Alaska Saltwater Sport Fishing Economic Survey

Mailing Letters and Postcard Reminder
Advance letter

John Smith
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345
Dear
NOAA Fisheries (the National Marine Fisheries Service) is conducting a study to learn more
about saltwater recreational fishing for halibut, salmon, and other fish off Alaska. We are
interested in the activities and preferences of anglers like you. With your help, we can provide
better information to fishery managers to improve your sport fishing experience and enhance
fishery management practices.
You were selected at random from anglers with a 2011 Alaska sport fishing license. Very few
anglers were chosen for the study, so your help is critical to its success. In the next few days,
you will receive a questionnaire in the mail from ICF Macro, a survey research firm that is
assisting us in conducting the survey.
The survey asks about your experiences and opinions on saltwater fishing in Alaska.
Even if you have not fished in saltwater off Alaska, your opinion matters. You are one of a
small number of anglers across the country selected to help. To keep costs low and to make
sure we hear from a true cross-section of households, we need to hear from you.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,

Dan Lew
Project Director
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Initial mailing letter

John Smith
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345
Dear
Enclosed is the questionnaire I wrote to you about last week.
We need your help to learn more about saltwater recreational fishing in Alaska. With your help, we
can provide better information to fishery managers and improve your fishing experience.
Even if you have not fished in saltwater in Alaska, your opinion matters. Although your participation
is voluntary, you are one of only a select few from across the country scientifically selected to participate
in this study. To keep costs low and to make sure we hear from a true cross-section of all Alaska anglers,
we need to hear from you.
The survey takes most people about 25 minutes to complete, sometimes more, sometimes less. Your
answers will be kept confidential and your name will never be revealed. Your name and address will be
kept separate from your responses, and only responses will be delivered to researchers for analysis. The
identification number on the survey is there so that ICF Macro, a survey firm hired to assist us, can check
your name off when the questionnaire is returned. If you have any questions, please call ICF Macro tollfree at 1-800-XXX-XXXX.
We realize your time is valuable, so we have included $1 as a small token of our appreciation for your
participation.
Thank you for your help, and please remember to complete all the questions.
Sincerely,

Dan Lew
Project Director
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Postcard reminder
Last week a questionnaire was mailed to you seeking information about your experiences and opinions
toward saltwater recreational fishing in Alaska.
If you have already completed and returned the questionnaire, please accept our sincere thanks. If you
have not completed and returned the survey, we ask that you do so today.
It is very important that we hear from you. You are one of a small number of anglers across the
country selected to participate in this study. Your response will help shape decisions about federal
government actions on this topic. However, a high rate of participation is required to include the results
from the questionnaire in these decisions.
If you need another copy of the questionnaire, please call ICF Macro, a survey firm hired to assist us,
at 1-800-XXX-XXXX and a questionnaire will be mailed to you today.
Thank you for your help.
Dan Lew
Project Director
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Second full mailing letter

John Smith
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345
Dear
A few weeks ago, a questionnaire was mailed to you seeking input about your recreational fishing
experiences in Alaska and your preferences for Alaska saltwater fishing trips. If you have already
completed and returned the questionnaire, please accept our sincere thanks. If you have not completed
and returned the survey, we ask that you do so today. We have enclosed another copy of the survey in
case you have misplaced the original one we sent.
It is very important that we hear from you. Although your participation is voluntary, you are one of
only a select few from across the country scientifically selected to participate in this study. The
information you provide will help improve decisions by fishery managers. However, a high participation
rate is required to include results from these questionnaires in these decisions.
Even if you have not fished in saltwater in Alaska, your opinion matters. To keep costs low and to
make sure we hear from a true cross-section of all Alaska anglers, we need to hear from you.
The survey takes most people about 25 minutes to complete, sometimes more, sometimes less. Your
answers will be kept confidential and your name will never be revealed. Information from the survey will
only be reported in statistical terms. Your name and address will be kept separate from your responses,
and only responses will be delivered to researchers for analysis. The identification number on the survey
is there so that ICF Macro, a survey firm hired to assist us, can check your name off when the
questionnaire is returned. If you have any questions, please call ICF Macro toll-free at 1-800-XXX-XXXX.
Thank you for your help, and please remember to complete all the questions.

Sincerely,

Dan Lew
Project Director
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration