FAQs

NOAA Fisheries  |  Recreational Bait and Tackle Economic Survey FAQs

Recreational Bait and Tackle
Economic Survey
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) and Answers

Throughout the United States, marine
recreational fishing is economically
important to coastal communities.
To better understand the economic
contributions of bait and tackle stores
and potential policy impacts to these
coastal communities, NOAA Fisheries
is collecting economic data from bait
and tackle stores.

FAQs at a Glance

Who is conducting the survey?
Funding/Design: NOAA Fisheries;
Survey distribution: independent firm

How are businesses selected?

Randomly, from a list compiled by State
and Federal marine resource agencies

Is participation voluntary? Yes!
How long will the survey take to
complete?
About 30 minutes (times may vary)

Why participate?

Data you provide will help to better
inform management decisions

Will data be kept confidential?

Yes! (see back page for more details)

Why are we asking for your help with this survey?

Achieving high quality recreational fisheries involves more than just managing fish. The marine
recreational fishing industry is economically important to coastal communities throughout the
United States. NOAA Fisheries (also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service or NMFS)
recognizes that the decisions we make have impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. Thus, NOAA
Fisheries is conducting the Recreational Bait and Tackle Economic Survey (RBTES) to better
understand the economic contributions of saltwater bait and tackle shop business so we may
minimize impacts on coastal communities from changes in fishery regulations and recognize the
effects of natural disasters and economic downturns.

Who is conducting the survey?

NOAA Fisheries funded and designed the survey which will be conducted by an independent
research firm. NOAA Fisheries is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict
changes in the earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources.

FAQs continued on back page

U.S. Department of Commerce  |  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  |  National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Fisheries  |  Recreational Bait and Tackle Economic Survey FAQs
How will businesses be selected and is participation voluntary?

Stores will be selected randomly from a list of bait and tackle stores in coastal
communities, which is being compiled by State and Federal marine resource agencies.
Their participation in this survey will be voluntary and all information you supply will
be kept strictly confidential.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

You, or someone in your shop with a working knowledge of the business, should be able
to complete the survey in about 30 minutes.

Why are stores being asked to provide economic information?

The survey asks for information about your business’ costs and revenues, employment,
and structure. We understand this is sensitive information that we will take the utmost
effort in protecting. Your information, when combined with that from other tackle shops
nationwide, will allow us to construct a baseline assessment of the financial health and
economic impact of the retail bait and tackle industry.

How will stores be sure their data is confidential and anonymous?

Information provided by individual bait and tackle stores will not be shared with any
public or private entities including the Internal Revenue Service except in aggregate
statistical form without identification as to its source. NOAA Fisheries is required by
federal law (section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and NOAA Administrative
Order 216-100, Confidentiality of Fisheries Statistics) to keep your information
anonymous and confidential. We take your privacy seriously. Individual data will be
combined with information from other respondents to present an overall view of the
economic health of the industry or a particular component of the industry. All economic
data will be aggregated into statistical form for all reports. It will not be possible to
identify your individual business in any publication.

If you have any questions or
concerns about this survey, contact:
Cliff Hutt
[email protected]
301-427-8588
U.S. Department of Commerce  |  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  |  National Marine Fisheries Service