Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

PACIFIC COAST GROUNDFISH RATIONALIZATION SOCIOCULTURAL STUDY

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0606

Research related to the Paperwork Reduction Act authorization received under OMB Control No. 0648-0606 is scheduled to continue with the second phase of data collection this summer. The survey instrument (2012 Post-Catch Shares Questions) included in the PRA authorization was reviewed and updated. Minor changes included adjustments to format, question clarifications, and updated regulatory definitions and language. The following reasons explain the changes to the document:

• Experience from the initial data collection period highlighted some questions that required further clarification or simplification. This was achieved either through the splitting of a single complex question into separate questions or through adjustments in the wording or format of the questions. These slight alterations will improve the readability and interpretation of the questions, reduce the burden time of the questions, and increase the overall data quality of the survey. Questions where these adjustments were made:

• Questions split into more tables

  • A11: Permanent vs. Current Residence

  • F5: Gears utilized

• Questions with additional descriptive categories (new row/column)

  • A6: Ethnic origin

  • B7: Work/live correlation

  • D4: Catch shares affect

  • F7: Crew descriptions

  • F8: Employee retention

  • B5: Processors species explanation

• Questions with additional descriptive explanations (wording adjustments)

  • B8: Level of employment

  • B10/B10a: Improve job satisfaction

  • D3: Catch shares reasons

  • G4: Processor top species

• Question categories collapsed (tables smaller)

  • C5: Information sources

• An adjustment to some of the questions was required to update the grammatical tenses in the questions. As this is the second phase of data collection after the implementation of a fishery management measure related to this study, the past tense needed to be incorporated into some questions to update their relevance. This occurred throughout the survey across sections where needed.

• Terms were also added as needed to clarify the questions referring to opinions after the implementation of the new catch shares program and to identify the corresponding time frame of reference. Questions where these adjustments were made:

• F2: Species fished

• F5: Gears used

• F6: Vessels described

• F7: Crew

• F8: employee retention

• Additional changes were necessary to align the definitions and terms in the survey with some new and equivalent terms and definitions in the corresponding fishery regulations found in 50CFR660.

This occurs in the survey definitions section, and in the Quota Allocation Recipient section where terms such as vessel account, quota share permit holder, quota share allocation, quota shares, quota pounds were applied to necessary questions.

Burden hours for all questions were accounted for in the initial PRA authorization. No additional burden hours are expected as a result of the changes. In the case where a single complex question was split into additional questions, this is not expected to increase the burden. While this situation may increase the actual number of questions, it improves the readability, correct interpretation, enhances visual simplicity, increases the speed to complete the questions, and reduces the complexity of the initial question. These factors all contribute to maintaining the burden hours at the initial authorized levels.

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