DFO L b ary / MPO B bliothèque III II I I II I II 12032 06 An Evaluation of Alternative Methods of Collecting Sportfishing Statistics for the Northwest Territories J. O. Jacobson, R. D. Cook and R. Sopuck Western Region Department of Fisheries and Oceans SEP VVinnipeg , Manitoba R3T 2N6 August 1983 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences No.1180 2;3 -0" Fisheries Pêches and Oceans et Océans Came. Canad'ranTéchnical Report of Tisheriçs âr^cl ^4qOatic Sçiéneés These reports contain stleritiÎi^ and technical information that represents an important contributioü to existing knôwlecfge but which for some reason-may not be appropriate for primary scientific (i.e. Journal) publication. Technical Reports are directed primarily towards a worldwide audience and have an international distribution. 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Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1180 August 1983 AN EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COLLECTING SPORTFISHING STATISTICS FOR THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES by J. O. Jacobson, R. D. Cook and R. Sopuckl Western Region Department of Fisheries and Oceans Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6 This is the 157th Technical Report from the Western Region, Winnipeg 1 All from Interdisciplinary Systems Ltd., 966 Waverley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3 1 4M5 EDITOR'S NOTE The preparation of the material for this study was done by Inter- disciplinary Systems Ltd. Environmental and Socio-Economic Consultants of Winnipeg, Manitoba through a contract with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Western Region, Winnipeg, Manitoba. This study is an edited version of their report to the Department entitled "A Statistical Reporting System for Recreational Fisheries in the Northwest Territories". That study contained chapters outlining departmental fisheries management, biological and economic programs, descriptions of existing data bases and two appendices (one describing native food fisheries and another containing an annoted bibliography of fishery management publica- tions) that have not been reproduced here. P.C. Thompson ED Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1983 Cat. no. FS 97-6/1180 ISSN 0706-6457 Correct citation for this publication is: Jacobson, J.0., R.D. Cook, and R. Sopuck. 1983. An evaluation of alternative methods of collecting sportfishing statistics for the Northwest Terri- tories. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1180: iv + 18 p. lii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT/RESUME . INTRODUCTION . .. .. .. DATA REQUIREMENTS . ... ... Classification of sport fisheries . Intensive fisheries . .. .. Intensive/extensive fisheries . Extensive fisheries .. .. Classification of NWT fisheries by sampling requirements Lodge-related fisheries . Road-access fisheries . .. ... Types of data ... .. Biological information . ... ...... Economic information . .. .. .. DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS ... Delayed data collection systems .. .. .. Conclusions . .. .. On-site data collection systems .. .. Conclusions . .. ... Hybrid data collection systems . Conclusions . .... RECOMMENDED DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS . ... Mail questionnaires . .... Site-specific systems . ... ... Remote-access lodge fisheries . Limited-access day fisheries .. ... Multiple-access day fisheries and extended-stay fisheries . RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .... .. .. REFERENCES . .. .. .. .... LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Examples of lakes and rivers in each fishery category in the NWT 17 2 Summary of reporting methods used for evaluating fish harvest in the Western United States . ... .. 17 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Schematic of a statistical reporting system for the sport fishery of the NWT . ..... ..... ... .. 18 iv ABSTRACT Jacobson J.O., R.D. Cook, and R. Sopuck. 1983. An evaluation of alternative methods of collecting sportfishing statistics for the Northwest Terri- tories. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat, Sci. 1180: iv + 18 p. This study, as a survey of statistical methods for collecting sportfish- ing data, outlines the basic data requirements for biological and economic fisheries management. The study examines and evaluates delayed data collec- tion systems, on-site data collection systems and hybrid data collection sys- feras with reference to the sport fisheries management requirements of the Northwest Territories. The study recommends the use of a controlled diary system to collect catch and effort data at remote-access lodge fisheries: a catch/effort census for collecting data for road access fisheries; mail questionnaires for gather- ing general data and trends in catch and effort for intensive/extensive fisheries, and unstructured field checks for providing general information for extensive fisheries. Finally the study outlines the general methodologies to be followed in order to implement the recommended systems. Key words: sport fishing; catch/effort data; fisheries management. RESUME Jacobson, J.O., R.D. Cook, and R. Sopuck. 1983. An evaluation of alternative methods of collecting sportfishing statistics for the Northwest Terri- tories. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1180: iv + 18 p. Ce rapport, qui se veut une étude sur les méthodes de collecte de don- nées sur la pêche sportive, fournit les statistiques fondamentales nécessaires à l'aménagement biologique et économique des pêcheries. Le rapport examine et évalue divers systèmes de collecte des données: en différé, sur place et hy- brides, et ce, en fonction des besoins d'aménagement de la pêche sportive dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest. Le rapport recommande que l'on utilise un carnet où l'on consigne au jour le jour les données sur les prises et sur l'effort dans les pavillons de pêche isolés; que l'on envoie des questionnaires postaux afin de prélever des données générales et relever les tendances du rapport prise-effort chez les pêcheries intensives et de grande envergure, et que l'on effectue un sondage sur les rapports prise-effort dans les pavillons accessibles par la route ainsi que des contrôles libres sur le terrain pour recueillir des données générales sur les pêcheries de grande envergure. Enfin, le rapport souligne quelles méthodes générales adopter pour implanter les mesures proposées. Mots-clés: pêche sportive; donn4s sur le rapport prise-effort; aménagement des pêcheries. INTRODUCTION Intensive fisheries The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries that meet one or more of •the (DFO) is responsible for managing the fish and following criteria are classified as intensively marine mammal resources of the Northwest Terri- managed lakes: tories (NWT). DFO's management mandate is to protect fish stocks, allocate fisheries - fisheries where any combination of com- resources among alternate users, and evaluate mercial, sport or domestic uses are the economic contribution of fisheries resources straining the capacity of the fish to the Canadian and regional economies. As a resources; result