The guam division of aquatic and wildlife resources dawr collects data on the shorebased and boatbased fisheries of guam to inform resource management

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $230,449.00 Formula Grant to the Guam Department of Agriculture, Aquatic and Wildlife Resources Division under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605). The grant will fund the division's data collection efforts to monitor the shore-based and boat-based fisheries around Guam from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.

The data collection program includes creel surveys to gather catch and effort information, participation surveys to document total fishing effort, and aerial surveys to capture effort in areas inaccessible from shore. The offshore program also conducts interviews with boat-based fishermen to collect data on fishing participation, effort, and harvest. This comprehensive data will enable managers to ensure the sustainable harvesting of Guam's fishing resources for future generations. The grant will also support the division's collection of species composition and size data during the survey interviews.

Creel surveys in which catch and effort information are collected participation surveys in which total effort around the island is collected and aerial surveys in which total effort around the island including areas inaccessible from shore are surveyed constitute the shorebased data collection program. The offshore program captures fishing participation effort and harvest from inperson interviews of boatbased fishermen. The offshore program consists of 96 separated creel surveys 8 per month from 3 different ports and 24 participation surveys around the island survey documenting trailered vehicles at all sites. The offshore program provides managers with cpue catch effort and participation information on boatbased fishers with the data added to guam s longterm database program. Both programs also collect species composition and size during the interview surveys. Data from both programs will ensure that the fishing resources around guam are harvested sustainably sustaining resources for future generations.