Fishing in the US: What Is the National Saltwater Angler Registry?

In an effort to keep a count on saltwater fishermen and their catch, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) implemented the National Saltwater Angler Registry. The move to create the registry came from the input of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science in 2006. The registry went into effect in 2009.

Prior to the creation of the registry, coastal households were part of a random phone survey to attempt to get accurate numbers on fishing activity in salt waters. The National Saltwater Angler Registry is considered a "phone book" of current saltwater anglers.

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"By registering, recreational anglers will make their catch count," said the NOAA in a news release. "The National Saltwater Angler Registry is an important tool that will enable us to better estimate the health of marine fisheries so that we're able to preserve the pastime of recreational saltwater fishing for generations to come."

Recent statistics from the NOAA indicate there are more than 25 million saltwater anglers in the United States. Not only do these fishermen generate revenue and jobs, they also take a lot of fish from the salt waters. Tracking the commercial fishery harvest is key to managing the nation's fisheries. The NOAA can monitor the saltwater regions for pollution, overfishing, and climate change issues with an accurate fish count.

Prior to 2011, anglers could register with the national registry without a fee. In 2011, a fee was implemented to cover the cost of the program. Anglers are required to register every year unless they live in an exempted state. Exempted states automatically register fishermen with the registry.

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Registration can be completed online through the NOAA website or by phone. Anglers will be required to provide the region they plan to fish in, name, address, birthdate, and a phone number. Once registration is complete, the angler will receive a registration number he should carry when fishing. A permanent registration certificate will be sent to the angler within 30 days of registration. Failure to register can result in criminal action on behalf of the NOAA.

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