Design and Analysis Work Group

1. Tab C, No. 3 Design and Analysis Work Group Issue: Bias in catch and effort estimates Projects: • STATISTICAL ESTIMATION: Assess appropriateness of estimation procedures • CATCH ERROR: Develop studies to account for anglers not included in catch sampling frames (private access, night fishing, tournament fishing) • EFFORT ERROR: Develop studies to account for anglers not included in effort sampling frames (non-coastal, no phone, no license) • CATCH AND RELEASE: Examine alternate methods for collecting information about discarded catch

2. Data Management and Standards Work Group Issue: Improve standardization of surveys among regions, between state and national surveys Projects: • Identify existing data collection programs and categorize common data elements • Establish minimum data elements and Regional / National standards

3. For-Hire Work Group Issue: Survey methods and reporting requirements should be different from private anglers Projects: • Documentation of existing for-hire data collection programs • Independent review of for-hire data collection methodologies • Pilot electronic reporting program for Puerto Rico for-hire catch and effort data

4. Highly Migratory Species Work Group Issue: Improve all data collection programs Projects: • Pilot study to characterize HMS charter boat fishery in GOM and South Atlantic • Pilot study to characterize HMS angling category fishery in GOM and South Atlantic • Evaluate LPS tournament data • Develop non-tournament HMS data collection program for Caribbean

5. Ongoing Project Angler License Directory Survey (ALDS) • Implemented in Gulf of Mexico in 2007 • Utilize state saltwater license databases as telephone survey sampling frames • Integrate ALDS with Coastal Household Telephone Survey in “dual-frame” approach to cover all anglers (licensed and non-licensed) • Collaborating with NC DMF to initiate in NC in late 2007 or early 2008