0631 SS 120115 Part B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ECONOMIC EXPENDITURE SURVEY OF GOLDEN CRAB FISHERMEN IN THE

U.S. SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0631

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.

There are only eleven golden crab permits in existence, and they are currently owned by six individuals in conjunction with their spouses or their corporations. No more than five licenses have been active in any of the past five years. Because of this small population, all six license owners will be contacted. All of the owners responded to the previous implementation of the survey.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

The survey is of the entire population of active fishermen. Because of the small size of this population, all respondents must be contacted or the resulting information will be biased. To make the survey as palatable as possible, only expenditure data and cost estimates will be collected and the survey is very short.

3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse. The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Following Dillman (2007)¹ we plan to adopt the following plan to achieve high response rates.

First, we plan to draft a respondent-friendly questionnaire. The expenditure forms can easily be filled in by the fishermen by looking at the annual tax records for their businesses.

Second, we plan to make multiple contacts (if necessary) by first class mail. These contacts will include: a) a ‘pre-notice letter’ to alert the respondent about the impending questionnaire; b) a letter with the survey, c) a ‘thank you postcard’ sent to the respondent a few days after mailing the survey expressing appreciation for taking the time to respond to the survey and indicating that the completed instrument was not received; d) if the completed survey instrument was not received within a few weeks of the earlier mailing, then a letter and replacement questionnaire will be mailed to the respondents urging them to collaborate with the data collection.

Third, respondents will be provided first class pre-paid envelopes so that they easily return their completed questionnaires. In addition, the contractor will personalize the correspondence the mailings. Dillman (2007) notes that personalized mailings increase responses rates by 5-11% in multiple-contact general public surveys.

Last, fishermen will be contacted by telephone to remind them of the need for complete and accurate data. If fishermen cannot be reached by phone, the economist in charge of the project may drive from the Miami location to their business location, but this is unlikely to be necessary. The expenses of any respondents who do not respond will modeled using data from the rest of the fleet.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB must give prior approval.

The original implementation of this survey was completed by all of the fleet’s active crabbers, and has not been changed.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Dr. Scott Crosson, a social scientist employed by the NMFS, can be reached at 305-361-4468.

1 ^{Dillman, D. A., 2007. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method 2007 Update with New Internet, Visual, and Mixed-Mode Guide. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ.}