PWS Subsistance Harvest Patterns Survey - Individuals

OMB 0596-NEW (Exp. xx/2012)

Subsistence Harvest Patterns in Prince William Sound

Background

The project will create a map database characterizing the distribution of subsistence harvest activities by season within the Prince William Sound. This database will include data collected from harvesting households in the Prince William Sound communities of Chenega Bay, Cordova, Tatitlek, and Whitter. Data collected through partnerships with groups or individuals within each of these communities. Harvest activities included in this database include such resources as bottom fish, deer, salmon, mountain goat, marine mammals, shellfish, and plants harvested commonly in the Prince William Sound region. The resulting database will be compared to the mapped distributions of both private and commercial recreation use activities throughout Prince William Sound, to better understand the interaction between these activities. The results of this assessment will assist in the development of recreation management practices aimed at minimizing user conflict and displacement of subsistence users from traditional harvest areas in Prince William Sound.

Burden and Nondiscrimination Statements

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0596-New. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

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To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Introduction

The following questions use classic household interview procedures (e.g., population census). The interviewer seeks an appointment with the heads of households participating in subsistence harvesting within the target community. Questions aim to provide researchers with an understanding of current patterns of subsistence harvest in the Prince William Sound in relation to seasons and general locations important for harvest of resources by individual households. Information will aid researchers in assessing the existing degree of possible conflict or competition between subsistence and other uses, as well as general observations about harvest conditions in Prince William Sound.

Answers entered into a table, see example below, which relates to a map that divides Prince William Sound into a series of grid cells.

On the example table below, the text in bold represents the questions asked by the interview, the text in italics describes where the information is recorded on the attached table. An example is included for clarity.

Interviews anticipated to average 30 minutes, depending on the diversity of resources harvested by individual households.

Blank table: PWS Subsistence Harvest Patterns

Resource	Total Years of Harvest A) < 5; B) 5 – 10; C) 10-20; D) >20	Cell # (each cell where attempted harvest occurs)	Harvest Season by Cell A) Spring = 4/1 – 6/14 B) Summer = 6/15 – 8/31 C) Fall = 9/1 – 12/31 D) Winter = 1/1 – 3/31	Total Days each Cell used each Year	Years Each Cell Used A) < 5; B) 5 – 10; C) 10-20; D) >20	Has your Use Change A = General change in resource availability B = Competing local/subsistence harvest C = Competing commercial harvest D = Competing commercial sport harvest E = Presence of non-consumptive user F = Other, please specify	Areas No Longer Used by Cell # A = General change in resource availability B = Competing local/subsistence harvest C = Competing commercial harvest D = Competing commercial sport harvest E = Presence of non-consumptive user F = Other, please specify

Example:

Resource	Total Years of Harvest A) < 5; B) 5 – 10; C) 10-20; D) >20	Cell # (each cell where attempted harvest occurs)	Harvest Season by Cell A) Spring = 4/1 – 6/14 B) Summer = 6/15 – 8/31 C) Fall = 9/1 – 12/31 D) Winter = 1/1 – 3/31	Total Days each Cell used each Year	Years Each Cell Used A) < 5; B) 5 – 10; C) 10-20; D) >20	Has your Use Change A = General change in resource availability B = Competing local/subsistence harvest C = Competing commercial harvest D = Competing commercial sport harvest E = Presence of non-consumptive user F = Other, please specify	Areas No Longer Used by Cell # A = General change in resource availability B = Competing local/subsistence harvest C = Competing commercial harvest D = Competing commercial sport harvest E = Presence of non-consumptive user F = Other, please specify
A	C	100	A	5	C	A	91-A, C 95-A
		101	A, B	5	C
		102	B, C	10	B	B, C
B	C	98	A	5	C
		99	A	5	B
		100	A, B	5	C	B
C	A	200	D	3	A
		201	D	3	B	D

Survey Questions

1. In a typical year, which of the following resources do you attempt to harvest?

   1. Salmon

   2. Halibut

   3. Rockfish or Cod

   4. Other fish

   5. Deer

   6. Birds/Eggs

   7. Marine Mammal

   8. Goat

   9. Bear

   10. Furbearers (river otter, mink, etc.)

   11. Invertebrates (shellfish, shrimp, etc.)

   12. Berries

   13. Other Food or Medicinal Plants, Berries

   14. Building/manufacturing materials

   15. Other (please specify)

[Each recorded in column 1 of table: Resource]

2. How many years has your household been attempting to harvest each resource you selected in Prince William Sound?

   1. < 5

   2. 5 – 10

   3. 10 – 20

   4. > 20

[Recorded once in Column 2: Years of Harvest]

3. For each resource selected, please review the map and note which areas (grid cell numbers) your household uses.

[See example map next page – actual map used will be much larger]

[Recorded in Column 3: Area #]

4. For each cell identified for this resource, please respond to the following four (4) questions.

The season or seasons, your household uses this area for this resource.

1. Spring = 4/1 – 6/14

2. Summer = 6/15 – 8/31

3. Fall = 9/1 – 12/31

4. Winter = 1/1 – 3/31

[Recorded in Column 4: Season]

The approximate number of days your household uses this area to harvest that resource?

[Recorded in Column 5: Total Days]

The length of time your household has been harvesting the resource in this area

1. < 5

2. 5 – 10

3. 10 – 20

4. > 20

[Recorded in Column 6: Years of Use]

If your household’s use of this area has changed in recent years, please select the reasons that best explain this change.

1. General change in resource availability

2. Competing local/subsistence harvest

3. Competing commercial harvest

4. Competing commercial sport harvest

5. Presence of non-consumptive user

6. Other, please specify

[Recorded in Column 7: Change in Use]

5. Are there areas that you no longer harvest this resource? If so, for each cell listed, please list those cell numbers and the reasons that best explain why.

   1. General change in resource availability

   2. Competing local/subsistence harvest

   3. Competing commercial harvest

   4. Competing commercial sport harvest

   5. Presence of non-consumptive user

   6. Other, please specify

[Recorded in Column 8: Areas no longer used]

6. If you have seen changes in resource availability in Prince William Sound, could you generally describe those changes?

[Response recorded]

7. Is there anything else regarding subsistence harvesting in Prince William Sound that you feel we should know about?

[Response recorded]

2