Committees
The Pacific Coast RecFIN program operates within a collaborative framework, utilizing committees composed of representatives from program partners. Committees facilitate program governance by coordinating data collection efforts, reviewing and developing survey design and estimation methods, guiding data management and dissemination, identifying regional data priorities, and ensuring data requirements are met for state and federal fisheries management needs.
Steering Committee
Purpose
The RecFIN Steering Committee provides high-level guidance and directives for the RecFIN program and its technical committee. The RecFIN Steering Committee membership includes representatives from Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Fishery Management Council, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Steering Committee has set the policy that the RecFIN data system is the repository of all recreational catch and effort estimates and sample data for the states of Washington, Oregon and California. A primary role of this committee is to review and approve program activities at the regional level, including the Marine Recreational Information Program’s (MRIP) Survey and Estimation Methods Certification materials and the MRIP Pacific Coast Regional Implementation Plan and its implementation priorities.
The Steering Committee meets as needed to review policy and make decisions regarding the program.
Current Members
- Barry Thom, Chair, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Ryan Wulff, NOAA- West Coast Region
- Merrick Burden, Pacific Fishery Management Council
- Craig Shuman, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Justin Ainsworth, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Heather Hall, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Technical Committee
Purpose
The RecFIN Technical Committee guides RecFIN program operations. The RecFIN Technical Committee membership includes representatives from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC).
The RecFIN Technical Committee members have detailed knowledge of RecFIN operations, recreational fisheries data, survey design, sampling and estimation methodology, statistics, stock assessment, administration of recreational sampling programs, and member agency rules and regulations. A primary role of the Technical Committee is to review and develop guidance for program activities including data collection efforts, survey design and estimation methods, data management, and data reporting tools/products. The committee is also tasked with identifying and prioritizing Pacific Coast regional needs to enhance data for regional fishery management and science by participating in the development of the MRIP Regional Implementation Plan.
The Technical Committee has scheduled meetings twice a year, in addition to ad-hoc remote conferences to discuss program activities between meetings.
Current Members
- Nancy Leonard, Chair, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Ryan Denton, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Daniel Studt, NOAA- West Coast Region
- Katherine Papacostas, NOAA- Marine Recreational Information Program
- Richard Cody, NOAA- Marine Recreational Information Program
- E.J. Dick, NOAA- Southwest Fisheries Science Center
- Brian Langseth, NOAA- Northwest Fisheries Science Center
- Jim Hastie, NOAA- Northwest Fisheries Science Center
- Charles Villafana, NOAA- West Coast Region
- Justin Ainsworth, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Todd Phillips, Pacific Fishery Management Council
- Lynn Mattes, Pacific Fishery Management Council
- Rob Ames, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Jason Edwards, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Lorna Wargo, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
