The recent decision by DEC to close the recreational fluke fishery in New York well before its scheduled close, due to high catch estimates derived from the NMFS's Marine Recreational Fishing Statistics Survey (MRFSS), reignited the debate over the accuracy and usefulness of data collected by this survey.  Many anglers in New York believe that MRFSS data are so badly off the mark as to be useless.  Chairman Wise reminded the Council that, at the request of NMFS, the National Research Council of the National Academies conducted a thorough assessment of the MRFSS Survey a few years ago.  That assessment pointed out a variety of shortcomings in the survey's design and operation.  He distributed to the Council a summary of the NRC report findings and recommendations and a document prepared by NMFS describing the actions that agency has taken to revise the MRFSS survey in response to this report.   Summaries of both documents are attached to this bulletin.

Chairman Wise thought the Council needed more time to review the reports.  He asked councilors to do this, and to come prepared to the November 2007 Council meeting with any questions/concerns/recommendations about the NMFS Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). Mr. John German of the Long Island Sound Lobstermen's Association stated that he did not see why so many in the recreational fishery object to the quality of statistics on marine recreational fish catches but believe the catch and related statistics on commercial fisheries are adequate as the basis for management decisions and actions. 

Councilor House said that he would be very happy to see a log book requirement brought back as a way to improve the quality of recreational catch data.  Councilor Sandy Mason thought it might be easier to go with voter registration more so than telephone surveys.

Councilor House made a motion to restart the work group to evaluate the merits of a state saltwater fishing license, which the Council had created several years ago.  He felt that a federally-mandated registry of marine recreational anglers imposed on New York under the recently-reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act was not a good prospect and that New York would be better served developing its own such program.  Councilor Tony Somma seconded Mr. House's motion.  Councilor Witek cautioned that any license New York develops will be a “qualifying license” as defined by NMFS.  Since that agency is not yet finished developing the details of the national angler registry program, what New York might produce may not be acceptable under the eventual standards established by NMFS.  Other council members thought it wouldn’t hurt to re-establish the work group and perhaps have it work in conjunction with NMFS.

After a brief discussion, the Council adopted Mr. House's motion.  The vote was 13 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstention.  All of the sitting recreational fishery members of the Council volunteered to sit on this work group.

 

Page last modified Wednesday, October 31, 2007 by George E. Carroll