Better Data, Better Fishing: Inside Rhode Island’s Recreational Fishing Survey with Nate Andrews

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Andrews, my boss and mentor at the RI DEM Division of Marine Fisheries. We chat about his original inspiration to be a scientist and the career path that led him to DEM.

Nate now works on the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS), a program that studies recreational fishers and uses data to make important management decisions. We chat about how data collected from everyday anglers feeds into NOAA’s Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), and why accurate catch and effort data is essential for sustainable fishing. Nate explains complex concepts like catch per unit effort in a way that actually makes sense, and shows how small data points can influence big management decisions.

Our conversation also dives into fish identification, stewardship, and the human side of fisheries science. Nate shares his personal passion for the ocean, what it’s like working directly with fishing communities, and why participation and trust are just as important as numbers and statistics when it comes to protecting the ocean.

Whether you’re an angler, a science nerd, or someone who simply loves the ocean, this episode will give you a whole new appreciation for the data behind every cast— and how better data truly leads to better fishing.

Episode Show Notes (click for all the links!)

Learn more about APAIS

Apply to work with us on the APAIS Program!

Learn more about the Division of Marine Fisheries and the RI Marine Fisheries Council

Check out Nate's fish print art

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Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservation

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