What was the impetus for creating the registry?
As the Federal agency responsible for ensuring the long-term sustainability of our nation’s ocean resources, NOAA continually evaluates the quality of recreational fishing data we collect and report. As part of this ongoing review process, in 2006, NOAA sought the input of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Considering the ever more detailed uses of NOAA’s data in stock assessments and fisheries management decision-making, the Council recommended an overhaul of NOAA’s data program that would enable us to provide more detailed and timely information to managers, fishermen and other stakeholders. One of the NRC’s recommendations was the creation of a universal “phone book” – or registry – of current saltwater anglers. This system will replace the previous method of randomly dialing coastal households, providing a far more efficient and effective way to determine the number of people fishing and the number of trips they take, or what is known as the overall
