prior to the survey’s clearance expiration date.