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Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS)
The Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Program team provides essential marine recreational fisheries information to government, scientists, and the public. Since 1979, we have conducted the annual Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS).
The purpose of this national survey is to provide a reliable database for estimating the impact of recreational fishing on marine resources.
This impact can be quite large for many recreationally fished species. There are nearly 17 million recreational marine anglers. In 1997, anglers made approximately 68 million marine fishing trips to the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. The estimated marine recreational finfish catch was 366 million fish, more than 50% of which was released alive.
Thanks to the consistent cooperation of conservation minded anglers, the MRFSS now encompasses nearly 30 years of continuous and standardized data, and represents the most scientifically credible and consistent picture of marine recreational catch, effort, and participation in the world.
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- Vivian Matter
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