Marine fish distribution shifts inferred from a recreational fishing survey along the U.S. East Coast North American Journal of Fisheries Management

Monitoring shifts in fish distributions is important for effective fisheries management. Failure to recognize and react to these shifts can affect harvest sustainability and result in economic loss. Along the U.S. East Coast, collecting long-term, consistent data that cover enough area to monitor fish distribution shifts is challenging. One of the few standardized surveys that covers the coastline area from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, is the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP); MRIP began in 1981 and continues to this day, having collected a consistent core set of data elements throughout.