NOAA 98-R152

CONTACT:  Stephanie Dorezas                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS
                                             10/9/98

NOAA's FISHERIES SERVICE AWARDS CONTRACT FOR MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEY

The National Marine Fisheries Service awarded Macro International Inc. of Calverton, Md., a contract worth nearly $8 million dollars over the next three years to conduct surveys that track the effort and catch of recreational saltwater fishermen throughout the country, the Commerce Department agency announced today.

Macro International will conduct what is known as the 1999 Intercept Survey for collection of comprehensive marine recreational fishing data as a component of the Fisheries Service's annual Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey. The agency estimated that more than 179,000 shore and dock-side interviews with anglers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts will be conducted during the three-year survey.

The recreational survey has been conducted since 1979 and is used to provide a reliable database for estimating the impact marine recreational fishing has on the nation's marine resources. The 1999-2001 Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey will provide the Fisheries Service with marine recreational fishing information that will enable the agency to continue tracking the national recreational fishing effort and catch through 2001.

The recreational survey is comprised of two independent surveys: (1) a telephone survey of households to collect data on the number of salt water angling trips taken, and (2) a field survey of anglers' catch information. Management goals of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act make it necessary for the Fisheries Service to collect data on marine recreational fishery catches. The survey allows the agency to manage the nation's fisheries resources and assess the impact recreational fishing has on the nation's economy.

Macro International is a professional and technical services firm focused on survey research, training, management consulting and information technology. The intercept component of the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey will be managed from Macro's office in Burlington, Vt.

For more details on the recreational survey and its options, please contact Maury Osborn, NMFS, Office of Science and Technology, Rm. 12456, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.