California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS)
NOTE: This program is in evaluation and optimazation phase. Preliminary Estimates for 2004 were released on March 1st, 2005
Executive Summary
In recent years, many recreational management decisions for state nearshore species and federal groundfish species have been based on the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) data. Compared to the other two current sources of recreational data for California, these data provide the most comprehensive coverage for all recreational fishing types (modes) and species. However, constituents and fishery managers have expressed much concern over the use of these data in making crucial management decisions, particularly in-season decisions for groundfish. Observing a growing concern with the use of MRFSS program data on the West Coast, California and policy representatives from the West Coast recommended the development of a new program to replace MRFSS. In response, staff from the California Department of Fish and Game (the Department) and the Pacific States Management Fisheries Commission designed a new program for sampling California’s recreational fisheries, incorporating both the comprehensive coverage of the MRFSS program and the high frequency on-site sampling (for the private vessel mode) of the Ocean Salmon Project.
California Department of Fish and Game
Joint Documents
Results
Survey Operations
Data collection - Coding Forms
For questions or specific requests contact: Wade
H. Van Buskirk <wade@psmfc.org>