MRIP Projects

Since 2008, MRIP has funded survey improvement projects and survey program reviews in all regions of the U.S. and its Territories. Projects span everything from utilizing electronic reporting tools to mail surveys to increasing precision of estimates. On this page, you can find all funded projects since 2008, read project plans, final reports, and monthly updates.

-California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) Infrastructure for Analysis and Reporting Tools

Description

This project will create the infrastructure required for the integration of the California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) data into analysis and reporting tools (also known as business intelligence and analytic applications), and into a standardized exchange format for transmission to the Pacific Recreational Fisheries Information Network (Pacific RecFIN) and other governmental agencies. A number of powerful commercial business intelligence applications are available that, with the proper infrastructure, allow users to quickly summarize data, conduct multidimensional analyses, and quickly navigate around the data to find trends and to “drill down” through the layers of data and estimates. In addition, this project will also allow California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to automate, document, and validate the submission of CRFS data to be incorporated in the new Pacific RecFIN’s relational model or repository.

Region: Pacific

Fiscal Year : 2016

Status: Ongoing

Document(s): Proposal Monthly Report

-Characterizing Discards on Headboats

Description

Compare self-reported data collected from dockside headboat interviews to data collected by at-sea observers in order to quantify differences in catch rates and species composition between the two approaches. Objective: Identify biases in dockside data collection methods.

Region: Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, North Atlantic, Pacific, South Atlantic

Fiscal Year : 2008

Status: Completed

Document(s): Proposal 2008-Characterizing Discards on Headboats.pdf

-Continued development and testing of dual-frame surveys of fishing effort

Description

Measure the impact of the way data are collected (e.g. phone or mail) on survey response, coverage and measurement. Develop and test alternative designs to address concerns about the timeliness of fishing effort surveys. Objective: Determine the best methods to improve response rates, data quality and efficiency of surveys.

Region: South Atlantic

Fiscal Year : 2011

Status: Completed

Document(s): Proposal Testing Effort Survey Designs Mixed Mode Final.pdf

-Cooperative design of a logbook reporting program for the Gulf of Mexico

Description

Design protocols for logbook data collection, including validation of self-reported data for for-hire vessels.

Region: Gulf of Mexico

Fiscal Year : 2009

Status: Completed

Document(s): Proposal

-Design effort surveys for shoreline fishing in HMRFS

Description

A new data collection design that utilizes both on- and off-site methods will be developed and investigated. Objective: The objectives of the project are to: 1) design an appropriate onsite effort survey for shore fishing and 2) investigate the hybrid methodology that combines on-site and off-site methods.

Region: Western Pacific Islands

Fiscal Year : 2013

Status: Completed

Document(s): Proposal 2013-Design effort surveys for shoreline fishing in HMRFS.pdf

-Determining Optimum Sample Sizes for the Atlantic For-Hire and Large Pelagics Telephone Surveys

Description

This project will examine different sampling strategies to determine sample size requirements and identify optimal sampling allocations for achieving precision requirements in the most cost-effective manner. Objective: The objectives of this project are to 1) Determine optimal sample sizes for the current FHTS and LPTS add-on, 2) Compare alternative allocation methods and propose an appropriate allocation method that improves precision of effort estimates for the current FHTS and LPTS add-on, and 3) Attempt to explore the question about the minimum sample size required for each state to obtain at least one reported fishing trip in each stratum for the effort estimation.

Region: Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic

Fiscal Year : 2014

Status: Ongoing

Document(s): Proposal Monthly Report

-Develop integration of recreational datasets on SEFSC Oracle server to increase availability of management advice

Description

The SEFSC currently uses a combination of SAS programs and hand manipulation of data files to produce data sets that integrate MRIP data, Southeast Headboat Survey data, and data from Texas Park and Wildlife into a single data file that allows the calculation of catch from NC-TX. This processing takes a single staff member 4-5 days to import the data, scan it for quality, adjust the data using accepted calibrations, and create pivot filters for users. This project proposes to take all the processes used by the SEFSC to produce a region specific recreational catch file and move them to an automated process on an Oracle database server. The resulting automated process will result in increased efficiency, more timely availability of data for management and assessments, more time for quality control of the data and reduced vulnerability to the loss of recreational data staff at SEFSC.

Region: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic

Fiscal Year : 2016

Status: Ongoing

Document(s): Proposal Monthly Report

-Developing an Electronic Logbook To Census For-Hire Angler-Trip Effort, Catch and Harvest in Alaska

Description

This project will implement a new electronic logbook system for both freshwater and saltwater recreational fishing guides and guide businesses (i.e., for-hire industry). The new system will provide an electronic method to enter and submit logbook data. The short term goal is to design and develop electronic logbook applications, systems and database to meet ADF&G data needs in concert with outreach to the saltwater for-hire industry. Objective: The objectives of the project are to 1) Design and develop internet and mobile applications for electronic logbook data entry and reporting for recreational saltwater for-hire vessels operating in Alaska, 2) Implement QA/QC processes and follow-up data editing mechanisms to improve accuracy and timeliness of reported data, 3) Design field validation procedures conducted by on-site marine creel survey and dockside sampling project staff, and 4) Conduct outreach to the for-hire fishery industry, stakeholders and the public to garner acceptance and support of the electronic logbook system.

Region: Alaska

Fiscal Year : 2015

Status: Ongoing

Document(s): Proposal Monthly Report

-Developing and implementing specialized surveys to document fishing methods and event not adequately addressed by the existing creel survey

Description

This project will design and conduct a complementary survey to capture pulse/rare event fishery data and fishing methods that are rarely encountered in the current creel survey. Assessing if these methods and fisheries are adequately represented in current data collection designs is a first step in determining if estimates for certain species are accurate. Objective: The objectives are to 1) Design and conduct surveys to document fishery statistics of methods not adequately captured by the creel surveys, 2) Calibrate the results from this survey with the results taken from the creel surveys, 3) Evaluate these fisheries relative to the common fisheries to determine importance on these fisheries in the overall fishery production, and 4) Determine how to statistically incorporate the results into the creel survey expansions.

Region: Western Pacific Islands

Fiscal Year : 2014

Status: Ongoing

Document(s): Proposal Monthly Report

-Development of a Stratified Sampling Design for Maryland Inland Waters

Description

Support implementation of the improved MRIP Access Point Angler Intercept Survey design by updating and expanding the survey sample frame. Objective: Test methods to stratify Maryland’s inland water bodies into inland coastal bays and Chesapeake Bay to better represent the distinct fisheries within these water bodies.

Region: Mid-Atlantic

Fiscal Year : 2011

Status: Completed

Document(s): Proposal 2011-Development of a Stratified Sampling Design for Maryland Inland Waters Final Report (3).pdf