NOAA - SEFSC Trip Interview Program Online
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About The Trip Interview Program

Estimates of the age distribution of fish in the population and how the distribution has changed over time is critical information for the assessment of the population. To estimate the age distribution, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center has developed the Trip Interview Program (TIP). Like the other statistics gathering programs, this one is also a joint or cooperative effort with the state fishery agencies in the Southeast Region.

TIP was mainly developed to provide two types of information - size frequency data and age at length data. In addition, this program also provides catch per unit effort data and information on the composition of the species being caught and landed.

The collection of data for this program is conducted by port agents located in coastal area in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. These field biologists visit docks and fish houses to interview the fishermen and take length and weight samples from their catch.

For some trips, the port agents are at the location when the fish are being unloaded and can measure and weigh individual fish as they are being unloaded. At other times, the fish have already been unloaded and the port agent is given permission to measure and weigh a sample of the catch from the storage containers at the fish houses. In addition to the length and weight data, the port agents also attempt to interview the captain or a crew member to collect data on the fishing trip - i.e., fishing area, type and quantity of gear, fishing time, etc.

The port agents also take hard part and tissue samples for some of the fish they measure. These samples are sent to one of two Southeast Fisheries Science Center laboratories for biologists to analyze and determine the age of the fish. The age, along with the length of the fish, are used to determine the age-at-length for a sample of the fish population, which then is used to estimate the age distribution for the entire population or stock of the species.

Fisheries Statistics - Access to key databases such as commercial fisheries landings, foreign trade, marine recreational fisheries catch and effort, and more. Data collected from the Trip Interview Program contributes to the Fisheries Statistics database.
 

 
  
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