What is NOAA Fisheries Service doing to account for changes in fishing effort due to the oil spill when estimating the length of 2010 recreational fishing seasons?
• NOAA Fisheries Service is reviewing legal authorities and considering options for adjusting fishing season dates in response to the movement of the oil slick and associated fishery impacts. • Beginning June 1, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Information Network (Gulf FIN) program will provide weekly, rather than bimonthly, tracking of changes in charter boat fishing effort in the Gulf of Mexico that may be related to the recent oil spill. • This increase in data collection will allow a more precise estimation of the total number of trips made by anglers on for-hire fishing vessels. • In addition to the increased sampling, questions are being added to the survey to assess fishing trip cancellations directly related to the oil spill. • Results from the sampling will be used to evaluate fishery closures for species such as red snapper and greater amberjack. If sampling indicates quotas are not being met prior to each closure, NOAA Fisheries Service could increase the season length if warra
