The guam division of fish and aquatic resources collects data on the shore-based and boat-based fisheries of guam to inform resource management

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded $240,151.00 to the Guam Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) for a two-year period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The award supports comprehensive fisheries data collection and monitoring activities designed to inform sustainable resource management in Guam's marine environment.

The grant funds two integrated fisheries monitoring programs: a shore-based program that collects catch and effort data through creel surveys, participatory surveys, and aerial surveys to document fishing activity across accessible coastal areas; and an offshore program consisting of 96 creel surveys (8 per month across 3 ports) and 24 participation surveys that capture fishing participation, effort, and harvest from boat-based fishermen through in-person interviews. Data collected from both programs—including catch per unit effort (CPUE), catch, effort, and participation metrics—are integrated into Guam's long-term fisheries database to ensure evidence-based resource management and promote sustainable harvesting practices for current and future generations.

Creel surveys, in which catch and effort information is 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 shore-based data collection. The offshore program captures fishing participation, effort, and harvest from in-person interviews of boat-based 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 boat-based fishers, with the data added to guam s long-term database program. Data from both programs will ensure that the fishing resources around guam are harvested sustainably, ensuring a resources for future generations.