Large Pelagics Telephone Survey - Puerto Rico only

Large Pelagics Telephone Survey - Puerto Rico only version
Q1. Introduction

Hello, my name is [INTERVIEWER NAME] and I’m calling from [CONTRACTOR NAME
AND LOCATION]. We are interviewing marine fishermen for a study sponsored by the
National Marine Fisheries Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Our records show that
the [VESSEL NAME] has an HMS permit and is owned or operated by [RESPONDENT
NAME]. May I please speak with [RESPONDENT NAME]?
[1] Respondent is available Continue to Q2
[2] Proxy is available (after Wed. only) Go to Q4
[3] Respondent/Proxy NOT available Go to Q3
[4] Respondent deceased/disabled Go to Screener Q2
Q2. Survey description

We are calling people with HMS permits to ask them a few questions about fishing trips. This
study is being conducted under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act. Your
answers will be kept confidential, and data from this survey may only be released in
accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974.
Q3. Callback

What day would be the best to call back? [Record day]
Who should I ask for when I call back? [Record respondent]
Go to END
Q4. Proxy introduction (Not available on Mondays and Tuesdays)

Perhaps you can help me. We are surveying all people with HMS permits to ask a few questions
about their fishing tips targeting large fish such as tunas, sharks, billfish, dolphin, amberjack or
wahoo. This study is being conducted under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention
Act. Your answers will be kept confidential, and data from this survey may only be released in
accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974. Do you know if the boat was used in the last two
weeks to fish for any of these species?
[1] Yes (Proxy says boat took no trips) Continue to screener question 1
[2] No (Proxy says boat took not trips) Go to END
[3] Proxy does not know; call back for captain Return to Q3
[4] Boat is Inactive Go to Inactive vessel
Q5. Confirm proxy status: This question will determine if the proxy respondent is qualified to answer the
questionnaire.

Can you answer questions about fishing trips taken last week, that is Mon.-Sun., [RECALL
DATES], by the [VESSEL NAME]?
[1] Yes - Go to Screener Q1
[2] No - Return to Q3
Screener question 1. Confirm the captain’s name and ownership status

IF RESPONDENT: Are you the captain or owner of the [VESSEL NAME]?
IF PROXY: Is [RESPONDENT] still the captain or owner of the [VESSEL NAME]?
[1] Yes Go to Screener Q4 (see “Note” below)
[2] No Continue to Screener Q2
[3] Boat sold Continue to Screener Q2
Screener question 2. New owner name

Do you know the name of the owner or captain of the [VESSEL NAME]?
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[1] Yes Record new owner/captain’s name - Continue.
[2] No Thank respondent and Terminate.
Screener question 3. New owner phone number

Do you know the telephone number of the owner or captain?
[1] Yes Record new owner/captain’s telephone number.
[2] No Thank respondent and Terminate.
Screener question 4. Permit category

Our records show that the [VESSEL NAME] has an Angling category HMS permit. Is that
correct?
Alternatively:

Our records show that the [VESSEL NAME] has a Charter/headboat category HMS permit. Is
that correct?
[1] Yes Continue
[2] No Go to Screener question 4A
[9] DK/RF
Screener question 4A. Permit category

What category HMS permit does the vessel have?
[1] General [3] Charter/headboat
[2] Angling [9] DK/RF
Screener question 5. Do you/the captain ever sell fish like tunas or sharks caught from [VESSEL NAME]?

[1] Yes
[2] No
Screener question 6. State of principle port

Do you/the captain usually dock or launch this vessel in [STATE PORT]?
[1] Yes - Go to SQ7 [2] No – Continue
Screener question 6b. Other state of principal port

In what state do you usually dock or launch this vessel?
Screener question 7. LPS fishing

Is [VESSEL NAME] ever used to fish with rod and reel or handlines for tunas, sharks, billfish,
dolphin, amberjack or wahoo?
[1] Yes Continue to Survey Questions Q6
[2] No Terminate interview
Q6. Trips - recreational fishing total

During the weeks of [RECALL DATES] how many saltwater fishing trips targeting finfish did
the [VESSEL NAME] take?
[0] None Go to END
[1 - 14] Record Number Go to Q7
[99] Refused
Q7. Target species

Did you target a large pelagic species such as tunas, sharks, billfish, dolphin, wahoo, amberjack,
or similar offshore species on this trip?
[0] None Go to END
[1 - 14] Record Number Continue
[99] Refused
We would like to obtain specific information about each of these trips. We will begin with the
most recent recreational fishing trip and work backwards to the last Monday.
TRIP PROFILE LOOP – Begin with most recent trip and work backwards
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Q8: Trip Date, beginning with the most recent trip taken.

BACKWARD THROUGH THE RECALL PERIOD [RECALL DATES].
Did your boat take any saltwater fishing trips that ended on [MOST RECENT RECALL
DATE]?
[1] Yes - Go to Q9 (start of trip profile)
[2] No - Continue backward through week(s) to Monday {date} by day.
[9] Don’t Know / Refused - Continue backward through week(s) to Monday {date} by day;
if respondent doesn’t know or refuses the days of all trips reported in Q Go To Q, code [2] NO, Continue to Q and code Status=mid-interview refusal.
Q9: Did this trip target offshore large pelagic fishes such as tuna, sharks, billfish, dolphin, amberjack or
wahoo?

[1] Yes - Continue to Q9 (LPS trip profile)
[2] No - Return to Q8 and continue backward through week by day.
Q10: How many people were actively fishing?

[Record the number of people actively fishing, or record DK/RF if they don’t know, or refused
the question]
Q11: Did this trip return to a [STATE PORT] marina, dock, or launch ramp?

[1] Yes Go to Q12
[2] No Continue to Q11b
Q11b: To what state did your boat return from this trip?

[Record State ] If NOT ON LIST go to Next Trip
Q12. To what county did this trip return?

[Record County ]
Q13. Did this trip return to a marina, dock or launch ramp to which the public normally has access? If so, to
what particular marina, dock or launch ramp did this trip return?

[Record dock ]
Q14. Did this trip cover more than one day of fishing?

[1] Yes Continue to Q14a
[2] No Go to Q15
Q14a. How many days of fishing occurred on this trip?

[Record number of days]
Q15. At what time, to the nearest half-hour, did your boat leave the dock for that trip?

[Record time in military format]
Q16. At what time, to the nearest half-hour, did your boat return from that trip?

[Record time in military format]
Q17. To the nearest half-hour, how much time was spent actively fishing with gear in the water?

[Record time]
Q18. What fishing method or methods were used on that trip?

[Check prominent one/two method(s): Trolling, Bottom fishing, Casting, Fly-fishing, Drifting,
Chunking, Chumming, Other, DK]
Q19. What species were targeted on that trip? That is, when you left the dock, what species were you
planning on fishing for?

[Select species from drop down list – if any of the following are selected…]
Sharks, unidentified Go to Q19a
Tuna Go to Q19b
Billfish Go to Q19c
Other large pelagic Go to Q19d
Q19a. Which type of shark were you fishing for?

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[Shortfin Mako, Blue shark, No specific shark, Other shark, DK, RF]
Q19b. Which type of tuna were you fishing for?

[No specific type, Yellowfin Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, DK, RF] If Bluefin go to Q19c,
otherwise go to Q20.
Q19c. What species or size class of tuna?

[0] No specific size class
[1] School
[2] Medium
[3] Large
[8] Don’t know
[9] Refused
Q19d. Which type of Billfish were you fishing for?

[Sailfish, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Swordfish, No specific Billfish, DK, RF]
Q19e. Please specify which “other” large pelagic species.

[Record first reported fish or group of fish]
Q20. Were you participating in a tournament on that day?

[1] Yes Continue to Q21
[2] No Go to Q22
[8] Don’t know/Don’t remember Go to Q22
[9] Refused Go to Q22
Q21. What was the name of the tournament?

[Record tournament name]
Q22. Were you primarily using a rod and reel on this trip?

[1] Yes Go to Q23
[2] No Continue to Q22a
Q22a. What type of gear was primarily used on that trip?

[Rod and Reel] – Go to Q23
[Handline] – Go to Q23
[Harpoon] - Go to next trip
[Other] – Specify, Go to Q22b
Q22b. Is that a "rod and reel" type of fishing?
[1] Yes
[2] No – Go to next trip
Q23. How many lines were used on that trip?

[Record number]
Q23. What type of bait was used during that trip?

[1] Live [3] Artificial
[2] Dead
Q24. Did you use any other type of bait on that trip?

[1] Yes Specify other bait used
[2] No Continue to Q25
Q25. What was the name of the fishing grounds on which you did most of your fishing?

[Record response ]
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Q26. How many miles was the fishing grounds from the nearest shoreline?

[Record response]
Q27. What was the average ocean depth, in feet, where you were fishing?

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[Record depth]
Q28. What was the surface water temperature in degrees Fahrenheit?

[Record temp]
Q29. NOW I’D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FISH YOU CAUGHT ON THIS
TRIP; DID YOU CATCH ANY FISH?

[1] Yes Continue to Q30
[2] No Go to Next Trip
Q30. What type of fish did you catch? check-off box for each species caught

For each species, Interviewer will be prompted to ask...
[1] How many ___ did you keep?
[2] How many ___ did you release alive?
[3] How many ___ did you release dead?
If no billfish (marlin, sailfish, or swordfish) released then Go to End
If billfish released (alive or dead) Ask Q31 through Q35 for each fish:
Q31. What type of hook was used?

[Check circle (offset or non offset), non-circle/J-hook, Other (specify), DK]
Q32. Was the fish bleeding?

[1] Yes Continue to Q32a[2] No Continue to Q33
[8] Don’t know/Don’t remember Continue to Q33
[9] Refused Continue to Q33
Q32a. Bleeding location ?

[Check gill cavity, mouth, dorsal fin, Other (specify), DK]
Q33. What was the hook location?

[Check gill, mouth, gut, foul hooked, Other (specify), DK]
Q34. What was the fight time?

[Record in hours to the nearest half hour, DK, or Refused]
Q35. What was the fish length and weight?

[Record in inches to the nearest inch and in pounds to the nearest pound, DK, or Refused]
Inactive Vessel
When will the boat be active again?
[Record activity information] – Go to End
END
“Those are all of the question that I have for you, thank you for your time and cooperation.”
-To be read whenever the question sequence dumps the interviewer out to end.
NOTE: The OMB control number and expiration date of approval will be printed on all training materials, and
written communications with potential respondents. This statement is provided to those persons conducting
telephone and dockside interviews which will be read or disseminated to respondents upon request.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE: Collection of information through the Large Pelagics Fishing Survey
provides essential information for the conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, billfish and sharks.
Information on fishing effort and catch will be used for stock assessment and in developing international catch
sharing agreements. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated as follows: a) 9 minutes
per telephone survey response, b) 5 minutes per dockside interview response and 1.5 minutes per interview
telephone validation response, c) 1 minute per biological sampling response, d) 4 minutes per headboat captain
telephone interview response, and 8 minutes per headboat at-sea survey response,
e) 6 minutes per North Carolina winter bluefin tuna dockside survey response and f) 15 minutes per HMS
characterization survey. These estimates include 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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Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: NMFS, Fisheries Statistics Division (F/ST1), 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Reporting of fishing effort for, and catch of, Atlantic highly migratory fish species is
required under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act and/or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. It is NOAA policy to preserve the confidentiality of information submitted
under this reporting requirement, except that NMFS may release such information in aggregate or summary form,
such that individual identifiers are not disclosed (NAO 216-100). Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection
of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

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OMB Control No. 0648-0380
Expiration Date: 08/31/2011