Data Providers

The Pacific Coast Recreational Fisheries Information Network (RecFIN) is a collaborative program supporting recreational fishery-dependent data collection efforts and data accessibility from a standardized web-based data system exchange. The RecFIN program integrates state and federal marine recreational fishery sampling efforts into a single database to provide important biological, social, and economic data for Pacific coast recreational fishery biologists, managers and anglers. These data are essential to state and federal marine fisheries management efforts for the Pacific coast and are an integral part of fisheries stock assessments that inform state management decisions and supporting analyses in fisheries stock assessments conducted by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

The success of the collaborative RecFIN relies on the long-standing partnership among agencies to effectively manage the region’s marine resources and habitats within their respective jurisdictions. Coordination and communication between RecFIN and agency data partners are vital for effectively collecting and integrating regional recreational fisheries data. RecFIN partnership extends to other activities that contribute to enhancing data quality including reviewing survey design, methodology, and estimation procedures, ensuring compliance with federal recreational survey standards, and exploring emerging technologies for data collection. RecFIN and agency data partners also collaborate on regional implementation planning to strategically identify and prioritize recreational fisheries data needs for the Pacific coast. Frequent communication among partners ensures surveys remain effective and responsive to emerging data needs.

RecFIN data partners currently consist of three state agencies and one industry organization. These partners collect recreational catch and effort data using standardized survey methodology which is administrated by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Ocean Sampling Program (OSP), WDFW Marine Fish Science Biological Data System (BDS), WDFW Puget Sound Sampling Program (PSSP), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Ocean Recreational Boat Survey (ORBS), ODFW Ocean Recreational Fisheries Survey (ORFS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS), and the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) Fisheries Sampling Program. The data collected and submitted on a routine monthly/annual schedule to RecFIN include:

• • Catch data on fish retained and fish released.
  • Fishing effort point and variance estimates based on the amount of boat and angler trips.
  • Fishing trip and angler interview-level sample data.
  • Biological sample data, including fish length, weight, and age.
  • Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) onboard sample data.