The Marine Recreational Information Program's Improvement Process
Collecting recreational fishing data in support of recreational fisheries management is a process that requires ongoing improvement.
Evaluate Methods
Collecting accurate recreational fishing data in support of sound recreational fisheries management is a process that requires ongoing improvement. To ensure our program is using the best available science, teams of partners and stakeholders—including scientists, statisticians, state agencies, and individual anglers—evaluate our existing methods of data collection and recommend new or improved survey designs.
Develop and Test Methods
Recommendations for new or improved survey designs are tested, peer-reviewed, approved, and certified prior to implementation. Since 2008, we have funded survey review and improvement projects across the United States and its territories. More information about these projects—including plans, updates, and final reports—can be found in our searchable project database.
Implement Methods
Putting new or improved survey designs in place requires careful planning to balance the allocation of limited resources in support of national and regional data needs. We work with our regional partners to evaluate these regional needs and weigh potential tradeoffs between precision, timeliness, coverage, and other survey characteristics. We also ensure the methods that are implemented meet our survey standards and best practices.
