Fishing Effort Survey At-a-Glance
NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program implements a national network of recreational fishing surveys. The Fishing Effort Survey uses the Weather and Outdoor Activity Survey to gather information about the number of trips anglers take in Hawaii and along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
How does NOAA Fisheries collect information about recreational fishing effort?
From Maine to Mississippi and in Hawaii, we administer a household mail survey called the Fishing Effort Survey. The FES uses the Weather and Outdoor Activity Survey instrument, which collects both fishing and non-fishing information. The FES collects recreational fishing trip information for each resident of a responding household. To sample, we use a U.S. Postal Service list of residential addresses matched to the National Saltwater Angler Registry, which is a database of licensed anglers. This creates a sampling frame of licensed and unlicensed households, which are sampled at different rates. This allows us to sample more frequently from households that are more likely to report fishing, while still maximizing our chances of obtaining a representative cross-section of all households.
NOAA Fisheries is conducting a Fishing Effort Survey follow-up study that will help us gain a clearer understanding of the differences in effort estimates between the current design and a revised design that changes both the question order and increases the frequency of sampling based on results of prior research. The revised design will be administered throughout all of 2024 alongside the current survey to compare the results and provide justification for transitioning to a revised survey design or not.
The FES collects recreational trip information for specified 2-month periods, as well as over the course of the previous year:
- Number of days fished from shore in state of residence
- Number of days fished from private or rental boat in state of residence
Our For-Hire Telephone Survey collects information about fishing activity from charter and headboat captains along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Hundreds of thousands of households receive the Fishing Effort Survey each year, and are asked to provide information about their recreational saltwater fishing activity. Credit: Chesapeake Bay Program
How many mail surveys do you send out?
About 300,000 residential households across 17 states receive the FES each year. To increase response rates, the FES also includes questions about weather and outdoor activity. A response from someone who didn’t fish at all is just as valuable to our survey as one from someone who fishes frequently.
How is the information used?
The FES is part of a group of surveys NOAA Fisheries uses to estimate total recreational catch. These estimates are combined with commercial catch data, biological research, and information collected from direct observations of fisheries to help stock assessment scientists and fisheries managers evaluate and maintain sustainable fish stocks for future generations.
If I haven’t been surveyed, how do I know my trips count?
We take steps to survey households that are representative of the recreational fishing population in our target states. Sample surveys allow us to draw reasonable conclusions about the full recreational fishing community without having to collect catch and effort information from millions of saltwater anglers.
How does responding to the FES benefit me?
When you share complete and accurate information about your fishing activity, you’re making a vital contribution to fisheries management and the health of your marine resources. Your participation in our surveys helps us produce more accurate estimates of recreational catch and effort.
Learn how we estimate total recreational catch
How do you evaluate the quality of your data?
While no statistical surveys are free of errors, our staff practice extensive quality assurance and control measures before our estimates are published. This includes checking for errors in data entry and investigating any unusual changes in trends for high-interest, rare-event, and federally managed species. As part of our commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement, we regularly conduct research on our existing methods of data collection and pursue improvements to our survey designs. View the transition plan from the telephone survey to the FES.
What can I do to help?
You can encourage other anglers to participate in recreational fishing surveys; voice your support for state, regional, and national data collection programs; or get involved in fisheries management through your state marine fisheries agency, interstate marine fisheries commission, or regional fishery management council.
