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Coral Bleaching Version 1
THANK YOU!
for
participating in this
Recreation Survey
Dear Visitor,
During your recent trip to the Florida Keys you indicated that you
would be willing to complete this questionnaire. It is self-explanatory and
should not take long to complete. Please record your answers accurately
and legibly. Your answers represent many other people not included in this
survey effort so it is very important that you return your questionnaire.
Your answers are voluntary and confidential. Your name will never
be released to anyone unless otherwise required by law. After the completion of the project all materials identifying you as an individual will be
destroyed.
When you complete the questionnaire, please reverse-fold it so that
our return address on the GREEN PAGE in the inside is folded to the outside. Please staple or tape to seal the questionnaire and mail it back to us.
No postage is needed. Your cooperation in this effort is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Please note: It is very important that the same person who participated in
the on-site interview also complete this questionnaire.
1
Coral reefs are sensitive ecosystems. The Florida Keys, the world’s
third-largest barrier reef and the only coral reef system along the US
mainland coast, is no exception. It has long been recognized that
human use of coral reefs and adjacent coastal activities inflict strains
on these systems. Non-local factors associated with global human
use of the planet’s resources add to the strain through their impact on
air and sea temperatures.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was founded
through a Federal Act to manage issues such as the above. It is
managed cooperatively by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the State of Florida, with significant input
from local government, businesses, non-government organizations
and the general public. Your views are valuable in the formulation of
FKNMS action plans and management strategies.
This mail survey explores your knowledge, attitudes and perceptions
of the natural reefs of the Florida Keys. There are no right or wrong
answers; we simply want your honest opinion. Again, your privacy will
be protected. No one will be given information that will allow them to
identify you from survey data.
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2
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Importance
(with each of these items during
your recent visit)
le
I.
Please read each statement and rate the importance of each
item during your recent visit in the Florida Keys area. If an item does
not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you
don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
3
fie
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
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2.
In the previous question you rated the importance of a list of
items during your recent visit. Now please read each of the items on
this list and rate how satisfied you were with each during your recent
visit. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable).
Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
4
In this section we have a few special issues questions we would like
to ask you.
3. Was your recent visit your first visit to the Florida Keys?
_____ Yes (go to Question 6) _____ No (go to Question 4)
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
D
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ig
/S
a
py
H
ap
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py
M
ix
ap
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U
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rib
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/D
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N
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Ap
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Kn
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ab
le
5. Please cast your mind back to your previous most recent visit and
rate how satisfied you were then with the same items in the Florida
Keys area. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
d
tis
fie
4. When was your previous most recent visit to the Florida Keys?
20+ years ago
10-19 years ago
5-9 years ago
More recently
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
5
Spear fishers ………………………………….......................
8. What in your opinion should the Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) do to
reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
Please rank your first recommendation=1, second=2, and so on for all
recommendations you consider important. Leave those blank that
you consider unimportant.
Stringent control of pollutants to preserve water quality..........
Scuba divers ………………………………...........................
Enforced training/certification of scuba divers and snorkelers
Urban development ………………………………….……….
Prohibiting spear fishing..........................................................
Ships and boats grounding on reefs, discharging pollutants
Stronger shipping regulations..................................................
Hurricanes .........................................................................
Training, workshops and school programs..............................
Solid waste disposal (sewage) …..…………………………
Better management of waterways...........................................
Climate change (global warming etc) ………………………
More no-catch fishing zones in the FKNMS............................
Stormwater and wastewater runoff ....……………………...
6. What do you think are the greatest threats to the reefs in the
Florida Keys in the following list? Please rank greatest threat=1,
second-greatest threat=2, third-greatest threat=3, and so on for as
many factors as you consider important threats. Leave blank those
you consider unimportant.
Overfishing by commercial and recreational fishers ……...
Number of tourists ……………………………………......…..
Chemical runoff (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) ............
People collecting coral and live rock …..……………….…..
7. Any other important factors we have omitted from the list?
If any, write in ______________________________________
9. Do you have any other important recommendations on how
FKNMS could reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
If any, write in ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6
Local factors exclusively
Non-local factors such as
global warming/climate change, exclusively
Non-local factors aggravated by local factors
Local factors aggravated by non-local factors
I don’t know
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13. And how important do you consider climate change to be for the
future of the coral reefs in the Florida Keys?
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11. What in your opinion is the primary cause of coral bleaching?
(Check one only)
dk
ow
Highly aware
Conscious but not highly aware
Became aware on my recent visit
Still not aware (IF “Still not aware”, go to Question 12.)
All other answers proceed to Question 11.
Kn
10. Were you aware of coral bleaching before your recent visit, and if
so to what extent?
12. How important do you consider climate change to be for the
world of the 21st century? Circle the number that corresponds to your
answer.
Do
n’t
• The main signs of coral stress are coral diseases and coral
bleaching.
•
The coral organism lives in a mutually dependent (symbiotic)
relationship with tiny algae known as zooxanthellae. Their health is
highly dependent on temperature and the coral expels them when the
sea temperature gets above a certain level. This causes the coral to
turn white and weaken, the phenomenon known as coral bleaching.
•
There is general agreement among scientists that the world’s
climate is getting warmer and that this may cause large sections of
the world’s coral reefs to die.
•
There is also a general consensus that control of other stress
factors can make the coral organisms more resilient (able to resist
and/or recover from stressful events).
7
The final part of this mail survey explores a number of
alternative management actions that might be applied to
protect the Florida Keys. There is general agreement among
scientists that the impact of these actions will be to reduce coral
bleaching, but not to eliminate it.
• Coral reefs are affected by global and local forces.
• Global climate change and resulting rises in seawater
temperatures are considered a major factor in coral
bleaching.
• When corals bleach, the corals die and live coral cover
is reduced.
• Scientists have found that more coral cover and
complexity of corals is associated with more abundant
and larger fish, and many different kinds of fish and sea
life.
• Emissions of greenhouse gases are considered the
main source of global climate change and coral bleaching.
• Water pollution can stress corals and make them more
susceptible to disease or reduce their ability to recover
from stressful events such as storms or bleaching events.
• Excess nutrients can lead to algal growth, which
smothers the corals and kills them.
We present three global alternatives for coral health measured
by the amount of live coral cover, before considering local
management policies that could be applied to lessen the impact
of each global scenario. In the absence of local management
policies, living coral cover of comparable quality to what exists
today is reduced by (a) a massive 95% in 20 years (by 2027) in
the worst case scenario, (b) by 80% (intermediate case) or (c)
by 50% (best case). Case (a) assumes that there is no further
change in global strategies to reduce global warming, and that
the average global temperature will increase by 6-8oC by the
year 2100. In the intermediate case (b), the increase over the
21st century will be 4oC, and (c) using the most efficient policies
nationally and internationally, there will be a 2oC increase in the
average global temperature.
• Local forces also affect the health of coral reefs.
• Users can touch, step on, or drop their anchors on the
corals.
• Fishermen can overfish a reef and remove fish species
that eat algae that can smother and kill the corals.
8
Local Management Strategies
There are four local strategies included in the FKNMS
management plan designed to protect the health of the coral
reefs. For each strategy, we present three levels of protection.
The no change from current policy is always the low cost
strategy.
1. Education and outreach are important activities in the
FKNMS. The goal is to promote protection and sustainable use
of Sanctuary reserves, and public understanding of the nature
of marine sanctuaries. Activities include school programs, local
community meetings, signage and exhibits in visitor centers,
brochures, and TV and radio announcements. Team Ocean, a
group of local volunteers, is provided with a FKNMS boat and
fuel. They patrol the FKNMS and when they observe someone
violating FKNMS rules and regulations, they educate them
about how their activity harms the corals. Team Ocean and
education and outreach staff also visit local businesses and
distribute information on how users can better interact with
corals to avoid damages. Education is also an integral element
of other programs in the management plan and is considered a
low-cost alternative to enforcement.
2. Enforcement includes a wide range of measures such as
introducing no-anchor zones for vessels above a certain length,
reinforcement of bans on spear fishing and touching corals,
educating scuba divers and snorkelers about the reefs and
enforcing reef protection, and restricting the use of personal
vessels on or near the reef. It also involves the mooring buoy
program set up around the restricted areas within the Sanctuary.
3. Water quality is a crucial issue as reflected by the FKNMS
management plan: “Declining water quality continues to be
a major concern for the Sanctuary.” Remedies include the
development and implementation of wastewater and stormwater
plans, efficient options to reduce loading of sediment, toxics and
nutrients which damage water quality and the reef, targeting
hot spots of industrial and commercial facilities, and reducing
pollution from vessels and marinas. Improving water quality is a
significantly higher-cost activity than the other items in this list.
4. Zoning: There are currently 24 no-take zones in the FKNMS.
They cover less than five percent of FKNMS waters, but protect
about 60% of the corals. Scientific monitoring of these zones
has determined that coral health, fish abundance, size and
diversity of fish and sea life have improved in protected areas
versus non protected areas. The three levels of protection are
(a) no change; or (b) 25% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 75%: or (c) 50% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 90%.
Reflecting current FKNMS management principles of running
several parallel strategies, we have reduced these four
policy options to two by combining education and outreach,
enforcement, and water quality management into one group,
with the options of (a) no change, (b) 5% increase in annual
spending, and (c) 10% increase in annual spending. Zoning
remains a separate strategy, with three possible levels of
protection as shown above.
9
• A combination of global and local management strategies is
required to save the health of the coral reefs.
• Scientists believe that global policies to minimize the
increase in greenhouse gases are required to lower sea water
temperatures from what they would otherwise have been, and
so reduce coral bleaching.
• The more efficient the global strategy to reduce greenhouse
gases, the more cost-efficient will be local management
actions to protect the reef.
• If local forces are not addressed, the corals will not recover
from coral bleaching when or if cooler waters return.
• Policies to reduce the increase in greenhouse gases will
result in increased costs to your household through higher
utility bills and the costs of products or services.
• Local management strategies will result in increased costs
to your household if you are a resident or visitor to the Florida
Keys. Costs will be passed on in terms of higher State
and local taxes, local water/sewage bills and the costs of local
goods and services purchased in the Florida Keys
• We have worked with scientists and managers to estimate
the approximate annual costs to your household for the
different mixes of global and local management strategies
which scientists think will deliver some protection to the corals.
The costs to your household are stated in dollars per year.
Questions 14-19 contain six multiple-choice situations to which you
are asked to state your preferences and provide a brief explanation
for your choices. Each choice presents different mixes of global and
local management strategies and has an estimated cost to your
household. Each choice always includes the option of choosing the
status quo or NO CHANGE (Alt A). This alternative will cost your
household $0, but will result in 95% reduction in the amount of live coral
cover in 20 years, and local actions such as improving water quality
and increasing the no-take areas will become much less efficient.
Each choice will be similar to the following example. Alt A is
always the no-change situation as just explained. Alt B assumes an
intermediate global policy for greenhouse gas reduction, and Alt C
is based on a stronger and costlier global policy. In each Alt B and
C case, different combinations of local management strategies have
been designed which yield different coral cover outcomes at different
costs to your household, giving you three choices.
We can’t help you state your preferences, which depend on your own
experience and attitudes. We don’t know the extent of your concern
about future climate change, how much value you put on the quality
of the coral reefs relative to other attractions of the Florida Keys, and
the main activities that attracted you there including fishing, boating,
snorkeling, and land-based activities. So the example below is purely
illustrative, and has nothing whatever to do with what you actually
think. It’s just an example to assist you in answering questions 14-19.
No change
Alt A
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
10
No change
From 60% to
75%
44%
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
No change
75%
$80
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
95%
$67
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
X
X
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): “I like to fish, and clear water is important. But I
would prefer to have more open area to fish on the reefs.”
• The less efficient the global greenhouse gas strategy to control the rise in sea temperatures,
the less efficient the local management strategies will also be.
• Protecting the reef by increasing the area of no-take zones is also efficient but less so. This
relatively low-cost option will reduce reef-fishing activities (but fishing opportunities may
be unaffected or may even increase elsewhere in the FKNMS).
• The most efficient local management strategy is centered on improving water quality,
supplemented by efficient education and enforcement policies. This strategy is also the most
expensive local strategy.
Please note the following general assumptions when you make your choices:
• Making a choice to spend money on protecting the amount of living coral on the reefs will
mean that you have less money to spend on other goods and services.
11
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
76%
(60%)
No change
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$95
44%
(60%)
No change
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
14. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$65
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
75%
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
38%
From 60% to
90%
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
15. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
79%
$100
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$27
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
12
No change
No change
Alt A
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
16. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
79%
$75
50%
(60%)
From 60% to
75%
95%
$27
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
17. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
76%
$115
40%
(60%)
From 60% to
90%
95%
$50
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
13
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
75%
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
40%
From 60% to
75%
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
18. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
75%
$97
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$67
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
19. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
79%
$115
40%
(60%)
From 60% to
75%
95%
$27
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
14
In the survey we conducted with you on-site on your recent visit to
the Florida Keys, you told us how many days you spent in the Florida
Keys over the past 12 months. In the next set of questions, we
would like you to tell us how many days less you would have visited
the Florida Keys if coral cover conditions had been worse than they
currently are.
Currently, 6% of the entire water area in the FKNMS is covered with
living coral.
20. If the living coral cover were only 3% (half the current coral
cover), how many days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys
over the past 12 months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
21. If there was no coral cover left or 0% coral cover, how many
days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys over the past 12
months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
Thank you very much for your cooperation in this important survey.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
OMB Approval #: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date:
That’s All!! If you would like to be entered into a sweepstakes to win a free
Vacation to the Florida Keys, fill out your name, address and phone number
below. All prizes will be awarded in October of 2007.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Prizes to be awarded are:
GRAND Prize
* Airfare for two from anywhere in the continental United States to the Florida Keys
* Rental car with unlimited miles for one week (seven days)
* Accommodations for two for one week (six nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
FIRST Prize
* Accommodations for two for five days (four nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for four days (three nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for three days (two nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
This is a cooperative research project of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 20 minutes including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data need, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Commerce, Clearance Officer, Office of Chief
Information Officer, Rm. 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
OMB Approval #: 0648-0000
Expiration Date:
Coral Bleaching Version 2
THANK YOU!
for
participating in this
Recreation Survey
Dear Visitor,
During your recent trip to the Florida Keys you indicated that you
would be willing to complete this questionnaire. It is self-explanatory and
should not take long to complete. Please record your answers accurately
and legibly. Your answers represent many other people not included in this
survey effort so it is very important that you return your questionnaire.
Your answers are voluntary and confidential. Your name will never
be released to anyone unless otherwise required by law. After the completion of the project all materials identifying you as an individual will be
destroyed.
When you complete the questionnaire, please reverse-fold it so that
our return address on the GREEN PAGE in the inside is folded to the outside. Please staple or tape to seal the questionnaire and mail it back to us.
No postage is needed. Your cooperation in this effort is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Please note: It is very important that the same person who participated in
the on-site interview also complete this questionnaire.
1
Coral reefs are sensitive ecosystems. The Florida Keys, the world’s
third-largest barrier reef and the only coral reef system along the US
mainland coast, is no exception. It has long been recognized that
human use of coral reefs and adjacent coastal activities inflict strains
on these systems. Non-local factors associated with global human
use of the planet’s resources add to the strain through their impact on
air and sea temperatures.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was founded
through a Federal Act to manage issues such as the above. It is
managed cooperatively by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the State of Florida, with significant input
from local government, businesses, non-government organizations
and the general public. Your views are valuable in the formulation of
FKNMS action plans and management strategies.
This mail survey explores your knowledge, attitudes and perceptions
of the natural reefs of the Florida Keys. There are no right or wrong
answers; we simply want your honest opinion. Again, your privacy will
be protected. No one will be given information that will allow them to
identify you from survey data.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
2
rta
m
po
el
y
po
Im
Ex
y
Ve
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tre
nt
Im
nt
po
tI
m
Im
po
rta
nt
ha
rta
ew
po
So
m
N
ot
D
on
’t
Im
Kn
ow
ab
ic
pl
Ap
N
ot
rta
rta
nt
nt
Importance
(with each of these items during
your recent visit)
le
I.
Please read each statement and rate the importance of each
item during your recent visit in the Florida Keys area. If an item does
not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you
don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
3
fie
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
ht
ed
tis
D
el
ig
/S
a
py
H
ap
M
ix
ed
py
ap
U
nh
Te
r
rib
’t
D
on
le
Kn
/D
ow
is
le
ab
ic
pl
Ap
N
ot
d
tis
2.
In the previous question you rated the importance of a list of
items during your recent visit. Now please read each of the items on
this list and rate how satisfied you were with each during your recent
visit. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable).
Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
4
In this section we have a few special issues questions we would like
to ask you.
3. Was your recent visit your first visit to the Florida Keys?
_____ Yes (go to Question 6) _____ No (go to Question 4)
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
D
el
ig
/S
a
py
H
ap
ed
py
M
ix
ap
le
U
nh
Te
r
rib
ht
ed
tis
is
/D
ow
’t
D
on
N
ot
Ap
pl
Kn
ic
ab
le
5. Please cast your mind back to your previous most recent visit and
rate how satisfied you were then with the same items in the Florida
Keys area. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
d
tis
fie
4. When was your previous most recent visit to the Florida Keys?
20+ years ago
10-19 years ago
5-9 years ago
More recently
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
5
Spear fishers ………………………………….......................
8. What in your opinion should the Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) do to
reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
Please rank your first recommendation=1, second=2, and so on for all
recommendations you consider important. Leave those blank that
you consider unimportant.
Stringent control of pollutants to preserve water quality..........
Scuba divers ………………………………...........................
Enforced training/certification of scuba divers and snorkelers
Urban development ………………………………….……….
Prohibiting spear fishing..........................................................
Ships and boats grounding on reefs, discharging pollutants
Stronger shipping regulations..................................................
Hurricanes .........................................................................
Training, workshops and school programs..............................
Solid waste disposal (sewage) …..…………………………
Better management of waterways...........................................
Climate change (global warming etc) ………………………
More no-catch fishing zones in the FKNMS............................
Stormwater and wastewater runoff ....……………………...
6. What do you think are the greatest threats to the reefs in the
Florida Keys in the following list? Please rank greatest threat=1,
second-greatest threat=2, third-greatest threat=3, and so on for as
many factors as you consider important threats. Leave blank those
you consider unimportant.
Overfishing by commercial and recreational fishers ……...
Number of tourists ……………………………………......…..
Chemical runoff (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) ............
People collecting coral and live rock …..……………….…..
7. Any other important factors we have omitted from the list?
If any, write in ______________________________________
9. Do you have any other important recommendations on how
FKNMS could reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
If any, write in ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6
Local factors exclusively
Non-local factors such as
global warming/climate change, exclusively
Non-local factors aggravated by local factors
Local factors aggravated by non-local factors
I don’t know
t
ely
Im
p
t
Ve
ry
Ex
tre
m
ort
an
Im
p
Im
p
So
ort
an
t
at
wh
No
me
ort
an
t
ort
an
Im
p
nt
rta
t Im
po
ow
Kn
n’t
Do
1
2
3
4
5
13. And how important do you consider climate change to be for the
future of the coral reefs in the Florida Keys?
po
Im
ly
me
dk
1
2
3
4
5
tre
Ex
Im
Ve
ry
po
rt
an
t
po
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Im
Im
wh
at
nt
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po
Im
So
me
nt
po
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rta
nt
nt
No
t
11. What in your opinion is the primary cause of coral bleaching?
(Check one only)
dk
ow
Highly aware
Conscious but not highly aware
Became aware on my recent visit
Still not aware (IF “Still not aware”, go to Question 12.)
All other answers proceed to Question 11.
Kn
10. Were you aware of coral bleaching before your recent visit, and if
so to what extent?
12. How important do you consider climate change to be for the
world of the 21st century? Circle the number that corresponds to your
answer.
Do
n’t
• The main signs of coral stress are coral diseases and coral
bleaching.
•
The coral organism lives in a mutually dependent (symbiotic)
relationship with tiny algae known as zooxanthellae. Their health is
highly dependent on temperature and the coral expels them when the
sea temperature gets above a certain level. This causes the coral to
turn white and weaken, the phenomenon known as coral bleaching.
•
There is general agreement among scientists that the world’s
climate is getting warmer and that this may cause large sections of
the world’s coral reefs to die.
•
There is also a general consensus that control of other stress
factors can make the coral organisms more resilient (able to resist
and/or recover from stressful events).
7
The final part of this mail survey explores a number of
alternative management actions that might be applied to
protect the Florida Keys. There is general agreement among
scientists that the impact of these actions will be to reduce coral
bleaching, but not to eliminate it.
• Coral reefs are affected by global and local forces.
• Global climate change and resulting rises in seawater
temperatures are considered a major factor in coral
bleaching.
• When corals bleach, the corals die and live coral cover
is reduced.
• Scientists have found that more coral cover and
complexity of corals is associated with more abundant
and larger fish, and many different kinds of fish and sea
life.
• Emissions of greenhouse gases are considered the
main source of global climate change and coral bleaching.
• Water pollution can stress corals and make them more
susceptible to disease or reduce their ability to recover
from stressful events such as storms or bleaching events.
• Excess nutrients can lead to algal growth, which
smothers the corals and kills them.
We present three global alternatives for coral health measured
by the amount of live coral cover, before considering local
management policies that could be applied to lessen the impact
of each global scenario. In the absence of local management
policies, living coral cover of comparable quality to what exists
today is reduced by (a) a massive 95% in 20 years (by 2027) in
the worst case scenario, (b) by 80% (intermediate case) or (c)
by 50% (best case). Case (a) assumes that there is no further
change in global strategies to reduce global warming, and that
the average global temperature will increase by 6-8oC by the
year 2100. In the intermediate case (b), the increase over the
21st century will be 4oC, and (c) using the most efficient policies
nationally and internationally, there will be a 2oC increase in the
average global temperature.
• Local forces also affect the health of coral reefs.
• Users can touch, step on, or drop their anchors on the
corals.
• Fishermen can overfish a reef and remove fish species
that eat algae that can smother and kill the corals.
8
Local Management Strategies
There are four local strategies included in the FKNMS
management plan designed to protect the health of the coral
reefs. For each strategy, we present three levels of protection.
The no change from current policy is always the low cost
strategy.
1. Education and outreach are important activities in the
FKNMS. The goal is to promote protection and sustainable use
of Sanctuary reserves, and public understanding of the nature
of marine sanctuaries. Activities include school programs, local
community meetings, signage and exhibits in visitor centers,
brochures, and TV and radio announcements. Team Ocean, a
group of local volunteers, is provided with a FKNMS boat and
fuel. They patrol the FKNMS and when they observe someone
violating FKNMS rules and regulations, they educate them
about how their activity harms the corals. Team Ocean and
education and outreach staff also visit local businesses and
distribute information on how users can better interact with
corals to avoid damages. Education is also an integral element
of other programs in the management plan and is considered a
low-cost alternative to enforcement.
2. Enforcement includes a wide range of measures such as
introducing no-anchor zones for vessels above a certain length,
reinforcement of bans on spear fishing and touching corals,
educating scuba divers and snorkelers about the reefs and
enforcing reef protection, and restricting the use of personal
vessels on or near the reef. It also involves the mooring buoy
program set up around the restricted areas within the Sanctuary.
3. Water quality is a crucial issue as reflected by the FKNMS
management plan: “Declining water quality continues to be
a major concern for the Sanctuary.” Remedies include the
development and implementation of wastewater and stormwater
plans, efficient options to reduce loading of sediment, toxics and
nutrients which damage water quality and the reef, targeting
hot spots of industrial and commercial facilities, and reducing
pollution from vessels and marinas. Improving water quality is a
significantly higher-cost activity than the other items in this list.
4. Zoning: There are currently 24 no-take zones in the FKNMS.
They cover less than five percent of FKNMS waters, but protect
about 60% of the corals. Scientific monitoring of these zones
has determined that coral health, fish abundance, size and
diversity of fish and sea life have improved in protected areas
versus non protected areas. The three levels of protection are
(a) no change; or (b) 25% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 75%: or (c) 50% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 90%.
Reflecting current FKNMS management principles of running
several parallel strategies, we have reduced these four
policy options to two by combining education and outreach,
enforcement, and water quality management into one group,
with the options of (a) no change, (b) 5% increase in annual
spending, and (c) 10% increase in annual spending. Zoning
remains a separate strategy, with three possible levels of
protection as shown above.
9
• A combination of global and local management strategies is
required to save the health of the coral reefs.
• Scientists believe that global policies to minimize the
increase in greenhouse gases are required to lower sea water
temperatures from what they would otherwise have been, and
so reduce coral bleaching.
• The more efficient the global strategy to reduce greenhouse
gases, the more cost-efficient will be local management
actions to protect the reef.
• If local forces are not addressed, the corals will not recover
from coral bleaching when or if cooler waters return.
• Policies to reduce the increase in greenhouse gases will
result in increased costs to your household through higher
utility bills and the costs of products or services.
• Local management strategies will result in increased costs
to your household if you are a resident or visitor to the Florida
Keys. Costs will be passed on in terms of higher State
and local taxes, local water/sewage bills and the costs of local
goods and services purchased in the Florida Keys
• We have worked with scientists and managers to estimate
the approximate annual costs to your household for the
different mixes of global and local management strategies
which scientists think will deliver some protection to the corals.
The costs to your household are stated in dollars per year.
Questions 14-19 contain six multiple-choice situations to which you
are asked to state your preferences and provide a brief explanation
for your choices. Each choice presents different mixes of global and
local management strategies and has an estimated cost to your
household. Each choice always includes the option of choosing the
status quo or NO CHANGE (Alt A). This alternative will cost your
household $0, but will result in 95% reduction in the amount of live coral
cover in 20 years, and local actions such as improving water quality
and increasing the no-take areas will become much less efficient.
Each choice will be similar to the following example. Alt A is
always the no-change situation as just explained. Alt B assumes an
intermediate global policy for greenhouse gas reduction, and Alt C
is based on a stronger and costlier global policy. In each Alt B and
C case, different combinations of local management strategies have
been designed which yield different coral cover outcomes at different
costs to your household, giving you three choices.
We can’t help you state your preferences, which depend on your own
experience and attitudes. We don’t know the extent of your concern
about future climate change, how much value you put on the quality
of the coral reefs relative to other attractions of the Florida Keys, and
the main activities that attracted you there including fishing, boating,
snorkeling, and land-based activities. So the example below is purely
illustrative, and has nothing whatever to do with what you actually
think. It’s just an example to assist you in answering questions 14-19.
No change
Alt A
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
10
No change
From 60% to
75%
44%
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
No change
75%
$160
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
95%
$134
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
X
X
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): “I like to fish, and clear water is important. But I
would prefer to have more open area to fish on the reefs.”
• The less efficient the global greenhouse gas strategy to control the rise in sea temperatures,
the less efficient the local management strategies will also be.
• Protecting the reef by increasing the area of no-take zones is also efficient but less so. This
relatively low-cost option will reduce reef-fishing activities (but fishing opportunities may
be unaffected or may even increase elsewhere in the FKNMS).
• The most efficient local management strategy is centered on improving water quality,
supplemented by efficient education and enforcement policies. This strategy is also the most
expensive local strategy.
Please note the following general assumptions when you make your choices:
• Making a choice to spend money on protecting the amount of living coral on the reefs will
mean that you have less money to spend on other goods and services.
11
No change
No change
Alt A
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
14. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
76%
$190
44%
(60%)
From 60% to
90%
95%
$100
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
80%
(60%)
No change
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$230
40%
(60%)
No change
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
15. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$50
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
12
No change
No change
Alt A
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
16. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
74%
$150
50%
(60%)
From 60% to
90%
95%
$140
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
17. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
77%
$230
40%
(60%)
From 60% to
75%
95%
$94
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
13
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
76%
(60%)
No change
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$194
40%
From 60% to
75%
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
18. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$130
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
19. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
78%
$230
40%
(60%)
From 60% to
90%
95%
$60
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
14
In the survey we conducted with you on-site on your recent visit to
the Florida Keys, you told us how many days you spent in the Florida
Keys over the past 12 months. In the next set of questions, we
would like you to tell us how many days less you would have visited
the Florida Keys if coral cover conditions had been worse than they
currently are.
Currently, 6% of the entire water area in the FKNMS is covered with
living coral.
20. If the living coral cover were only 3% (half the current coral
cover), how many days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys
over the past 12 months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
21. If there was no coral cover left or 0% coral cover, how many
days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys over the past 12
months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
Thank you very much for your cooperation in this important survey.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
OMB Approval #: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date:
That’s All!! If you would like to be entered into a sweepstakes to win a free
Vacation to the Florida Keys, fill out your name, address and phone number
below. All prizes will be awarded in October of 2007.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Prizes to be awarded are:
GRAND Prize
* Airfare for two from anywhere in the continental United States to the Florida Keys
* Rental car with unlimited miles for one week (seven days)
* Accommodations for two for one week (six nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
FIRST Prize
* Accommodations for two for five days (four nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for four days (three nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for three days (two nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
This is a cooperative research project of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 20 minutes including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data need, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Commerce, Clearance Officer, Office of Chief
Information Officer, Rm. 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
OMB Approval #: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date:
Coral Bleaching Version 3
THANK YOU!
for
participating in this
Recreation Survey
Dear Visitor,
During your recent trip to the Florida Keys you indicated that you
would be willing to complete this questionnaire. It is self-explanatory and
should not take long to complete. Please record your answers accurately
and legibly. Your answers represent many other people not included in this
survey effort so it is very important that you return your questionnaire.
Your answers are voluntary and confidential. Your name will never
be released to anyone unless otherwise required by law. After the completion of the project all materials identifying you as an individual will be
destroyed.
When you complete the questionnaire, please reverse-fold it so that
our return address on the GREEN PAGE in the inside is folded to the outside. Please staple or tape to seal the questionnaire and mail it back to us.
No postage is needed. Your cooperation in this effort is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Please note: It is very important that the same person who participated in
the on-site interview also complete this questionnaire.
1
Coral reefs are sensitive ecosystems. The Florida Keys, the world’s
third-largest barrier reef and the only coral reef system along the US
mainland coast, is no exception. It has long been recognized that
human use of coral reefs and adjacent coastal activities inflict strains
on these systems. Non-local factors associated with global human
use of the planet’s resources add to the strain through their impact on
air and sea temperatures.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was founded
through a Federal Act to manage issues such as the above. It is
managed cooperatively by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the State of Florida, with significant input
from local government, businesses, non-government organizations
and the general public. Your views are valuable in the formulation of
FKNMS action plans and management strategies.
This mail survey explores your knowledge, attitudes and perceptions
of the natural reefs of the Florida Keys. There are no right or wrong
answers; we simply want your honest opinion. Again, your privacy will
be protected. No one will be given information that will allow them to
identify you from survey data.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
2
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m
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el
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nt
Im
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po
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m
Im
po
rta
nt
ha
rta
ew
po
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N
ot
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on
’t
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Kn
ow
ab
ic
pl
Ap
N
ot
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nt
nt
Importance
(with each of these items during
your recent visit)
le
I.
Please read each statement and rate the importance of each
item during your recent visit in the Florida Keys area. If an item does
not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you
don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
3
fie
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
ht
ed
tis
D
el
ig
/S
a
py
H
ap
M
ix
ed
py
ap
U
nh
Te
r
rib
’t
D
on
le
Kn
/D
ow
is
le
ab
ic
pl
Ap
N
ot
d
tis
2.
In the previous question you rated the importance of a list of
items during your recent visit. Now please read each of the items on
this list and rate how satisfied you were with each during your recent
visit. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable).
Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
4
In this section we have a few special issues questions we would like
to ask you.
3. Was your recent visit your first visit to the Florida Keys?
_____ Yes (go to Question 6) _____ No (go to Question 4)
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
D
el
ig
/S
a
py
H
ap
ed
py
M
ix
ap
le
U
nh
Te
r
rib
ht
ed
tis
is
/D
ow
’t
D
on
N
ot
Ap
pl
Kn
ic
ab
le
5. Please cast your mind back to your previous most recent visit and
rate how satisfied you were then with the same items in the Florida
Keys area. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
d
tis
fie
4. When was your previous most recent visit to the Florida Keys?
20+ years ago
10-19 years ago
5-9 years ago
More recently
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
5
Spear fishers ………………………………….......................
8. What in your opinion should the Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) do to
reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
Please rank your first recommendation=1, second=2, and so on for all
recommendations you consider important. Leave those blank that
you consider unimportant.
Stringent control of pollutants to preserve water quality..........
Scuba divers ………………………………...........................
Enforced training/certification of scuba divers and snorkelers
Urban development ………………………………….……….
Prohibiting spear fishing..........................................................
Ships and boats grounding on reefs, discharging pollutants
Stronger shipping regulations..................................................
Hurricanes .........................................................................
Training, workshops and school programs..............................
Solid waste disposal (sewage) …..…………………………
Better management of waterways...........................................
Climate change (global warming etc) ………………………
More no-catch fishing zones in the FKNMS............................
Stormwater and wastewater runoff ....……………………...
6. What do you think are the greatest threats to the reefs in the
Florida Keys in the following list? Please rank greatest threat=1,
second-greatest threat=2, third-greatest threat=3, and so on for as
many factors as you consider important threats. Leave blank those
you consider unimportant.
Overfishing by commercial and recreational fishers ……...
Number of tourists ……………………………………......…..
Chemical runoff (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) ............
People collecting coral and live rock …..……………….…..
7. Any other important factors we have omitted from the list?
If any, write in ______________________________________
9. Do you have any other important recommendations on how
FKNMS could reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
If any, write in ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6
Local factors exclusively
Non-local factors such as
global warming/climate change, exclusively
Non-local factors aggravated by local factors
Local factors aggravated by non-local factors
I don’t know
t
ely
Im
p
t
Ve
ry
Ex
tre
m
ort
an
Im
p
Im
p
So
ort
an
t
at
wh
No
me
ort
an
t
ort
an
Im
p
nt
rta
t Im
po
ow
Kn
n’t
Do
1
2
3
4
5
13. And how important do you consider climate change to be for the
future of the coral reefs in the Florida Keys?
po
Im
ly
me
dk
1
2
3
4
5
tre
Ex
Im
Ve
ry
po
rt
an
t
po
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Im
Im
wh
at
nt
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po
Im
So
me
nt
po
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rta
nt
nt
No
t
11. What in your opinion is the primary cause of coral bleaching?
(Check one only)
dk
ow
Highly aware
Conscious but not highly aware
Became aware on my recent visit
Still not aware (IF “Still not aware”, go to Question 12.)
All other answers proceed to Question 11.
Kn
10. Were you aware of coral bleaching before your recent visit, and if
so to what extent?
12. How important do you consider climate change to be for the
world of the 21st century? Circle the number that corresponds to your
answer.
Do
n’t
• The main signs of coral stress are coral diseases and coral
bleaching.
•
The coral organism lives in a mutually dependent (symbiotic)
relationship with tiny algae known as zooxanthellae. Their health is
highly dependent on temperature and the coral expels them when the
sea temperature gets above a certain level. This causes the coral to
turn white and weaken, the phenomenon known as coral bleaching.
•
There is general agreement among scientists that the world’s
climate is getting warmer and that this may cause large sections of
the world’s coral reefs to die.
•
There is also a general consensus that control of other stress
factors can make the coral organisms more resilient (able to resist
and/or recover from stressful events).
7
The final part of this mail survey explores a number of
alternative management actions that might be applied to
protect the Florida Keys. There is general agreement among
scientists that the impact of these actions will be to reduce coral
bleaching, but not to eliminate it.
• Coral reefs are affected by global and local forces.
• Global climate change and resulting rises in seawater
temperatures are considered a major factor in coral
bleaching.
• When corals bleach, the corals die and live coral cover
is reduced.
• Scientists have found that more coral cover and
complexity of corals is associated with more abundant
and larger fish, and many different kinds of fish and sea
life.
• Emissions of greenhouse gases are considered the
main source of global climate change and coral bleaching.
• Water pollution can stress corals and make them more
susceptible to disease or reduce their ability to recover
from stressful events such as storms or bleaching events.
• Excess nutrients can lead to algal growth, which
smothers the corals and kills them.
We present three global alternatives for coral health measured
by the amount of live coral cover, before considering local
management policies that could be applied to lessen the impact
of each global scenario. In the absence of local management
policies, living coral cover of comparable quality to what exists
today is reduced by (a) a massive 95% in 20 years (by 2027) in
the worst case scenario, (b) by 80% (intermediate case) or (c)
by 50% (best case). Case (a) assumes that there is no further
change in global strategies to reduce global warming, and that
the average global temperature will increase by 6-8oC by the
year 2100. In the intermediate case (b), the increase over the
21st century will be 4oC, and (c) using the most efficient policies
nationally and internationally, there will be a 2oC increase in the
average global temperature.
• Local forces also affect the health of coral reefs.
• Users can touch, step on, or drop their anchors on the
corals.
• Fishermen can overfish a reef and remove fish species
that eat algae that can smother and kill the corals.
8
Local Management Strategies
There are four local strategies included in the FKNMS
management plan designed to protect the health of the coral
reefs. For each strategy, we present three levels of protection.
The no change from current policy is always the low cost
strategy.
1. Education and outreach are important activities in the
FKNMS. The goal is to promote protection and sustainable use
of Sanctuary reserves, and public understanding of the nature
of marine sanctuaries. Activities include school programs, local
community meetings, signage and exhibits in visitor centers,
brochures, and TV and radio announcements. Team Ocean, a
group of local volunteers, is provided with a FKNMS boat and
fuel. They patrol the FKNMS and when they observe someone
violating FKNMS rules and regulations, they educate them
about how their activity harms the corals. Team Ocean and
education and outreach staff also visit local businesses and
distribute information on how users can better interact with
corals to avoid damages. Education is also an integral element
of other programs in the management plan and is considered a
low-cost alternative to enforcement.
2. Enforcement includes a wide range of measures such as
introducing no-anchor zones for vessels above a certain length,
reinforcement of bans on spear fishing and touching corals,
educating scuba divers and snorkelers about the reefs and
enforcing reef protection, and restricting the use of personal
vessels on or near the reef. It also involves the mooring buoy
program set up around the restricted areas within the Sanctuary.
3. Water quality is a crucial issue as reflected by the FKNMS
management plan: “Declining water quality continues to be
a major concern for the Sanctuary.” Remedies include the
development and implementation of wastewater and stormwater
plans, efficient options to reduce loading of sediment, toxics and
nutrients which damage water quality and the reef, targeting
hot spots of industrial and commercial facilities, and reducing
pollution from vessels and marinas. Improving water quality is a
significantly higher-cost activity than the other items in this list.
4. Zoning: There are currently 24 no-take zones in the FKNMS.
They cover less than five percent of FKNMS waters, but protect
about 60% of the corals. Scientific monitoring of these zones
has determined that coral health, fish abundance, size and
diversity of fish and sea life have improved in protected areas
versus non protected areas. The three levels of protection are
(a) no change; or (b) 25% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 75%: or (c) 50% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 90%.
Reflecting current FKNMS management principles of running
several parallel strategies, we have reduced these four
policy options to two by combining education and outreach,
enforcement, and water quality management into one group,
with the options of (a) no change, (b) 5% increase in annual
spending, and (c) 10% increase in annual spending. Zoning
remains a separate strategy, with three possible levels of
protection as shown above.
9
• A combination of global and local management strategies is
required to save the health of the coral reefs.
• Scientists believe that global policies to minimize the
increase in greenhouse gases are required to lower sea water
temperatures from what they would otherwise have been, and
so reduce coral bleaching.
• The more efficient the global strategy to reduce greenhouse
gases, the more cost-efficient will be local management
actions to protect the reef.
• If local forces are not addressed, the corals will not recover
from coral bleaching when or if cooler waters return.
• Policies to reduce the increase in greenhouse gases will
result in increased costs to your household through higher
utility bills and the costs of products or services.
• Local management strategies will result in increased costs
to your household if you are a resident or visitor to the Florida
Keys. Costs will be passed on in terms of higher State
and local taxes, local water/sewage bills and the costs of local
goods and services purchased in the Florida Keys
• We have worked with scientists and managers to estimate
the approximate annual costs to your household for the
different mixes of global and local management strategies
which scientists think will deliver some protection to the corals.
The costs to your household are stated in dollars per year.
Questions 14-19 contain six multiple-choice situations to which you
are asked to state your preferences and provide a brief explanation
for your choices. Each choice presents different mixes of global and
local management strategies and has an estimated cost to your
household. Each choice always includes the option of choosing the
status quo or NO CHANGE (Alt A). This alternative will cost your
household $0, but will result in 95% reduction in the amount of live coral
cover in 20 years, and local actions such as improving water quality
and increasing the no-take areas will become much less efficient.
Each choice will be similar to the following example. Alt A is
always the no-change situation as just explained. Alt B assumes an
intermediate global policy for greenhouse gas reduction, and Alt C
is based on a stronger and costlier global policy. In each Alt B and
C case, different combinations of local management strategies have
been designed which yield different coral cover outcomes at different
costs to your household, giving you three choices.
We can’t help you state your preferences, which depend on your own
experience and attitudes. We don’t know the extent of your concern
about future climate change, how much value you put on the quality
of the coral reefs relative to other attractions of the Florida Keys, and
the main activities that attracted you there including fishing, boating,
snorkeling, and land-based activities. So the example below is purely
illustrative, and has nothing whatever to do with what you actually
think. It’s just an example to assist you in answering questions 14-19.
No change
Alt A
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
10
No change
From 60% to
75%
44%
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
No change
75%
$240
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
95%
$201
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
X
X
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): “I like to fish, and clear water is important. But I
would prefer to have more open area to fish on the reefs.”
• The less efficient the global greenhouse gas strategy to control the rise in sea temperatures,
the less efficient the local management strategies will also be.
• Protecting the reef by increasing the area of no-take zones is also efficient but less so. This
relatively low-cost option will reduce reef-fishing activities (but fishing opportunities may
be unaffected or may even increase elsewhere in the FKNMS).
• The most efficient local management strategy is centered on improving water quality,
supplemented by efficient education and enforcement policies. This strategy is also the most
expensive local strategy.
Please note the following general assumptions when you make your choices:
• Making a choice to spend money on protecting the amount of living coral on the reefs will
mean that you have less money to spend on other goods and services.
11
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
75%
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
40%
From 60% to
75%
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
14. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
79%
$291
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$81
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
78%
(60%)
No change
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$345
40%
(60%)
No change
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
15. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$135
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
12
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
75%
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
46%
From 60% to
75%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
16. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
75%
$231
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$201
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
No change
Medium
reductions
Alt B
No change
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
17. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
No change
78%
$225
50%
(60%)
From 60% to
90%
95%
$90
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
13
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
75%
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
34%
From 60% to
50%
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
18. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
75%
$360
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$201
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
75%
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
44%
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
19. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
77%
$240
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$141
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
14
In the survey we conducted with you on-site on your recent visit to
the Florida Keys, you told us how many days you spent in the Florida
Keys over the past 12 months. In the next set of questions, we
would like you to tell us how many days less you would have visited
the Florida Keys if coral cover conditions had been worse than they
currently are.
Currently, 6% of the entire water area in the FKNMS is covered with
living coral.
20. If the living coral cover were only 3% (half the current coral
cover), how many days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys
over the past 12 months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
21. If there was no coral cover left or 0% coral cover, how many
days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys over the past 12
months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
Thank you very much for your cooperation in this important survey.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
OMB Approval #: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date:
That’s All!! If you would like to be entered into a sweepstakes to win a free
Vacation to the Florida Keys, fill out your name, address and phone number
below. All prizes will be awarded in October of 2007.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Prizes to be awarded are:
GRAND Prize
* Airfare for two from anywhere in the continental United States to the Florida Keys
* Rental car with unlimited miles for one week (seven days)
* Accommodations for two for one week (six nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
FIRST Prize
* Accommodations for two for five days (four nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for four days (three nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for three days (two nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
This is a cooperative research project of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 20 minutes including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data need, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Commerce, Clearance Officer, Office of Chief
Information Officer, Rm. 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.
OMB Approval #: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date:
Coral Bleaching Version 4
THANK YOU!
for
participating in this
Recreation Survey
Dear Visitor,
During your recent trip to the Florida Keys you indicated that you
would be willing to complete this questionnaire. It is self-explanatory and
should not take long to complete. Please record your answers accurately
and legibly. Your answers represent many other people not included in this
survey effort so it is very important that you return your questionnaire.
Your answers are voluntary and confidential. Your name will never
be released to anyone unless otherwise required by law. After the completion of the project all materials identifying you as an individual will be
destroyed.
When you complete the questionnaire, please reverse-fold it so that
our return address on the GREEN PAGE in the inside is folded to the outside. Please staple or tape to seal the questionnaire and mail it back to us.
No postage is needed. Your cooperation in this effort is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Please note: It is very important that the same person who participated in
the on-site interview also complete this questionnaire.
1
Coral reefs are sensitive ecosystems. The Florida Keys, the world’s
third-largest barrier reef and the only coral reef system along the US
mainland coast, is no exception. It has long been recognized that
human use of coral reefs and adjacent coastal activities inflict strains
on these systems. Non-local factors associated with global human
use of the planet’s resources add to the strain through their impact on
air and sea temperatures.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was founded
through a Federal Act to manage issues such as the above. It is
managed cooperatively by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the State of Florida, with significant input
from local government, businesses, non-government organizations
and the general public. Your views are valuable in the formulation of
FKNMS action plans and management strategies.
This mail survey explores your knowledge, attitudes and perceptions
of the natural reefs of the Florida Keys. There are no right or wrong
answers; we simply want your honest opinion. Again, your privacy will
be protected. No one will be given information that will allow them to
identify you from survey data.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
2
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Importance
(with each of these items during
your recent visit)
le
I.
Please read each statement and rate the importance of each
item during your recent visit in the Florida Keys area. If an item does
not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you
don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
3
fie
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
ht
ed
tis
D
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ig
/S
a
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H
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M
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ed
py
ap
U
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Te
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rib
’t
D
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Kn
/D
ow
is
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ab
ic
pl
Ap
N
ot
d
tis
2.
In the previous question you rated the importance of a list of
items during your recent visit. Now please read each of the items on
this list and rate how satisfied you were with each during your recent
visit. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable).
Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
4
In this section we have a few special issues questions we would like
to ask you.
3. Was your recent visit your first visit to the Florida Keys?
_____ Yes (go to Question 6) _____ No (go to Question 4)
d
SATISFACTION
(with each of these items during
your recent visit in the Florida Keys)
fie
sa
D
el
ig
/S
a
py
H
ap
ed
py
M
ix
ap
le
U
nh
Te
r
rib
ht
ed
tis
is
/D
ow
’t
D
on
N
ot
Ap
pl
Kn
ic
ab
le
5. Please cast your mind back to your previous most recent visit and
rate how satisfied you were then with the same items in the Florida
Keys area. If an item does not apply, indicate by circling n/a (not applicable). Likewise, if you don’t know, circle (dk).
d
tis
fie
4. When was your previous most recent visit to the Florida Keys?
20+ years ago
10-19 years ago
5-9 years ago
More recently
A)
Clear water (high visibility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
B)
Amount of living coral on reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
C)
Many different kinds of fish and sea life to view . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
D)
Opportunity to view large wildlife: (manatees, whales,
dolphins, sea turtles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
E)
Large numbers of fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
F)
Specially protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
G)
Mooring buoys near coral reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
H)
Maps, brochures and other tourist information . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
I)
Customer service and friendliness of people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
J)
Value for the price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
n/a
dk
1
2
3
4
5
5
Spear fishers ………………………………….......................
8. What in your opinion should the Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) do to
reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
Please rank your first recommendation=1, second=2, and so on for all
recommendations you consider important. Leave those blank that
you consider unimportant.
Stringent control of pollutants to preserve water quality..........
Scuba divers ………………………………...........................
Enforced training/certification of scuba divers and snorkelers
Urban development ………………………………….……….
Prohibiting spear fishing..........................................................
Ships and boats grounding on reefs, discharging pollutants
Stronger shipping regulations..................................................
Hurricanes .........................................................................
Training, workshops and school programs..............................
Solid waste disposal (sewage) …..…………………………
Better management of waterways...........................................
Climate change (global warming etc) ………………………
More no-catch fishing zones in the FKNMS............................
Stormwater and wastewater runoff ....……………………...
6. What do you think are the greatest threats to the reefs in the
Florida Keys in the following list? Please rank greatest threat=1,
second-greatest threat=2, third-greatest threat=3, and so on for as
many factors as you consider important threats. Leave blank those
you consider unimportant.
Overfishing by commercial and recreational fishers ……...
Number of tourists ……………………………………......…..
Chemical runoff (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) ............
People collecting coral and live rock …..……………….…..
7. Any other important factors we have omitted from the list?
If any, write in ______________________________________
9. Do you have any other important recommendations on how
FKNMS could reduce the main stress factors on the reef?
If any, write in ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6
Local factors exclusively
Non-local factors such as
global warming/climate change, exclusively
Non-local factors aggravated by local factors
Local factors aggravated by non-local factors
I don’t know
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1
2
3
4
5
13. And how important do you consider climate change to be for the
future of the coral reefs in the Florida Keys?
po
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ly
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dk
1
2
3
4
5
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rta
rta
nt
nt
No
t
11. What in your opinion is the primary cause of coral bleaching?
(Check one only)
dk
ow
Highly aware
Conscious but not highly aware
Became aware on my recent visit
Still not aware (IF “Still not aware”, go to Question 12.)
All other answers proceed to Question 11.
Kn
10. Were you aware of coral bleaching before your recent visit, and if
so to what extent?
12. How important do you consider climate change to be for the
world of the 21st century? Circle the number that corresponds to your
answer.
Do
n’t
• The main signs of coral stress are coral diseases and coral
bleaching.
•
The coral organism lives in a mutually dependent (symbiotic)
relationship with tiny algae known as zooxanthellae. Their health is
highly dependent on temperature and the coral expels them when the
sea temperature gets above a certain level. This causes the coral to
turn white and weaken, the phenomenon known as coral bleaching.
•
There is general agreement among scientists that the world’s
climate is getting warmer and that this may cause large sections of
the world’s coral reefs to die.
•
There is also a general consensus that control of other stress
factors can make the coral organisms more resilient (able to resist
and/or recover from stressful events).
7
The final part of this mail survey explores a number of
alternative management actions that might be applied to
protect the Florida Keys. There is general agreement among
scientists that the impact of these actions will be to reduce coral
bleaching, but not to eliminate it.
• Coral reefs are affected by global and local forces.
• Global climate change and resulting rises in seawater
temperatures are considered a major factor in coral
bleaching.
• When corals bleach, the corals die and live coral cover
is reduced.
• Scientists have found that more coral cover and
complexity of corals is associated with more abundant
and larger fish, and many different kinds of fish and sea
life.
• Emissions of greenhouse gases are considered the
main source of global climate change and coral bleaching.
• Water pollution can stress corals and make them more
susceptible to disease or reduce their ability to recover
from stressful events such as storms or bleaching events.
• Excess nutrients can lead to algal growth, which
smothers the corals and kills them.
We present three global alternatives for coral health measured
by the amount of live coral cover, before considering local
management policies that could be applied to lessen the impact
of each global scenario. In the absence of local management
policies, living coral cover of comparable quality to what exists
today is reduced by (a) a massive 95% in 20 years (by 2027) in
the worst case scenario, (b) by 80% (intermediate case) or (c)
by 50% (best case). Case (a) assumes that there is no further
change in global strategies to reduce global warming, and that
the average global temperature will increase by 6-8oC by the
year 2100. In the intermediate case (b), the increase over the
21st century will be 4oC, and (c) using the most efficient policies
nationally and internationally, there will be a 2oC increase in the
average global temperature.
• Local forces also affect the health of coral reefs.
• Users can touch, step on, or drop their anchors on the
corals.
• Fishermen can overfish a reef and remove fish species
that eat algae that can smother and kill the corals.
8
Local Management Strategies
There are four local strategies included in the FKNMS
management plan designed to protect the health of the coral
reefs. For each strategy, we present three levels of protection.
The no change from current policy is always the low cost
strategy.
1. Education and outreach are important activities in the
FKNMS. The goal is to promote protection and sustainable use
of Sanctuary reserves, and public understanding of the nature
of marine sanctuaries. Activities include school programs, local
community meetings, signage and exhibits in visitor centers,
brochures, and TV and radio announcements. Team Ocean, a
group of local volunteers, is provided with a FKNMS boat and
fuel. They patrol the FKNMS and when they observe someone
violating FKNMS rules and regulations, they educate them
about how their activity harms the corals. Team Ocean and
education and outreach staff also visit local businesses and
distribute information on how users can better interact with
corals to avoid damages. Education is also an integral element
of other programs in the management plan and is considered a
low-cost alternative to enforcement.
2. Enforcement includes a wide range of measures such as
introducing no-anchor zones for vessels above a certain length,
reinforcement of bans on spear fishing and touching corals,
educating scuba divers and snorkelers about the reefs and
enforcing reef protection, and restricting the use of personal
vessels on or near the reef. It also involves the mooring buoy
program set up around the restricted areas within the Sanctuary.
3. Water quality is a crucial issue as reflected by the FKNMS
management plan: “Declining water quality continues to be
a major concern for the Sanctuary.” Remedies include the
development and implementation of wastewater and stormwater
plans, efficient options to reduce loading of sediment, toxics and
nutrients which damage water quality and the reef, targeting
hot spots of industrial and commercial facilities, and reducing
pollution from vessels and marinas. Improving water quality is a
significantly higher-cost activity than the other items in this list.
4. Zoning: There are currently 24 no-take zones in the FKNMS.
They cover less than five percent of FKNMS waters, but protect
about 60% of the corals. Scientific monitoring of these zones
has determined that coral health, fish abundance, size and
diversity of fish and sea life have improved in protected areas
versus non protected areas. The three levels of protection are
(a) no change; or (b) 25% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 75%: or (c) 50% increase in coral cover protected,
from 60% to 90%.
Reflecting current FKNMS management principles of running
several parallel strategies, we have reduced these four
policy options to two by combining education and outreach,
enforcement, and water quality management into one group,
with the options of (a) no change, (b) 5% increase in annual
spending, and (c) 10% increase in annual spending. Zoning
remains a separate strategy, with three possible levels of
protection as shown above.
9
• A combination of global and local management strategies is
required to save the health of the coral reefs.
• Scientists believe that global policies to minimize the
increase in greenhouse gases are required to lower sea water
temperatures from what they would otherwise have been, and
so reduce coral bleaching.
• The more efficient the global strategy to reduce greenhouse
gases, the more cost-efficient will be local management
actions to protect the reef.
• If local forces are not addressed, the corals will not recover
from coral bleaching when or if cooler waters return.
• Policies to reduce the increase in greenhouse gases will
result in increased costs to your household through higher
utility bills and the costs of products or services.
• Local management strategies will result in increased costs
to your household if you are a resident or visitor to the Florida
Keys. Costs will be passed on in terms of higher State
and local taxes, local water/sewage bills and the costs of local
goods and services purchased in the Florida Keys
• We have worked with scientists and managers to estimate
the approximate annual costs to your household for the
different mixes of global and local management strategies
which scientists think will deliver some protection to the corals.
The costs to your household are stated in dollars per year.
Questions 14-19 contain six multiple-choice situations to which you
are asked to state your preferences and provide a brief explanation
for your choices. Each choice presents different mixes of global and
local management strategies and has an estimated cost to your
household. Each choice always includes the option of choosing the
status quo or NO CHANGE (Alt A). This alternative will cost your
household $0, but will result in 95% reduction in the amount of live coral
cover in 20 years, and local actions such as improving water quality
and increasing the no-take areas will become much less efficient.
Each choice will be similar to the following example. Alt A is
always the no-change situation as just explained. Alt B assumes an
intermediate global policy for greenhouse gas reduction, and Alt C
is based on a stronger and costlier global policy. In each Alt B and
C case, different combinations of local management strategies have
been designed which yield different coral cover outcomes at different
costs to your household, giving you three choices.
We can’t help you state your preferences, which depend on your own
experience and attitudes. We don’t know the extent of your concern
about future climate change, how much value you put on the quality
of the coral reefs relative to other attractions of the Florida Keys, and
the main activities that attracted you there including fishing, boating,
snorkeling, and land-based activities. So the example below is purely
illustrative, and has nothing whatever to do with what you actually
think. It’s just an example to assist you in answering questions 14-19.
No change
Alt A
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
10
No change
From 60% to
75%
44%
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
No change
75%
$320
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
95%
$268
(60%)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
X
X
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): “I like to fish, and clear water is important. But I
would prefer to have more open area to fish on the reefs.”
• The less efficient the global greenhouse gas strategy to control the rise in sea temperatures,
the less efficient the local management strategies will also be.
• Protecting the reef by increasing the area of no-take zones is also efficient but less so. This
relatively low-cost option will reduce reef-fishing activities (but fishing opportunities may
be unaffected or may even increase elsewhere in the FKNMS).
• The most efficient local management strategy is centered on improving water quality,
supplemented by efficient education and enforcement policies. This strategy is also the most
expensive local strategy.
Please note the following general assumptions when you make your choices:
• Making a choice to spend money on protecting the amount of living coral on the reefs will
mean that you have less money to spend on other goods and services.
11
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
78%
(60%)
No change
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$400
38%
From 60% to
90%
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
14. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$108
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
90%
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
44%
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
15. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
76%
$320
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$200
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
12
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
78%
(60%)
No change
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$388
40%
From 60% to
75%
+5%
Large reductions
Alt C
16. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$108
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
76%
(60%)
No change
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$468
36%
From 60% to
75%
+10%
Large reductions
Alt C
17. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$260
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
13
No change
No change
Alt A
From 60% to
90%
+10%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
44%
From 60% to
90%
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
18. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
No change
74%
$320
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
95%
$280
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
(60%)
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
(60%)
No change
No change
No change
Alt A
78%
(60%)
No change
+5%
Medium
reductions
Alt B
$300
50%
(60%)
No change
No change
Large reductions
Alt C
19. Suppose you could only choose between the following three alternative combinations of global and local
strategies, which would be your most preferred alternative and which would be your least preferred alternative?
95%
$108
Global policy for reductions in greenhouse gases
(compared with no change in policy as in Alt A.)
Coral cover loss by 2027, Florida Keys
$0
Increase in no-take zoning of coral reef areas (percent
of coral reefs protected)
Added spending on water quality, education and
outreach, and enforcement
Local Florida Keys Management Strategies
Total annual cost to your household for global
and local strategies
Your most preferred alternative (check one)?
Your least preferred alternative (check one)?
Please explain briefly why you made this choice (for example): ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
14
In the survey we conducted with you on-site on your recent visit to
the Florida Keys, you told us how many days you spent in the Florida
Keys over the past 12 months. In the next set of questions, we
would like you to tell us how many days less you would have visited
the Florida Keys if coral cover conditions had been worse than they
currently are.
Currently, 6% of the entire water area in the FKNMS is covered with
living coral.
20. If the living coral cover were only 3% (half the current coral
cover), how many days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys
over the past 12 months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
21. If there was no coral cover left or 0% coral cover, how many
days less would you have spent in the Florida Keys over the past 12
months?
No change
_____ (# of days less)
I wouldn’t have visited at all
I don’t know
Thank you very much for your cooperation in this important survey.
[This page intentionally left blank. Proceed to next
page.]
OMB Approval #: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date:
That’s All!! If you would like to be entered into a sweepstakes to win a free
Vacation to the Florida Keys, fill out your name, address and phone number
below. All prizes will be awarded in October of 2007.
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Prizes to be awarded are:
GRAND Prize
* Airfare for two from anywhere in the continental United States to the Florida Keys
* Rental car with unlimited miles for one week (seven days)
* Accommodations for two for one week (six nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
FIRST Prize
* Accommodations for two for five days (four nights)
* Two complimentary “activities” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for four days (three nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
* Complimentary dinner for two at local restaurant
SECOND Prize
* Accommodations for two for three days (two nights)
* One complimentary “activity” for two (i.e., diving trip, fishing charter, sunset sail,
etc.)
This is a cooperative research project of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 20 minutes including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data need, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Commerce, Clearance Officer, Office of Chief
Information Officer, Rm. 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Modified | 2006-12-26 |
| File Created | 2006-12-07 |