Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

Marine Recreational Fishing Expenditure Survey

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0693

This request is to add a web-based survey version to the Marine Recreational Fishing Expenditure Survey that has been previously approved under this OMB Control Number. As more and more surveys are being conducted via the internet and mobile devices, it is important to add this component to our surveys for those respondents who prefer to take surveys online versus in the mail in order to ensure better response rates. This is particularly true for younger respondents. Respondents will have the option of responding both by web and by mail. Respondents for whom we have email addresses from angler fishing license databases or field intercepts will first receive an email invitation to the web survey. They will be provided with a unique username and password that takes them directly to the survey using a secure server. If after 3 days, they do not respond, an email reminder will be sent, and another reminder after 1 week. At that time, if there is still no response, they will be routed into the mail sample and receive a hard copy in the mail. Mail cover letters will also include a link to the web survey with a secure username and password if they prefer at that time to use the web-based version instead of mailing back the paper copy. Data entered via the web will be captured electronically at the time of entry, and should reduce errors in compiling the data in comparison to the mail surveys where data may be hand entered by data entry staff.

We do not expect the burden hours to change with this update, as this is just a different mode of reaching the angler. The questions on the web survey and the mail survey will be identical.