Center for Independent Experts Review

During the fall of 2006, NMFS asked the University of Miami's Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to review of NMFS’ recreational economics program. NMFS has been gathering economic and demographic data using add-on surveys to the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) since 1994. The review covered the three basic types of analysis NMFS conducts with this data:

• estimation of revealed preference models, which value access to fishing sites;
• stated preference choice experiments, which directly ask fishermen about preferred management options; and
• economic impact analysis, which provide information on the contribution of recreational fishing to the local economy.

The CIE review provided validation for some of our current methods. Specifically, we were concerned the MRFSS shortcomings identified by the National Research Council might cause severe problems for the economic data and analyses. The CIE found no evidence of this. Instead, they found the MRFSS add-ons to be an effective means of gathering data. They found the suite of models used by NMFS to be appropriate given the extent of peer reviewed publications using the economic data. Further, the CIE also found the recreational economics program to be very cost effective and currently the only feasible way to collect the data given the “meager” budget.

The CIE also highlighted some areas where the program could improve. They recommended continued focus on surveys targeted for specific management goals, like stated preference choice experiments, while testing the validity of these measures and streamlining data collection. Additionally, to the extent that fishing access sites serve as the basis for estimating revealed preference models, improvements in the site register would improve those models. Finally, the CIE recognized that as effort and participation grow into the future increased attention to the economics of recreational fishing and increases in funding will be required.

Click here for more information about what we asked the CIE to do.

Click here to see the CIE’s final report.