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Recreational Fisheries Information Network (RecFIN)
Recreational Fisheries Information Network (RecFIN)

Recreational Fisheries Information Network (RecFIN) is a coordinated fishery data collection, analysis, and monitoring program which seeks to integrate existing state and federal recreational data collection programs.  RecFIN was designed to bring together the various organizations data collection efforts to more effectively gather information on the marine recreational fishery harvest, fishing effort, and the seasonal and geographical distribution of that catch and effort in support of management and stock assessment needs. Its long range plans call for both coordination of current data collection efforts, modification of them when required, development of new data collection instruments to meet state and federal management needs, and database management. 

Goals, Activities & Achievements

The goal of this program is to develop and implement a cooperative State-Federal system for the collection and management of data on the Pacific coast marine recreational fisheries in order to better meet State and Federal fishery management needs.  This project includes the states of California, Oregon, and Washington.  The goals of the RecFIN program (as established by the RecFIN Technical Committee) are as follows:

1. To develop a coordinated State-Federal RecFIN data collection program.
2. To continue an organizational structure for planning, implementing and evaluating RecFIN.
3. To develop a centralized RecFIN data management system.
4. To promote the cooperative State-Federal approach to the marine recreational fisheries data system and the data collection      programs that support it. 

Partners & Funding

RecFIN is a coordinated program between the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 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), and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC).  Data collected under the RecFIN program are essential for NMFS, the PFMC, Pacific coast state fishery agencies, PSMFC, Treaty Indian Tribes, and others responsible for the conservation and management of marine fisheries on the Pacific coast.

Overall administrative and contractual support for the RecFIN Technical Committee and its subcommittees is provided by PSMFC. PSMFC partnerships with the three states in conducting the RecFIN field sampling programs and provides implementation of this Cooperative Agreement. The States will conduct the field sampling efforts.  Field intercept data is processed by PSMFC and/or the states in coordination with procedures established with NMFS and the States as directed by the RecFIN Committee.  

Additional Information

Visit the Recreational Fisheries Information Network (RecFIN) program website at: www.recfin.org.

For more information, contact Chris Wheaton, by email to CWheaton@psmfc.org, or call 503.595.3100.

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