The MRIP Fishing Effort Survey (FES)
was designed and implemented in response to amendments to the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requiring
the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) be
upgraded and address concerns about potential bias in the data
collections. This request is to continue collecting recreational
fishing effort data using the FES design. Results of this data
collection effort will be used to calculate bi-monthly estimates of
marine recreational fishing participation, effort and catch. We
propose a supplemental information collection to test a web version
of the FES design. The information collection will result in
further improvements to the FES design by providing additional data
quality measures and more timely access to survey data.
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
This requested revision results
in a net decrease of 43,200 respondents and responses and 7,237
hours. Program Change: Previously, fishing effort for non-resident
anglers (anglers who fish in a state other than the state of
residence) was estimated from the Nonresident Angler Survey (NAS),
a self-administered mail survey that sampled from lists of licensed
non-resident anglers. Previous administration of the NAS suggested
that coverage of the NAS sample frame is insufficient due to
licensing exemptions and the time lag between development of the
sample frame and the beginning of data collection. Non-resident
fishing effort is now estimated through the independent
Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey (OMB Control No. 0648-0659).
Elimination of the NAS results in a decrease of 15,274 respondents
and responses and 2,456 hours. Elimination of the 2016 Validation
Follow-Up Study and the previously approved follow-up study will
result in a decrease of 540 responses and 113 hours. Adjustments:
Adjusting the sample size for the existing FES to account for
precision requirements and available funding results in a decrease
of 27,466 respondents and responses and 4,578 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.