Marine Recreational Information Program 

The Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP, is the way NOAA Fisheries counts and reports marine recreational catch and effort. Driven by data provided by anglers and captains, MRIP produces better information through better science and, equally important, increased transparency, accountability, and engagement.

Due to the dynamic nature of fisheries and fisheries management practices, recreational fishing data collection must be:

  • Flexible enough to be updated, modified, expanded, or contracted to meet specific regional or local informational needs;
  • Robust enough to provide the most precise and least biased information possible;
  • National in scope but regionally specific, recognizing that each region (Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, Pacific Coast, Pacific Islands, Alaska, and the Caribbean) has unique informational needs and data collection issues; and
  • Be inclusive and transparent, providing scientists, managers, and stakeholders an opportunity to participate in its development and use.
To meet the recreational fishing data needs that fit into the overall goal of managing the Nation's fisheries, the program goal is to have a system of surveys operating with consistent standards and sufficient flexibility to meet national, regional, and state needs and provide reliable information about recreational fishing in a timely manner to support effective and fair management.