Processor Survey Instrument (now includes note on guidan

A note about the question guide. This page will not be sent to respondents.

We do not have a “form” for the respondents to fill out. The information collection will be conducted using an in-person interviewer. However, we plan to send a list of questions to the respondent (by email or postal mail) in advance of the interview so that they can prepare for the interview and make sure that the correct person is being interviewed.

Question #6 contains a space for the respondent to fill in answers. This is not designed to actually collect the information. It is designed to prime the respondent to think about the type of information that we want to to talk about during the interview. The “State” and “Region” column will be customized based on the address of the respondent. If the facility is located in CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT then the region will be “New England.” If the facility is located in NY, NJ, DE, MD, PA, or VA then the region will be “Mid Atlantic.”

We are conducting a survey to answer two questions:

1. How did Hurricane Sandy impact fish processors?

2. How important are fish processing firms to the local economy and food system?

The results of this survey will be used to help fisheries managers understand how fisheries regulations impact fish processors and help them respond to any fishery disasters in the future. We are grateful for your participation in this survey.

1: In 2013, what limited the size of your business? The profitability of your business?

2: How did Hurricane Sandy affect your business? How did you respond to these impacts?

3: How many production workers per shift were working in Nov, 2012? Dec, 2012? How many hours per day was the plant operational? How many days per week was the plant operating? What percentage of typical operations do these represent?

4: During the two months following Hurricane Sandy (Nov. & Dec. of 2012), how many of your sales contracts were canceled by your customers? What percentage of your sales volume does this represent? What is typical for this two-month period? When did your customers return and what did your firm do in response?

5: During the two months following Hurricane Sandy (Nov. & Dec. of 2012), how many of your purchase contracts were canceled by your suppliers? What percentage of your purchasing volume does this represent? What is typical for this two-month period? When did your suppliers return and what did your firm do in response?

6: Approximately how much fish (by weight) did your facility purchase in 2013?

State Region West Coast Other US Import

Whole Groundfish ____ ____ ____ ________ ________

Scallops ____ ____ ____ ________ ________

Monkfish ____ ____ ____ ________ ________

Other Raw or Whole ____ ____ ____ ________ ________

Fillet/Processed ____ ____ ____ ________ ________

7: To which cities did your facility ship products in 2013? Approximately how much was shipped (by weight) to each city?

OMB Control number 0648-XXXX

Expiration Date MM/DD/YYYY

This survey is being conducted to understand the role of fish processing in the regional economy and the impacts Hurricane Sandy on fish processors. Answers to this survey will be used to help NOAA Fisheries understand how changes in fisheries regulations impact fish processors and improve NOAAs capacity to respond to fishery disasters. This will allow NOAA to better meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 90 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Min-Yang Lee, NOAA Fisheries, 166 Water St, Woods Hole, MA 02543.

Your answers to these questions will be kept confidential as provided for under section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subjected 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.