DescriptionThe WDFW is proposing to intensively monitor the recreational halibut and marine fish fisheries occurring in Marine Area 9 of
Washington’s Puget Sound using an aerial-access design that is currently used by WDFW during winter Chinook mark-selective fisheries. This methodology consists of aerial-access surveys and dockside sampling. The aerial access design is the most suitable design for surveying large geographic areas, such as Marine Area 9, which includes numerous public and private access points. This methodology allows WDFW to assess proportions of angler effort originating from sites both within and outside our sample frame.
The WDFW is proposing this project with the goal of providing precise, in-season estimates of catch and effort for halibut and marine fish. The WDFW will also examine these estimates against current methodologies for any bias that could be occurring in the current methodology, and also examine the effort data gathered in the time period to better inform the current weighting approach that was addressed in a previous MRIP review of sampling programs. If approved, this project would align with other funding and studies currently planned for implementation in Marine Areas 5, 6, and 7 during the recreational halibut and marine fish seasons in May and June of 2016. The same design will be employed in Marine Areas 6 and 7, thus providing consistency in estimation methods across areas. The WDFW will monitor the recreational halibut fishery in Marine Area 5 using the methodology currently used in the WDFW Ocean Sampling Program for Marine Areas 1 through 4. This method is appropriate when all or most of the effort accesses the fishery from few sites, and consists of boat entrance/exit counts and dockside sampling. These marine areas were chosen for intensive monitoring due to regulations for halibut retention during the time period.
The proposed project will allow WDFW to evaluate an alternative survey design for monitoring these fisheries during the May andJune time period. Fishery managers will have the benefit of having timely estimates of catch and effort, and an alternative estimate to compare the current estimation schemes for any bias that may be occurring. The effort data will also be used to inform site effort weighting that is used in the current estimation method. This could improve the accuracy and precision of future estimates. An additional benefit for fishery managers will be a better understanding of spatial distributions of effort, providing for more
informed decision making.