GCFS SS 060411 part b rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
ECONOMIC EXPENDITURE SURVEY OF GOLDEN CRAB FISHERMEN
IN THE U.S. SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-XXXX

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any
sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities
(e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the
universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation
must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has
been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.
There only eleven golden crab permits in existence, and they are currently owned by six
individuals in conjunction with their spouses or their corporations. No more than five licenses
have been active in any of the past five years. Because of this small population, all six license
owners will be contacted. We expect all of the owners to respond.
2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for
stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy
needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring
specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data
collection cycles to reduce burden.
The survey is of the entire population of active fishermen. Because of the small size of this
population, all respondents must be contacted or the resulting information will be biased. To
make the survey as palatable as possible, only expenditure data and cost estimates will be
collected and the survey is very short. Annual expenses will be divided by individual
fishermen’s trip counts from the logbook data to derive per-trip estimates.
3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse.
The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for
the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be
provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe
studied.
Following Dillman (2007) 1 we plan to adopt the following plan to achieve high response rates.
First, we have developed a respondent-friendly questionnaire. The expenditure forms can easily
be filled in by the fishermen by looking at the annual tax records for their businesses.
Second, we plan to make multiple contacts (if necessary) by first class mail. These contacts will
include: a) a ‘pre-notice letter’ to alert the respondent about the impending questionnaire; b) a
1 Dillman, D. A., 2007. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method 2007 Update with New Internet, Visual, and Mixed-Mode
Guide. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ.

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letter with the survey, c) if the completed survey instrument was not received within a few weeks
of the earlier mailing, then a letter and replacement questionnaire will be mailed to the
respondents.
Third, respondents will be provided first class pre-paid envelopes so that they easily return their
completed questionnaires. In addition, the contractor will personalize the correspondence the
mailings. Dillman (2007) notes that personalized mailings increase responses rates by 5-11% in
multiple-contact general public surveys.
Last, fishermen will be contacted by telephone to remind them of the need for complete and
accurate data. If fishermen cannot be reached by phone, the economist in charge of the project may
drive from the Miami location to their business location, but this is unlikely to be necessary. The
expenses of any respondents who do not respond will be modeled using data from the rest of the fleet.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as
effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB
must give prior approval.
Several of the fishermen were contacted beforehand and reviewed the questions and topics about
the major expenditures typical of the average trip. Feedback from this process was incorporated
into the form design. Questions about the refrigerated seawater systems, for example, are a
result of this process.
5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical
aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other
person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.
Dr. Scott Crosson, a social scientist employed by the NMFS, can be reached at (305) 361-4468.

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