Puget Sound Recreational Shellfish Harvesting Survey

Initial Telephone Contact Survey, Draft 

This study is subject to strict research protocols.  Please follow the script as closely as 
possible. 

INTRO: 
Hello, my name is ___________________.  I work for Gilmore Research and I’m calling 
on behalf of NOAA Fisheries.  We are calling people about recreational shellfish 
harvesting in Puget Sound.  This survey is being conducted to gather information about 
your shellfishing activities.  Your answers will provide fishery managers with information 
that can be used to help make important decisions. 

Hello, may I speak with [Respondent]? 

01 
(SKIP TO Intro 2:)  YES, RESPONDENT AVAILABLE 

02 
(SKIP TO EXIT1)  NO, RESPONDENT UNAVAILABLE 

03 
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED [Schedule callback] 

EXIT1: Thank you, I will call back later.  When would be a good time to reach 
[Respondent]? 

[Q: What is NOAA Fisheries?  A: NOAA Fisheries is the federal agency responsible for the 
stewardship of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat.] 

[Q: How did you get my name/phone number?  A: Your name/telephone number was 
drawn in a random sample of people who purchased a license in Washington] 

[Q: Is this interview confidential?  A: This interview is completely confidential.  Your 
name will never be linked to your responses in any way.] 

[Q: Why is NOAA doing a survey on Puget Sound shellfish? / Doesn’t WDFW manage 
shellfish in Puget Sound?  A: WDFW and NOAA are partners in the management of the 
Puget Sound.] 

Intro 2:   
Before we begin, I want to assure you that your answers will be kept completely 
confidential and this call may be monitored for quality assurance.  This is a voluntary 
state‐wide study, and we appreciate your assistance. 

Intro 3: 
I’m going to read you a few short questions about your recreational shellfish activities in 
Washington. 

1. Have you taken any trips where you harvested razor clams in Washington in the 
last 12 months? 
01
Yes 
02
No 
03
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE 
04
REFUSED 

2. Have you taken any trips where you harvested oysters or clams in Puget Sound in 
the last 12 months? 
01
Yes  
02
No 
03
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE 
04
REFUSED 
/IF Q2 in {02, 03, 04} THEN SKIP TO ENDING1/ 

3. On your harvesting trips in Puget Sound, do you typically harvest oysters or 
clams from a public beach or a private beach? 

Public 
01
02
Private 
03
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE 
04
REFUSED 

4. Approximately how many one‐way miles do you travel to get to the beach you 
most often use to harvest oysters or clams in Puget Sound? 

01
[Record mileage] 
02
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE 
03
REFUSED 

5. During the next 12 months, how likely is it that you will take a trip where you 
harvest shellfish in Puget Sound? 

01
Definitely will harvest shellfish 
02
Very likely 
03
Somewhat likely 
04
Very unlikely 
05
Definitely will not harvest shellfish 

Intro 4: 
So we can see how your shellfishing activities compare with those of other people, 
I’d like a few demographic questions.  Again, please remember that all your answers 
are kept completely confidential. .   

6. In what year were you born? 
01
[Record year] 
02
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE 
03
REFUSED 

7. I’m going to read you some income categories.  For classification purposes only, 
please tell me which income category best describes your household’s total 
annual income before taxes in 2012. When I read your household income 
category, please stop me. 

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Less than $20,000 
More than $20,000 but less than $40,000 
More than $40,000 but less than $60,000 
More than $60,000 but less than $80,000 
More than $80,000 but less than $100,000 
More than $100,000 but less than $125,000 
More than $125,000 but less than $150,000 
More than $150,000 
Refused 

[If R Refuses: Your answers are completely confidential and will only be used for 
classification purposes.  You will never be identified with your response.] 

►GO TO ENDING 2 

ENDING1:  
Thank you very much for your help today.   

ENDING2: Thank you very much for your help today. This call is part of a larger research 
project to help managers learn more about the likes and dislikes of shellfish harvesters 
like you. I’d like to send you a short survey in the mail if I could just verify the address I 
have from your license. I have    

Name_____________________________________________________ 

Street Address______________________________________________ 

City________________________State_______Zip_________________ 

Phone_____________________________________________________ 

[If R Refuses: Very few people were selected for this survey, so your help is critical to its 
success.  Your participation will help provide important information to managers to 
improve your shellfish harvesting opportunities. The survey should not take more than 
20 minutes to complete. We really appreciate your help.] 

Thank you, you will be receiving a short survey in the mail in the next few weeks. 

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Dear :
A few days from now you will receive a short questionnaire for an important study being conducted by
NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service).
The Puget Sound Recreational Shellfishing Study will help us learn more about your interest
and success in harvesting clams and oysters in Puget Sound. This study will be used to improve the
management of Washington’s recreational shellfishing through a better understanding of the activities
and preferences of harvesters like you. Even if you have not harvested clams or oysters in Puget
Sound, it is important that we hear from you.
We need your help. Your response will provide important information to shellfish managers. This
information can be used to:

 Improve your shellfishing experience and opportunities, and

 Enhance sound management practices.

Your name was selected at random from anglers who purchased a Washington sport license. Very
few people were chosen for the study, so your help is critical to its success. We will send you a
questionnaire through Gilmore Research, a nationally recognized survey research firm who is our
partner in conducting the survey. Simply complete the questionnaire, and return it in the postage paid
envelope provided.
If you would like to learn more about this important survey, or have any questions, please call me at
1-206-860-3492.
Thank you very much for your help!
Sincerely,

Mark Plummer
Project Director
NOAA Fisheries - Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Dear :
Enclosed is the survey we mentioned in our previous letter to you. The Puget Sound Recreational
Shellfishing Survey is being conducted by NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service). This
is your chance to help improve recreational shellfishing in Puget Sound.
Your answers can be used to:

 Help shellfish managers understand what harvesters like and dislike

 Enhance your shellfish harvesting experience, and

 Improve the management of recreational shellfishing in the region.

Your answers are completely confidential and will be released only as summaries in which no
individual’s answers can be identified. There are no right or wrong answers and even if you’ve never
harvested shellfish in Puget Sound, it is important that we hear your opinions.
If you have any questions please call me at 1-206-860-3492.
Thank you very much for your help!
Sincerely,

Mark Plummer
Project Director
NOAA Fisheries - Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Dear :
About three weeks ago we sent you a questionnaire that asked you about recreational shellfish harvesting in
Puget Sound. To the best of our knowledge, it has not yet been returned.
The comments of other people who have already responded include a wide variety of harvesting experiences
and preferences. Many have told us about the shellfish they like to harvest and about trips they have taken.
We think the results are going to be very useful to managers.
We are writing you again because of the importance that your questionnaire has for helping to get
accurate results. Your name was drawn through a scientific sampling process in which every individual who
purchased a 2012 or 2013 Washington license had an equal chance of being selected. Because only a small
number of people were chosen for the study, your participation is essential if the results are to be truly
representative of the opinions, preferences, and activities of all shellfish harvesters.
•

It doesn’t matter how often you harvest shellfish, your answers are valuable.

•

Even if you’ve never harvested shellfish in Puget Sound, please return the survey so
we can more accurately measure participation.

We hope you will fill out and return the questionnaire soon, but if for any reason you prefer not to answer it,
please let us know by returning a note or blank questionnaire in the enclosed stamped envelope.
Thank you very much for your help.

Mark Plummer
Project Director
NOAA Fisheries - Northwest Fisheries Science Center
P.S. If you have any questions, please call me toll free at 1-206-860-3492.

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Dear :

During the last two months we have sent you several mailings about an important research study we are
conducting on recreational harvesting of shellfish in Puget Sound. As of today, we have not received
your questionnaire. If you have already mailed it to us, we thank you for your assistance.
The purpose of this study is to improve management by providing a more complete picture of
participation rates and preferences.
The study is drawing to a close, and this is the last contact that will be made with the random sample
of people who purchased a license in 2012 or 2013. We are sending this final contact because of our
concern that people who have not responded may have different experiences and preferences than those
who have responded. In order for our results to be accurate, we need to hear from you, regardless of
whether you harvested shellfish in Puget Sound or the number of trips you made.
We also want to assure you that your response to this study is voluntary and any responses you give us
are confidential.
Finally, we appreciate your willingness to consider our request as we conclude this effort to better
understand the recreational harvesting of shellfish in Puget Sound. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,

Mark Plummer
Project Director
NOAA Fisheries - Northwest Fisheries Science Center
P.S. If you have any questions, please call me at 1-206-860-3492.

If you have already completed and returned it to us please accept our
sincere thanks. If not, please do so today. The questionnaire has been
sent to only a small, but representative, sample of residents who harvest
shellfish. It is extremely important that yours also be included in the study
if the results are to be representative.

If by some chance you did not receive the questionnaire,

or it got misplaced, please call

REMINDER

Sponsored by
NOAA Fisheries

1-206-860-3492

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Last week a questionnaire about your recreational shellfish harvesting
in Puget Sound was mailed to you. Your name was selected at random
from everyone who purchased a Washington license.
If you have already completed and returned it to us please accept our
sincere thanks. If not, please do so today. The questionnaire has been
sent to only a small, but representative, sample of residents who harvest
shellfish. It is extremely important that yours also be included in the study
if the results are to be representative.

If by some chance you did not receive the questionnaire,

or it got misplaced, please call

1-206-860-3492

REMINDER

Last week a questionnaire about your recreational shellfish harvesting
in Puget Sound was mailed to you. Your name was selected at random
from everyone who purchased a Washington license.

Sponsored by
NOAA Fisheries

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Last week a questionnaire about your recreational shellfish harvesting
in Puget Sound was mailed to you. Your name was selected at random
from everyone who purchased a Washington license.
If you have already completed and returned it to us please accept our
sincere thanks. If not, please do so today. The questionnaire has been
sent to only a small, but representative, sample of residents who harvest
shellfish. It is extremely important that yours also be included in the study
if the results are to be representative.

If by some chance you did not receive the questionnaire,

or it got misplaced, please call

Sponsored by
NOAA Fisheries

REMINDER

REMINDER

Sponsored by
NOAA Fisheries

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

1-206-860-3492

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Last week a questionnaire about your recreational shellfish harvesting
in Puget Sound was mailed to you. Your name was selected at random
from everyone who purchased a Washington license.
If you have already completed and returned it to us please accept our
sincere thanks. If not, please do so today. The questionnaire has been
sent to only a small, but representative, sample of residents who harvest
shellfish. It is extremely important that yours also be included in the study
if the results are to be representative.

If by some chance you did not receive the questionnaire,

or it got misplaced, please call

1-206-860-3492