Gulf of Mexico Logbook Pilot Program for Collection and Validation of Catch and Effort Data from for-Hire Fisheries

The Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) is the national initiative to improve recreational fishing survey designs and data collections throughout the United States. In 2008, an independent review of recreational for-hire (e.g. charter and party boat) data collection methods provided MRIP with a set of Best Practice Recommendations. The review recommended the universal use of logbooks for trip-level reporting of catch and effort, at least a weekly reporting frequency, and methods to identify and quickly follow up on missing and late reports. Verification and validation methods of the self-reported data should also be employed.

A workshop was hosted in the Gulf of Mexico region to gather input on the design of a study to test a regional-scale logbook reporting system with field validation. Participants included representatives from state and federal resource management agencies and the for-hire industry. Major recommendations from the workshop were to collect trip-level data that vessel operators can report with ease and accuracy, and to utilize dockside and at-sea sampling to validate self-reported data and collect more detailed information for stock assessments and fisheries management.

A regional pilot study was implemented in September, 2010, and is a cooperative effort between National Marine Fisheries Service, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, Florida and Texas. The study design includes approximately 60 charter vessels from Corpus Christi, Texas, and 360 vessels from the northwest region of Florida that possess federal permits to harvest reef fish and/or pelagic species from the Gulf of Mexico. Field validations are collected using three methods:  dockside validations of fishing status, dockside interviews for harvested catch, and at-sea validations for released catch. Vessels selected to participate are required to submit trip reports each week as a condition for permit renewal. A web-based electronic reporting system was developed, and participants were provided paper logsheets if electronic reporting was not possible. Compliance was monitored weekly and participants were contacted weekly and monthly to notify them of outstanding reports. Participants that  did not submit reports at the end of one month were are not cleared for permit renewal until all late trip reports were received. We present compliance success at the end of the 1-year pilot study and preliminary results of comparisons between self-reported trip data and independent field validations for both effort and catch.