SBNMS Wildlife Viewing Survey

OMB Control #

Expiration Date:

Guided Wildlife Viewing Tour Operator Survey

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and New England

This is a voluntary survey.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.75 hours including the time for reviewing instructions, searching for 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: Dr. Danielle Schwarzmann, NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Responses provided for this survey will be anonymous. No personally identifiable information is being collected with this survey; responses will not be attributed to individual businesses. 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.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under 5 U.S.C. § 301, Departmental regulations and 15 U.S.C. 1512, Powers and duties of Department.

Purpose: Your business’s name may be collected for those requesting data. The purpose of this information collection is to obtain the information necessary to calculate estimates and build tools that can be used by natural resource managers at the SBNMS to evaluate the value of whales, pinnipeds, sea otters, and seabirds within the sanctuary, as well as estimating potential impacts of alternative management options on the local tourism industry. Socioeconomic data will be gathered from commercial whale and marine wildlife observation operations and will be used to develop social and demographic profiles of business owners/operators. Spatial data documenting, where commercial, non-consumptive marine wildlife viewing activities occur in the region, will be used to enhance management and monitor any conflicting potential uses.

Routine Uses: Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) to be shared among Department staff for work-related purposes. Initial data collection will be conducted by Emerson College students and volunteers, whose contract with the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation will include thorough instructions on protection of personally identifiable and proprietary data. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-11, Contact Information for Members of the Public Requesting or Providing Information Related to NOAA’s Mission.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary; NOAA cannot currently guarantee that personal and sensitive data will not be disclosed. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Respondent ID Number_______

(assigned by interviewer)

All questions should be answered by the business owner, unless the owner has specified someone better suited to provide a response.

Questions 1-5 are regarding the business owner.

1. Which of the following includes your age?

___18-30        ___31-40        ___41-50        ___51-60        ___over 60

2. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

___YES ___NO

3. What is your race? (Mark all that apply)

__ White     __ Black or African American     __ American Indian or Alaska Native

__ Asian     __ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   

__ Other:____________

4. What is your gender?

___ Male ___ Female ___Decline to state

5. How many family members do you support (including yourself)?

Myself only     2     3    4     5     6     7    Greater than 7

6. Are you the owner of the business you are representing?

___YES ___NO, my role is __________________________________

7. What is the businesses primary port/marina/location?

___________________________________________

7a. Do you have a secondary port/marina/location from where the business?

___YES ___NO

7b. If YES, which one? __________________________________________________

8. How many years have you been an ocean recreation business owner?

___ (number of years)

9. How many years have you been an ocean recreation business owner in the New England Region

___ (number of years)

10. Do you visit federal, state and/or local marine protected area (reserves/conservation areas) specifically during your tours?  (Interviewer—please show state MPA map to identify specific quadrants)

___YES ___NO ____Unsure

10a. Why or why not? ___________________________________________________________________

10b. How often?

_____Every trip ______A few times per week _____once or twice per week

_____once per month _____Never

10c. If YES, how many years have you conducted guided wildlife tours in state marine protected areas? ___ (number of years)

Question 11 is for whale watching operators only:

11. Do you currently have a dedicated naturalist on board during whale watching trips?

___YES ___NO

11a. If NO, would you be interested in having one on board if you had more information about the role they play with whale watching operators? ___YES ___ NO ___Unsure

11b. If NO to question 11, would you be interested in having a sanctuary certified naturalist on board? ___YES ___ NO ____Unsure

12. Are customers expecting particular wildlife species when they go on a guided tour?

___YES ___NO

12a. If YES, please list:__________________________________________________

13. How would you describe the wildlife viewing operation? (Mark one or more)

___ Full-time whale watching operation ___ Part-time whale watching operation

___ Seasonal whale watching operation

___ Full-time seal watching operation ___ Part-time seal watching operation

___ Seasonal seal watching operation

___ Full-time white shark watching operation

___ Part-time white shark watching operation

___ Seasonal white shark watching operation

___ Full-time kayaking operation ___ Part-time kayaking watching operation ___Seasonal kayaking operation

___ Full-time dive/snorkeling operation ___ Part-time dive/snorkeling operation

___ Seasonal dive/snorkeling operation

___ Full-time seabird viewing operation ___ Part-time seabird viewing operation

___ Seasonal seabird viewing operation

___ Full-time sailing/boating operation ___ Part-time sailing/boating operation ___Seasonal sailing/boating operation

___ Full-time charter fishing operation ___ Part-time charter fishing operation

___ Seasonal charter fishing operation

__ Full-time combination whale watching, recreational cruises, kayaking, diving/snorkeling, and wildlife observation operation

__ Part-time combination whale watching, recreational cruises, kayaking, diving/snorkeling, and wildlife observation

__ Seasonal combination whale watching, recreational cruises, kayaking, diving/snorkeling, and wildlife observation.

13a. If part time or seasonal, which months? ________________________________________________________________________

14. Number of boats/vessels at the operation:

____ (number of vessels)

Question 15-20 are for specific types of operators:

15. Average number of whale watching participants per vessel in operation:

Vessel 1: ____watchers     Vessel 2: ____watchers

Vessel 3: ____watchers      Vessel 4: ____watchers

16. Average number of seal watching participants per vessel in operation:

Vessel 1: ____watchers     Vessel 2: ____watchers

Vessel 3: ____watchers      Vessel 4: ____watchers

17. Average number of white shark watching participants per vessel in operation:

Vessel 1: ____watchers     Vessel 2: ____watchers

Vessel 3: ____watchers      Vessel 4: ____watchers

18. Average number of participants per vessel in recreational fishing cruise operation:

Vessel 1: ____ participants    Vessel 2: ____participants

Vessel 3: ____ participants      Vessel 4: ____participants

19. Average number of kayakers and kayaks per guided tour:

____kayakers   ____kayaks  

20. Average number of divers/snorkelers per vessel in operation:

Vessel 1: ____divers/snorkelers     Vessel 2: ____divers/snorkelers

Vessel 3: ____divers/snorkelers     Vessel 4: ____divers/snorkelers

21. Average number of wildlife observers (seabirds and other) per vessel in operation (capacity):

Vessel 1: ____seabird observers ____ other wildlife observers    

Vessel 2: ____seabird observers ____ other wildlife observers   

Vessel 3: ____seabird observers ____ other wildlife observers      

Vessel 4: ____seabird observers ____ other wildlife observers   

22. Number of employees at the operation:

Full time _____

Part time _____

Seasonal _____

23. Number of vessel trips/guided tours per day (primary purpose):

Whale watching ___________

Seal watching ___________

White shark watching _________

Recreational cruise (sailing, boating)___________

Fishing ___________

Kayaking ___________

Diving/snorkeling ___________

Seabird viewing ___________

Question 24 should be answered only if the person responding has been in the guided wildlife tour industry for 10 years or more.

24. In your opinion, on a scale of 1 to 5, how has the quality of the guided wildlife tour industry changed in the last 10 years?

1 – Much worse   

2 – Somewhat worse   

3 – No change   

4 – Somewhat better   

5 – Much better 

No opinion

24a. If you believe that the quality of guided tours has changed, could you tell us how it’s changed?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

25. Are you aware that wildlife in the region are sometimes unintentionally harassed?

___YES ___NO (continue to 25c)

25a. If YES, how concerned are you that harassment to wildlife (whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds) may be having a negative impact on your business, with 1 being not concerned and 5 being extremely concerned?

1 – Not at all concerned

2 – Slightly concerned

3 – Somewhat concerned

4 – Moderately concerned

5 – Extremely concerned

No opinion

25b. Please explain your answer ______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

25c. Are you concerned about vessel speeds impact on wildlife? ______Yes _____No

25d. If yes to 25c, please explain your answer ______________________________

_________________________________________________________________

26 With the exception of Right Whales, there are no regulations in SBNMS that require an "approach distance" to whales. However, there are official NOAA Fisheries voluntary guidelines that recommend wildlife-viewing vessels maintain a minimum distance of 100 feet from whales. Does your operation have any kind of established policy regarding a minimum distance your vessels maintain from whales?

___YES ___NO

26a. If YES, what is your company's approach distance policy for whales?

___ can approach closer than 100 feet

___stay at least 100-150 feet away

___stay 151-300 feet away

___ stay More than 300 feet away

27. Any sighting of an entangled whale should be reported to the NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Marine Animal Reporting Hotline HOTLINE 1-866-7555 NOAA (6622) or call on VHF CH-16 to USCG.

27a. Have you ever heard of the Reporting HOTLINE?

___YES ___NO

27b. Have you/any of your employees ever called the Disentanglement HOTLINE?

___YES ___NO

27c. Please explain your response (i.e. reason why you called, did not call because you were not aware of program, did not call because you never encountered an entangled whale, etc.)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

27d. Have you/any of your employees ever called another number or organization about entangled whales?

___YES ___NO

27e. If yes to 26d, which organization or number did you call? _____________________

27f. Does your company have a policy about responding to injured or entangled wildlife?

___YES ___NO

27g. If YES, what is your company’s policy about responding to injured or entangled wildlife?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28. Would you be interested in learning more about how your company can report injured or entangled wildlife?

___YES ___NO

28a. If YES, how would you like to receive information? (Check all options that apply)

___ Attend a seminar during business hours with other interested local wildlife tour operators

___ Attend a seminar after business hours with other interested local wildlife tour operators

___ Attend a webinar/online seminar with other interested local wildlife tour operators

___ Receive physical pamphlets/handouts/reading materials that are mailed to the business

___ Receive electronic pamphlets/handouts/reading materials that are emailed to the business

___ Receive an in-person training from an trained expert during business hours at your business

29. Have you heard of Whale Alert? _____Yes (continue to 28a) ______No (skip to Q29)

29a. Have you ever used Whale Alert?

_____Yes (continue to 28b) ______No (skip to Q29)

29b. How have you used Whale Alert? _______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

30. Have you heard of Whale SENSE? _____Yes (continue to 29a) ______No (skip to Q31)

30a. Have you ever used Whale SENSE?

_____Yes (continue to 29b) ______No (skip to Q29c)

30b. Please tell us what you think about Whale SENSE __________________________

_________________________________________________________________

30c. Please tell us why you have not used Whale SENSE__________________________

_________________________________________________________________

31. If you have been operating a wildlife viewing business in or around SBNMS for at least 10 years, please answer the following questions. To the best of your knowledge, please rank the how the status/condition of the following resources in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary has changed over the past 10 years, where 1 is much better and 5 is much worse.

RESOURCE Better Not Much Change Worse

a. Water Quality 1 2 3 4 5 N/A Unsure

b. Marine Debris/Ocean Pollution 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

c. Marine Mammals whales, turtles,

seals) 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

d. Habitats 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

e. Introduced Species 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

f.. Seabirds 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

g. Recreational Fish 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

h. Forage Fish 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

32. If you have been operating a wildlife viewing business in or around SBNMS for at least 5 years, please answer the following questions. To the best of your knowledge, please rank the how the status/condition of the following items in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary have improved over the past five years as a result of sanctuary management. 1 is strongly agree and 5 is strongly disagree

Strongly Agree Neutral Strongly Disagree

a. Enforcement 1 2 3 4 5 N/A Unsure

b. Research 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

c. Natural Resource Protection 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

d. Maritime Heritage Resource Protection 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

e. Education 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

f.. Community Engagement 1 2 3 4 5 N/ A Unsure

33. In this section, we want to learn the best ways that SBNMS can communicate with you by understanding the sources of information you use and which sources of your information you trust.

For each of the following potential sources of information please indicate your level of trust for each one that use.

No Trust Very little Neutral Very much Completely Do not

at all trust trust trust use

1. SBNMS Staff 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

2. SBNMS Website 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

3. SBNMS Advisory Council 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

4. National Marine Sanctuary

Foundation 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

5. NOAA’s National Marine

Fisheries Service 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

6. State of Massachusetts

(Coastal Zone Management,

Division of Marine Fisheries) 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

7. Newspaper 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

8. Radio 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

9. Television 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

10. Internet 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

11. SBNMS Facebook Page 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

12. SBNMS Twitter Feed 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

13. Other Social Media (YouTube,

Flickr, Instagram, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

14. Word of Mouth 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

15. Whale SENSE 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

16. SBNMS Events 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

17. Sanctuary Publications 1 2 3 4 5 N/A

34. Intensity of Use: For each Activity, please answer the following questions.

1. In what part of the year (months) did you participate or operate in trips for this activity

2. For each month how many trips did you go on?

3. On average, how many days long area each of the trips for each activity? Does this vary by month?

4. On average, how many passengers do you carry per trip for each activity? Does this vary by month?

5. Calculate person days (passenger/trips * average days/trips)

6. In what time-period do you operate, if is less than all month? (i.e. two weeks, one week)

7. What percent of activity (person-days) occurs within the sanctuary? (show map if need too) Does this vary by month?

Activity 1: _________ Month Trips Days/Trips Passengers/Trip Person Days Time Period % Sanctuary

JAN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

FEB _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

APR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAY _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUL _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

AUG _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

SEP _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

OCT _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

NOV _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

DEC _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Activity 2: _________ Month Trips Days/Trips Passengers/Trip Person Days Time Period % Sanctuary

JAN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

FEB _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

APR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAY _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUL _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

AUG _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

SEP _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

OCT _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

NOV _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

DEC _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Activity 3: _________ Month Trips Days/Trips Passengers/Trip Person Days Time Period % Sanctuary

JAN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

FEB _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

APR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAY _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUL _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

AUG _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

SEP _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

OCT _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

NOV _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

DEC _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Activity 4: _________ Month Trips Days/Trips Passengers/Trip Person Days Time Period % Sanctuary

JAN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

FEB _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

APR _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

MAY _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUN _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

JUL _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

AUG _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

SEP _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

OCT _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

NOV _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

DEC _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

35. Mapping Exercise: Map the Distribution of Each Activity

Respondents will be advised to provide information on their anticipated spatial use of the New England region. This anticipated spatial use may be the same as their current use or it may be different. Respondents will be given a 100 penny budget, meaning one penny equals one percent of passenger activity. The respondent will allocate his or her budget across all map cells. Codes will be recorded on the coding sheet. The map cells will be referenced by column and row: For example, C1R1 1% means 1% of activity is in cell Column 1 Row 1. The percent of each activity must add up to 100.

Does this map reflect where you presently operate?

___YES ___NO

35a. If NO, please explain why future operations may be different than where you have historically operated.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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