Angler Registry Team
Congress, through the recently reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, called on NOAA Fisheries to take the lead in creating a national registry of saltwater anglers. The legislation set a January 1, 2009 deadline for the registry to take effect. (In its recommendations to NOAA Fisheries, the National Research Council also advocated for such a registry.)
The registry will help improve data collection by creating a universe of saltwater anglers—essentially a phonebook of fishermen that is updated each year. This resource will help reduce bias and improve the efficiency of catch and effort surveys. Instead of asking a random sample of coastal U.S. residents if they’ve gone fishing (what is currently done), an angler registry would allow surveyors to call upon those who have already identified themselves as saltwater fishermen.
The National Saltwater Angler Registry team is in charge of creating this "phonebook" of anglers to ensure that saltwater anglers are accurately accounted for.
What’s New
On June 11, 2008, NOAA Fisheries released a proposed rule on the National Saltwater Angler Registry. The proposed rule outlines the process NOAA Fisheries will use for registering saltwater recreational anglers. It also addresses the qualifications and procedures for exempting states and their anglers from the federal registration requirement.
The following resources provide additional information about the proposed rule:
- Federal Register Notice on the Proposed Rule
- NOAA Proposes Rule to Require Saltwater Angler Registration – Press Release
- Proposed Rule Fact Sheet
- Proposed Rule FAQs
Seeking Public Comments
The public comment period for the proposed rule has been extended until August 21st, 2008. Comments may be submitted in a variety of formats using the following identifier: RIN 0648-AW10.
Electronically:www.regulations.gov
By Fax:
(301) 713-1875
Attn: Gordon ColvinBy Mail:
John Boreman, Director
Office of Science and Technology, NMFS
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Attn: Gordon Colvin
Members
NOAA Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology (Chair)