Fisheries Data Activities
The Fisheries Information Network had its beginnings through the
Sport Fish Restoration Administrative Program. The following represent significant
milestones in the GSMFC's efforts to establish a state-federal partnership to collect and
manage recreational and commercial fisheries data:
- In February 1989, the Data Management Subcommittee of the Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commission's Technical Coordinating Committee held a workshop to
address state and federal recreational fisheries data collection programs. Among many
technical recommendations regarding data collection and management, the workshop resulted
in a recommendation that the state fishery management agencies in the Gulf of Mexico
should be involved in the intercept portion of any regional/national data collection
program, specifically the MRFSS.
- Following up on that recommendation, during 1989 and 1990, GSMFC
staff provided briefings to the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), which is an
advisory committee to the Secretary of Commerce. During that time, the MAFAC offered its
official endorsement of the GSMFC initiative to work cooperatively with the NMFS to
conduct the MRFSS.
- Also, during 1989, the GSMFC engaged in an internal programmatic
review. One of the recommendations which resulted from that review was for the GSMFC staff
to investigate ways to become involved in the coordination and administration of marine
fishery data collection programs. Since work was already underway regarding coordination
and administration of recreational fishery data activities, the GSMFC continued focus on
establishing a cooperative program to conduct the MRFSS.
- In 1992, a plan for a pilot state-federal cooperative marine recreational fishery
statistics program for the Southeast Region. The plan resulted in the establishment of the
Southeast Recreational Fisheries Information Network [RecFIN(SE)], which is largely
patterned after the Pacific RecFIN. The RecFIN(SE) has initially functioned as a
coordinating and administrative structure which operated as a three year pilot program
through 1995. An external program review, conducted in 1995, recommended that the
RecFIN(SE) move out of the pilot stage and into long-term implementation, which occurred
beginning in January 1996. The purpose and function of the RecFIN(SE), as a coordinating
and administrative body, is to provide a guidance structure to the collection and
management of recreational fishery data, to provide a mechanism to improve and expand data
collection and management, and to provide a forum for resolving problems and conflicts.
This is a vital function, which has been well served by the RecFIN(SE) since 1993.
Currently, the RecFIN(SE) operates through dedicated funding made available from the
National Marine Fisheries Service.
- Beginning in early 1993, the TCC Data Management Subcommittee sponsored a workshop
during which a series of presentations were made to examine existing commercial fishery
statistics programs. Following those presentations, workshop participants evaluated the
degree to which those programs met management needs, and a recommendation was made to
establish a comprehensive program to meet management needs. Among other important ongoing
data activities, the State-Federal Cooperative Statistics is considered to form the
backbone of the ComFIN. Trip based programs, such as the Florida and North Carolina Trip
Ticket Programs, also provide the basis for progress toward a universally applied trip
based approach to collecting commercial fisheries data. The recommendations that resulted
from the 1993 workshop set an agenda for the next several years for resolving identified
issues and problems.
- In January 1999, the GSMFC received a funding appropriation to implement the Fisheries Information Network and the Gulf States formally began to
collect and manage recreational fisheries data in the Gulf of Mexico region. In addition,
transition activities were begun by the GSMFC and Gulf States to collect and manage
commercial fisheries data.
These two important data initiatives, RecFIN and ComFIN, are now established under a
separate program within the GSMFC and form the backbone of fisheries dependent data for
the Gulf of Mexico region. The GSMFC Sport Fish Restoration Administrative Program will
continue to coordinate with the Fisheries Information Network to ensure a well rounded
fisheries data program.
If you need additional information concerning the Fisheries Information Network, please
contact David Donaldson at the GSMFC office at (228) 875-5912 or via e-mail. |
