Marine Recreational Information Program Teams

In 2018, the Marine Recreational Information Program's Executive Steering Committee approved a new organizational structure to reflect the shift in MRIP’s focus from developing, testing, and certifying survey designs to facilitating data collection, managing program implementation, and understanding and addressing regional needs and priorities.

Under MRIP’s organizational structure:

• The Executive Steering Committee, Communications and Education Team, and Transition Team remained unchanged.
• The Operations, National Saltwater Angler Registry, and Information Management Teams have been retired.
• The Program Management, Survey Operations, and Research and Evaluation Teams have been established. (Regional Implementation Teams interact with MRIP through the Program Management Team.)

These teams provide partners with opportunities to participate in and provide input to MRIP.

Executive Steering Committee

The Executive Steering Committee (ESC) ensures MRIP is meeting the needs of its customers, partners, and stakeholders. It monitors the work of MRIP Teams and overall progress of MRIP, and identifies resource needs and program priorities to NOAA Fisheries. It also approves the certification of new and improved recreational fisheries survey designs.

ESC Members

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) and the eight regional fishery management councils.

Members of the ESC provide a connection between MRIP and federal and state marine fisheries agencies, interstate marine fisheries commissions, regional fishery management councils, and MAFAC. Members ensure the needs of these key partners and stakeholders are being met and represent MRIP in meetings of agencies and organizations outside of NOAA.

Evan Howell (Chair)
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Gordon Colvin (Executive Secretary)
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

Robert Beal
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Kelly Denit
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

David Detlor
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Dave Donaldson
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

Russ Dunn
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Assistant Administrator

Doug Mecum
NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Regional Office

Clay Porch
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

ESC Participants

Kellie Ralston
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

Miguel Rolon
Caribbean Fishery Management Council

Kitty Simonds
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

Program Management Team

The Program Management Team:

• Fosters communication and collaboration among MRIP Teams.
• Identifies policy and process needs, develops policy advice, drafts policy and procedural documents, and oversees the maintenance of the MRIP Procedures Manual.
• Reviews project reports and determines whether independent peer review is required.
• Reviews communications and outreach products.
• Develops priorities for the Annual Guidance Memorandum.
• 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.
• Participates in the development of annual Spend Plans and makes recommendations on Final Spend Plan allocations and priorities.
• Evaluates and identifies valuable topics to communicate with NOAA Fisheries.
• Serves as a liaison to MRIP Regional Implementation Teams.

Program Management Team Members

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

Rob Andrews
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Dave Bard
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

Richard Cody
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Gordon Colvin
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

David Detlor
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Lauren Dolinger Few
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

John Foster
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Katherine Papacostas
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Mike Ruccio
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Sarah Lazo
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

The Core Business Team includes the Fisheries Statistics Division Chief, Recreational Branch Chief, and MRIP Program Manager, as well as contractor staff assigned to program management support.

Richard Cody
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Gordon Colvin
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

Lauren Dolinger Few
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

John Foster
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Katherine Papacostas
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Sarah Lazo
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

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 data needs. These plans also identify, prioritize, and estimate the cost of additions and improvements to data collection programs. Regional Implementation Teams share needs, priorities, and strategies with the ESC and Program Management Team, and help coordinate regional review and support-building for policies and procedures, data collection and management standards, and new survey design transition and implementation plans.

The Regional Implementation Council supports the Regional Implementation Teams and facilitates their communication with the ESC and Project Management Team. The Council:

• Confers as necessary and works to establishing coordinated and consistent recommendations on policies, practices, priorities, standards, etc., for cross-cutting MRIP subjects.
• Reviews MRIP annual national priorities for implementation funding and Spend Plans, and provides recommendations that will help secure buy-in from Regional Implementation Teams.
• Generally serves as the conduit to facilitate two-way communications between MRIP and the Regional Implementation Teams.

Regional Implementation Team Members

In the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico, Regional Fishery Information Networks (FINs) serve as Regional Implementation Teams. 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 Teams include representatives from the Office of Science and Technology; the appropriate NOAA Fisheries Regional Office and Science Center; the appropriate interstate marine fisheries commission or state and territorial governments; the appropriate regional fishery management council(s); and, where appropriate, the Office of Sustainable Fisheries (e.g., Atlantic HMS).

Regional Implementation Council Members

Gregg Bray
Gulf State Marine Fisheries Commission

Josh DeMello
Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council

Cliff Hutt
NOAA Fisheries, Highly Migratory Species

Adam Reimer
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Marlowe Sabater
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Sarah Stephenson
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

Chris Wheaton
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Geoff White
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

The Transition Team manages MRIP’s transition toward improved survey methods. The Transition Team:

• Develops and recommends a standardized process for transitioning to estimates derived from improved sampling and estimation designs. The recommended process will describe and provide consistent approaches and methods for regional fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries commissions, and regions to apply to recreational catch estimates derived from new or improved approaches for setting annual catch limits, monitoring catch against catch limits, assessing the need for and selection of accountability measures, and conducting analyses leading to the adoption of recreational fishing regulations.
• Develops and recommends methods to be used to compare legacy estimates to estimates produced with new or improved survey designs.
• Determines when calibration or other means of linking legacy data to data derived from new or improved sampling and estimation designs are necessary and feasible, and identifies the requirements and methods for making these linkages.
• In consultation with Regional Implementation Teams, establishes guidelines to facilitate decisions on when and how the implementation of changes to survey and estimation designs should be introduced to minimize disruptions to stock assessments, catch monitoring, and management regulations.
• Reports to the ESC on the status of MRIP’s transition.

Transition Team Members

Richard Cody (Co-Chair)
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Mike Ruccio (Co-Chair)
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Kevin Anson
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Carolyn Belcher
Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Gregg Bray
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

Jason Cope
NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Dave Gloeckner
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

James Hilger
NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Matt Hill
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

Cliff Hutt
NOAA Fisheries, Highly Migratory Species

Moira Kelly
NOAA Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

Toni Kerns
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Kathy Knowlton
Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Michael Larkin
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

Laura Lee
North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources

Sabrina Lovell
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Hongguang Ma
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Jason McNamee
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Richard Methot
NOAA Fisheries, Senior Scientist for Stock Assessment

Beverly Sauls
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Julie Scheurer
NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Regional Office

Mark Terceiro
NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Chris Wheaton
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Transition Team Participants

Dave Bard
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

John Carmichael
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Chip Collier
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Jamie Cournane
New England Fishery Management Council

Jason Didden
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

John Froeschke
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

Sarah Lazo
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Graciela García-Moliner
Caribbean Fishery Management Council

Marlowe Sabater
Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council

Chris Wright
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Transition Team Documents

Transition Plan for the Fishing Effort Survey (PDF, 34 pages). Revised in May 2018, this document describes MRIP’s transition from the Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS) to the Fishing Effort Survey (FES).

Survey Operations Team

The Survey Operations Team oversees the administration of and advises the Program Management Team on 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:

• Oversees and coordinates the administration of MRIP surveys; funding vehicles that support the conduct of MRIP surveys; and information management for survey data and statistics.
• Applies MRIP standards in the implementation of certified survey designs.
• Reviews quality assurance and quality control measures.
• Participates on Project Management Team workgroups and recreational fisheries technical and data management committees, panels, and subcommittees.
• Participates in regional implementation planning.

Survey Operations Team Members

The Survey Operations Team includes 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 Fisheries Information Networks (FINs).

Lauren Dolinger Few (Team Lead)
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Rob Andrews
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Gregg Bray
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

Alex DiJohnson
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program

Jason Edwards
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Hongguang Ma
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Adam Rettig
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Daemian Schreiber
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

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, annual Implementation Plan Updates, and Office of Science and Technology Annual Guidance Memoranda.
• 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 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.

Research and Evaluation Team Members

The Research and Evaluation Team includes Fisheries Statistics Division statisticians and other 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.

Rob Andrews (Team Lead)
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

John Foster
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Lucas Johansen
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Ryan Kitts-Jensen
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Yong-Woo Lee
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

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 functions to:

• Build understanding, awareness, and support of the various MRIP projects, initiatives, and elements among partners, customers, and stakeholders; the recreational fishing community; and Congress. Ensure key audiences understand the role of our estimates in the ongoing cycle of science and management.
• Work within NOAA Fisheries to develop and disseminate clear, compelling, and consistent communications about important and emerging issues related to recreational fishing data.
• Enhance collaboration with and among internal and external partners to ensure understanding of and communications about MRIP, our ongoing improvements, and the appropriate uses and limitations of our estimates.
• Foster stronger connections and transparency between national-level and region-specific partners.
• Share best practices for recreational fishing data communications across offices.

The Communications and Education Team includes one national team and two regional communications working groups.

Communications and Education Team Members

Sarah Lazo (Team Lead)
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Dave Bard
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

Lisa Belskis
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Ken Brennan
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Andrew Cathey
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Gordon Colvin
NOAA Fisheries Affiliate, Office of Science & Technology

Russell Dunn
NOAA Fisheries, Office of the Assistant Administrator

Steve Ellis
NOAA Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

Amber Fandel
NOAA Affiliate, Office of Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs

Keith Kamikawa
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office

Moira Kelly
NOAA Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

Lindsey Kraatz
NOAA Fisheries, Directorate

Hongguang Ma
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Vivian Matter
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Sean Meehan
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

Matt Nuttall
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Katherine Papacostas
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Tim Sartwell
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Communications

Scott Steinback
NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Daniel Studt
NOAA Fisheries, West Coast Regional Office

John Thibodeau
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science & Technology

Scott Ward
Fifth Estate Communications

Chris Wright
NOAA Fisheries, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

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