Federal Register #0648-0652

NOAA Seeks Public Comment on MRIP Survey Revision and Exempted Fishing Permit for Skate Research

This notice summarizes NOAA's request for public comment on the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey revision and an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) renewal for skate fisheries research:

• Government Buyer:

  • Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries

• Products/Services Requested:

  • No commercial products or OEM equipment are being procured
  • Service: Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) authorizing up to 650 fishing trips in 2026 for vessels with skate permits to exceed possession limits for research purposes
  • Focus: Data collection on fishing effort, catch, trip duration, and fuel use to study economic and ecological impacts
  • Information Collection: Revision and extension of the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey
  • Transition from bi-monthly to monthly survey administration
  • Pilot of online reporting to improve data quality and timeliness

• Unique or Notable Requirements:

  • EFP allows research fishing trips to exceed standard skate wing possession limits in designated federal fishery management areas
  • Public comment is specifically requested on the necessity, methodology, and burden of the MRIP survey revision
  • The EFP supports research to improve resource utilization and monitor market impacts

• Places of Performance and Delivery:

  • Southern Fishery Management Area (federal fishery management area)
  • Northern Fishery Management Area (federal fishery management area)
  • NOAA Fisheries, 200 Harry S. Truman Pkwy., Annapolis, MD 21401 (federal office)

• No OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as this is not a procurement for products or services.

Description

The Department of Commerce, through NOAA, is requesting public comment on the revision and extension of an approved information collection related to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey. This survey collects data from marine recreational anglers on catch, effort, fish biology, and socioeconomic characteristics to support fishery management under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The revision includes transitioning from bi-monthly to monthly survey administration and testing an online reporting pilot to improve data quality and timeliness. Comments are due by June 1, 2026.

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