MRIP Regional Implementation Plan for the Gulf of America

The MRIP Regional Implementation Plan for the Gulf Coast (2023-2026) (PDF, 17 pages) informs the Marine Recreational Information Program's work from Florida through Louisiana. It was developed by the Gulf Fisheries Information Network (GulfFIN), which serves as MRIP's Gulf Regional Implementation Team. It includes an assessment of regional data collection programs and a list of regional implementation priorities to meet recreational data needs.

The Marine Recreational Information Program operates as a state-regional-federal partnership.

• NOAA Fisheries maintains a central role in developing data collection and estimation methods, implementing survey and data standards, publishing recreational data products, and providing our partners with financial and technical support.
• Gulf regional and state partners identify regional information needs; coordinate state survey programs, operations, and on-site data collection; and participate in quality assurance and quality control.

Gulf of America Regional Implementation Priorities

The MRIP Regional Implementation Plan for the Gulf Coast (2023-2026) identifies the following priorities:

• Implementation of Alabama and Mississippi Creel Surveys
• Improved timeliness of recreational catch and effort estimates
• Improved Recreational Discard/Release Data
• Biological Data Collection
• Transition Plan for For-Hire Data Collection Methods
• Inclusive and Transparent Process for Review of Recreational Effort and Catch Estimates and Treatment of Outliers
• Additional Methods for Collecting Spatial Data

Learn about recreational data collection priorities in other regions across the United States

Last updated by Office of Science and Technology on 03/02/2026

More Information

• MRIP Regional Implementation Teams