Guam Resident Coral Reef Survey

OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx
Expires xx/xx/xxxx
Guam Resident Coral Reef Survey
September 27, 2011
Introduction: Hafa Adai- My name is __________. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration is conducting a survey to find out how Guam residents feel about coral reefs. We
expect that this will take approximately 20 minutes of your time. There is no right or wrong answers
and you don’t have to answer any questions you are not comfortable with. We’ll also be asking
some questions about you, just to be sure that we have a representative sample for our survey in
terms of different age groups, ethnicities, and that kind of thing. However, we will not ask your
name and all responses will be completely anonymous. Would you be willing to participate? We
are happy to provide you with a copy of the results.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.

Swimming/wading
Snorkeling
Diving (SCUBA)
Boarding (surfing, kitesurfing,
standup paddleboarding)
Jet-skiing
Power
boating/waterskiing/parasailing
Paddling
Kayaking
Beach BBQ, picnic
Beach clean up
Fishing
Gathering of marine resources
(eg. sea cucumber, trochus)
Hunting
Other activities: Please list

1

No Answer

Every Day

Several Times a
Week

Once a Week

2 to 3 Times a
Month

Once a Month

A Few Times a
Year

Once a Year

How often do you participate in each of the following activities?

Never

1.

2.

If yes to fishing or gathering of marine resources ask:
Why do you fish: [say yes to all that apply]
a.
To feed myself and my family/ household
b.
To sell to make a living
c.
To sell to cover my fishing expenses
d.
To give to extended family members and/or friends
e.
For fun or recreation
f.
For special occasions and cultural events, such as fiestas, lent, weddings, or baptisms

Not
Sure

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Please say whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Neither

4.

Disagree

Who in Guam is responsible for managing coral reefs? I’m going to read a list, you can say
all that apply.
a.
Guam Environmental Protection Agency
b.
Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans, Guam Coastal Management Program
c.
Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources
d.
University of Guam Marine Lab
e.
Federal Government
f.
Community groups
g.
Other

Strongly
Disagree

3.

a. Coral reefs protect the island from erosion
and natural disasters.
b. Coral reefs are a critical ecosystem in Guam
c. Coral reefs are only important if you fish or
dive
d. Healthy coral reefs attract tourists to Guam
e. Coral reefs are important role to our culture
5.

What the three main threats to Guam’s coral reefs? [ask open ended; do not provide examples
to respondents]

6.

How much of a threat are the following issues to Guam’s coral reefs?

2

Not Sure

Minor
threat
Not a
threat at
all

Major
threat
a. Climate change
b. Increased construction for military buildup
and private sector development
c. Poor construction practices
d. Pollution and sedimentation from upland
e. Dredging
f. Trash/littering
g. Damage from ships and boats
h. Irresponsible scuba diving
i. Too many recreational users
j. Irresponsible recreational use
k. Illegal fishing and gathering
l. Too much fishing and gathering
m. Increasing population size
n. Man-made fires
o. Off-roading
p. Invasive species
q. Other: Please list

What do you think are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th most important causes of the change in the
quality of the marine environment in Guam? (you may also check less than 4 boxes)
1st most
important
Sedimentation due to intentionally set fires
Sedimentation due to poor development
practices
Increased runoff and stormwater
Increased pesticides/fertilizer from golf
courses and hotels
Leakage from broken sewage pipes
Use of improper fishing techniques
(gillnets, night scuba)
Too many fishermen
Too many jet skis, banana boats
Too many divers and snorkelers
Other (specify:
)
Don’t know

3

2nd most
important

3rd most
important

4th most
important

Don’t
Know

Very
Good

Good

Neither
Bad nor
Good

Bad

In your opinion, how are Guam’s marine resources doing? Please rank these categories from
very bad to very good.

Very
Bad

7.

Water Quality
Corals
Amount of reef fish to eat
Size of reef fish to eat
Sandy beaches
Crowding (too many people)
In your opinion, how has the quality of the following components of the marine environment
in Guam changed during your lifetime?
Increased
Increased
Remained
Decreased
Decreased
Don’t
significantly somewhat
stable
somewhat
significantly know
Live coral
abundance
Fish
abundance
Fish size
Fish species
diversity
Algae growth
Sedimentation
Water
pollution
8.

In general, have marine resources in Guam gotten better or worse over the last 10 years?
a.
Significantly Worse
b.
Worse
c.
No Change
d.
Better
e.
Significantly Better
f.
Not Sure

9.

How do you expect the condition of marine resources in Guam to change in the next 10 years?
a.
Significantly Worse
b.
Worse
c.
No Change
d.
Better
e.
Significantly Better
f.
Not Sure
4

13.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements.

a. Marine preserves protect coral reefs
b. There should be fewer marine preserves in
Guam
c. The number of fish inside the marine preserves
has increased since the marine preserves were
enforced in 2001.
d. Marine preserves have increased conflicts
between different user groups in Guam
e. There has been a net economic benefit to the
Guam’s coastal economy from the
establishment of the marine preserves
f. Local fisherman’s livelihoods have been
negatively impacted from the establishment of
marine preserves in Guam
g. Marine preserves help increase tourism in
Guam
h. I would support adding new marine preserves
in Guam if I knew that the ones we have are
improving Guam’s marine resources

5

Not Sure

Why or why not [open ended]?

Strongly
Agree

12.

Agree

Do you support Guam’s marine preserves?

Neither
Agree nor
Disagree

11.

Disagree

How familiar are you with marine preserves in Guam? Guam has five marine preserves which
limit the types of fishing that can be done and are located at Tumon Bay, Sasa Bay, Piti Bay,
Achang Reef, and Pati Point.
a.
Very Unfamiliar
b.
Unfamiliar
c.
Neither Familiar nor Unfamiliar
d.
Familiar
e.
Very Familiar
f.
Not Sure

Strongly
Disagree

10.

14.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.

Increase enforcement of existing
rules/regulations
Prohibiting driving on the beach
Establish new marine preserves
Have seasonal and openings and closures of
certain fisheries
Establish catch limits per person for certain
fish species
Establish size limits for certain fish species
Establish licensing program for Guam’s
fishermen
Ban gill nets in Guam’s waters
Opening marine preserves to hook and line
fishing from shore and talazya- or throw netfishing from shore
Increase community participation in coral
6

Don’t
Know

Strongly
Support

Support

Neither
Support
nor
Oppose

Rules/Regulations

Oppose

What do you think would be the best ways to protect coral reefs for the future?, Please
remember that Guam’s population is expected to increase. Which of the following changes
would you support?

Strongly
Oppose

15.

The Guam military buildup is expected to increase Guam’s population by 30,000 people over
the next 5 to 10 years. How concerned are you about the following issues?
Very
Moderately Not
concerned
concerned
concerned
at all
Increases in traffic
Increases in construction and development
Loss of coral reefs from Apra Harbor dredging
Loss of cultural resources
Loss of local cultural values
More invasive species
Damage to Guam’s coral reefs from increased
recreational use
My favorite beach getting too crowded
My favorite reef spot getting to crowded
Fewer fish because more people are fishing
Overload of sewage system
Other:

reef management
Stricter controls on construction runoff from
land to the ocean
Require vessels to remove nonnative species
from hulls before entering Guam’s waters
More stringent control of pollutants to
preserve water quality
More restrictions on development (permit
requirements)
Limits on recreational use
Require vessels use mooring buoys near
coral reefs
Reduce the number of research permits
allowed on coral reefs
Other: Please list

Next, we’d like to get your opinion on two specific laws that have been proposed.
16.

Legislation has been proposed that would prohibit scuba spear fishing in Guam waters. The
purpose of this legislation would be to help protect fish stocks in Guam. However,
prohibiting scuba spear fishing would impact the income of some of Guam’s fishermen.
Spear fishing not using scuba gear would still be allowed. Would you support or oppose this
legislation?
a.
Strongly oppose
b.
Oppose
c.
Neutral
d.
Support
e.
Strongly support
f.
Don’t know

17.

Legislation called the Guam Coral Reef Protection Act has been proposed. This legislation
would require boats that cause damage to coral reefs to pay a fine to pay for coral reef
restoration. This legislation would provide funding for coral reef restoration in case of a
damage event but could limit reef access by some boats. Would you support or oppose this
legislation?
a.
Strongly oppose
b.
Oppose
c.
Neutral
d.
Support
e.
Strongly support
f.
Don’t know

7

18.

In the past year, have you heard of or seen people doing the following things in Guam?
Yes

No

Littering on or near the beach
Burning for hunting
Illegally fishing in the marine protected areas
Catching or eating sea turtles or sea turtle eggs
Catching fish that are too small
Breaking or standing on coral
Off-roading
Leaving gill nets on the reef
Bringing non-native species to Guam
Great; thanks. Now I just have a few questions about you.
19.

Are you male or female?
a.
Male
b.
Female

20.

May I ask your age?

21.

How long have you lived in Guam?
a.
1 year or less
b.
2-5 years
c.
6-10 years
d.
more than 10 years
e.
all my life

22.

What village do you live in?

23.

Which language do you mainly speak at home? [check all that apply]
a.
Chamorro
b.
Carolinian
c.
Other Micronesian
d.
Japanese
e.
English
f.
Korean
g.
Chinese
h.
Russian
i.
Tagalog
j.
Other: _____________________________

8

24.
What race/ethnicity do you consider yourself?
Please select all that apply.

1. American Indian or Alaskan Native
2. Asian
3. Black or African American
4. Japanese
5. Carolinian
6. Chamorro
7. Chinese
8. Filipino
9. White
10. Korean
11. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
12. Yapese
13. Chuukese
14. Pohnpeian
15. Palauan
16. White
17. Hispanic or Latino
18. Other/Mixed
19. No response
25.

What is the highest level of education you have completed?
a.
8th Grade or Less
b.
9th to 11th Grade
c.
12th Grade, High School Grad, GED
d.
Some community college or AA
e.
College Graduate
f.
Graduate School, Law School, Medical School
g.
No Response

26.

What is your occupation?

27.

What is your annual household income?
1. Under $10,000
2. $10,000 to $19,999
3. $20,000 to $29,999
4. $30,000 to $39,999
5. $40,000 to $49,999
6. $50,000 to $59,999
7. $60,000 to $74,999
8. $75,000 to $99,999
9. $100,000 to $149,999
9

10. $150,000 or More
11. No Response
OPTIONAL
28.

Is your occupation affiliated with the marine environment/industry in ?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

29.

If YES, please circle the industry that best fits your primary profession.
1. Commercial fishing
2. Charter fishing
3. Dive/snorkel operation
4. Marina/boat operation
5. Other watersports
6. Eco-tour operation
7. Ecological research
8. Ocean and coastal management and government
9. Artisan
10. Education
Beach hotel
Other_____________________

How often does your family eat fish/seafood?
a. Every day
b. Every 2 days
c. Twice a week
d. Once a week
e. Every 2 weeks
f. Once a month
g. Once in 2 months
h. Never
Please indicate the main sources of the fish/seafood you consume (percentage-wise)
a. Fish caught by myself or someone in my immediate family: ____ %
b. Fish caught by an extended family member (eg. uncle) or friend: ____ %
c. Purchase it from the road side : ____ %
d. Purchase it at a flea market: ____ %
e. Purchase it at a store/restaurant: ____ %
f. Other, specify: ____ %
In general, where dose the fish/seafood you consume come from (where is it caught)?
a. Reef fish and other species from inside Guam’s reef: ____ %
10

b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Fish caught outside Guam’s reefs (e.g deepwater, pelagic) : ____ %
Imported fish/seafood from the mainland (e.g. canned from US) : ____ %
Imported fish/seafood from other Pacific islands (e.g. Chuuk) : ____ %
Other [added] : ____ %
Not sure [added] : ____ %

Did you family’s fish/seafood diet change over the last 10 years? (check one only)
a. Eat much less fish
b. Eat somewhat less fish
c. No change
d. Eat somewhat more fish
e. Eat much more fish
f. Don’t know
Can you indicate the 1st most, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th most important reason why your family’s diet of fish
seafood has changed? (unless answered “no change” above) you may also check less than 4 boxes
1st most
important

2nd most
important

3rd most
important

4th most
important

We fish less/more
We fish the same amount but catch
less/more
There is more/less sharing of fish
between family, friends, etc
Change to other food (eg. spam)
The price of fish has
increased/decreased
Availability of certain local species
changed
Scared of ciguatera/polluted fish
Preference for fish has changed (don’t
like fish as much)
Other: specify
Don’t know
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 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 (name), NOAA Line office, (address).
As stated on the questionnaires, identifying information (name, address, telephone number, email address) will be used
only to administer the survey. This information will be viewed only by the contractor compiling the data, and will be
destroyed at the end of the information collection. This process will maintain the anonymity of the responses received.
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.
11