Long-term Recreational and Commercial Fishing Survey

Long-Term Assessment: Commercial and Recreational Fishermen

OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx

Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx

Office of Science & Technology

NOAA Fisheries

Silver Spring, MD

ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HURRICANES AND OTHER CLIMATE-RELATED NATURAL DISASTERS ON COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING INDUSTRIES IN THE EASTERN, GULF COAST, AND CARIBBEAN TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES

We want to learn how you were affected by [____name of storm____] in the year following the storm. Your responses and participation in this survey are ANONYMOUS.

Questions about the survey? Phone: 401-782-3253/Fax: 401-782-3201/Email: [email protected]

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 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 Lisa L. Colburn, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882. Email: [email protected]

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.

INTRODUCTION:

COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN SURVEY

Hello. My name is ________. I'm calling on behalf of NOAA Fisheries.

We want to learn about how you were affected by [___name of storm____]. We would like to ask you a few questions regarding the impacts of [___state name____] on your fishing business. We are talking to both fishermen that were affected by [___name of storm____] as well as those who were not. It should only take about 15-20 minutes.

Your participation in this study is voluntary. If you agree to participate now, it is okay to change your mind later. You do not have to answer any question you do not want to, and all of your answers will remain anonymous.

SECTION A:

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Is this your primary source of income?

1. Yes (SKIP to Q3)

2. No (CONTINUE)

3. DO NOT KNOW

2. What are your other jobs?

1. ___________________________

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________

3. Which of these describe your position on the boat? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

1. Vessel Owner or Shore Captain ________

2. Captain ________

3. Owner Operator ________

4. Crew ________

5. Or something else? (SPECIFY) _______________________

4. What is your age? _______(years)

5. Do you own a fishing vessel?

1. Yes

2. No (SKIP TO Q7)

6. How many fishing vessels do you own?

No. of vessels:

7. What are the gear types used on the vessel you primarily fish on or receive the most income from?

1. Hook & line

2. Other (SPECIFY) _______________________________________________________________

8. What is the length of the vessel you primarily fish on or receive the most income from? _________ Feet

9. What are the main species caught from the vessel you primarily fish on or receive the most income from?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What is your homeport? ______________________________

11. Do you fish inshore, off-shore, or both?

1. Inshore

2. Off shore

3. Both

12. Do you have federal fishing permits, state fishing permits, or both federal and state permits?

1. Federal fishing permits

2. State fishing permits

3. Both

SECTION B:

IMPACTS FROM (___Name of storm___) ON YOUR FISHING BUSINESS

This section will cover four types of impacts to your business: operating status, crew, physical damages and revenue losses, and relocation and individual recovery.

13. How many years of fishing experience do you have? __________years

OPERATING STATUS:

14. Did you have to stop fishing (operating) at all due to [____name of storm_____]?

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP TO Q17)

15. For how long did you stop fishing? (SELECT ONE OPTION)

1. Answered in days___________

2. Answered in weeks__________

3. Answered in months_________

4. DO NOT KNOW

16. Please provide reasons this vessel did not fish after [____ name of storm___]. (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

1. Vessel damaged _______

2. Production support facilities damaged (e.g., dock, fuel, ice) ________

3. Owner preoccupied with or crew unavailable due to storm recovery efforts _________

4. Dealers/markets/sales channel damaged or not buying or no for-hire customers __________

5. Other (Please specify: _____________________________________________________________)

6. DO NOT KNOW

17. Was your normal fishing schedule affected, even if only temporarily, by [____name of storm_____]?

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP TO Q21)

18. Has your fishing activity as a whole returned to a normal schedule since the storm?

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP to Q20)

3. Not applicable

19. How long did it take for it to return to a normal schedule? (SELECT ONE OPTION)

1. Answered in days___________

2. Answered in weeks__________

3. Answered in months_________

4. DO NOT KNOW

20. On a scale of 0% to 100%, at what level of fishing activity are you operating at now? _________%

21. Were you prevented from accessing the docks, vessel or other infrastructure indispensable for your fishing activity?

1. Yes

2. No (SKIP TO Q23)

22. How long were you prevented from accessing those (docks, vessel or other infrastructure indispensable for your fishing activity)? (SELECT ONE OPTION)

1. Answered in days___________

2. Answered in weeks__________

3. Answered in months_________

4. DO NOT KNOW

CREW:

23. What was your average crew size before [____name of storm_____]:

24. What was your average crew size after [____name of storm_____]:

25. (IF Q23 AND Q24 ARE DIFFERENT): Has the crew size gone back to what it was before the storm?

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP TO Q27)

26. How long did it take the crew size to go back to what it was before the storm? (SELECT ONE OPTION)

1. Answered in days___________

2. Answered in weeks__________

3. Answered in months_________

4. DO NOT KNOW

PHYSICAL DAMAGES AND REVENUE LOSSES:

27. Did your fishing business experience physical damages or losses due to [____name of storm_____]?

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP TO Q31)

28. Please provide an estimate of the damages. This estimate can be based on an appraisal or your best estimate of the cost to repair the damage.

1. $___________

2. DO NOT KNOW

29. Is the damage insured?

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP to Q31)

3. DO NOT KNOW

30. Please provide or estimate the amount covered by insurance, i.e., the amount paid by insurance or expected to be paid by insurance.

1. $__________

2. DO NOT KNOW

31. Was your revenue affected by [____name of storm_____] during the 12 months following the storm?

1. Yes

2. No (SKIP TO Q35)

32. How was your revenue affected in the 12 months following the storm compare to the 12 months prior to [____name of storm_____]?

Increased by______% or Decreased by ______% or Not Affected by ______%

33. Which of the following describe how your revenue was affected? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

1. Business was or is down _______

2. No fish _______

3. Ended season early________

4. Physical damages ________

5. Anything else? (SPECIFY)

34. What is your estimate of the value of lost revenue for the 12 months following [____name of storm_____]? $ __________

RELOCATION AND INDIVIDUAL RECOVERY:

35. Did you relocate any aspect of your fishing operation, for example your homeport (marina) or your fishing grounds, due to [____name of storm_____]?

1. Yes (SKIP TO Q37)

2. No (CONTINUE)

36. Do you plan to relocate your business?

1. Yes

2. No

37. Did any of these things get in the way of your recovery? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

1. Building permits ________

2. Zoning, ordinances, etc. _________

3. Time to get assistance __________

4. Lack of personal financial resources___________

5. Anything else? (SPECIFY):

6. None _______

38. Which, if any, federal and/or state agencies did you interact with after [_____name of storm_____]?

1. FEMA

2. SBA

3. Other________________________________________________________________

4. None (SKIP TO Q41)

39. Were the agencies well-coordinated?

1. Yes

2. No

40. Do you have any suggestions for improving services?

1. Yes, please explain__________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. No

41. If you were affected by [_____name of storm_____], did any of these contribute to your recovery? (CHECK ALL THAT APPY). Which was the most important factor to your recovery? (CHECK ONLY ONE)

Factors that contributed to recovery	Check All that Apply	Most Important (CHECK ONLY ONE)
Family and/or friends
Church and/or community groups
Employees
FEMA
SBA
Unemployment benefits
Bank loan
Personal finances and labor
Other:

42. Would you say that [____name of storm_____] had any positive impacts on the fishery?

1. Yes

2. No (SKIP TO Q44)

SECTION C:

COMMUNITY RECOVERY FOLLOWING (___Name of storm___)

This section helps us understand how communities may have been affected as well as perceptions of potential changes to the communities in the future.

43. If yes, what?

44. Since [____name of storm_____], have there been any major changes to the community where your fishing operation is located? That would be changes such as zoning, ordinances, redevelopment and things like that.

1. Yes (CONTINUE)

2. No (SKIP TO Q48)

45. What changes have you noticed?

46. Has the community where your business is located become more or less resilient to coastal hazards due to the storm?

1. More resilient ________

2. Less resilient _________

3. No change (SKIP to Q48) ______

47. What has contributed to that change? __________________________________________________

SECTION D:

WELL-BEING

This section is intended to capture the ability of the participant to be prepared for and cope with change in general and in relation to natural disasters.

48. Now I’m going to read a list of statements. For each one I’d like you to tell me whether you strongly disagree, disagree, are neutral, agree or strongly agree with it.

Statements	Your opinion – check one box for each statement
	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
I have other options available if I decide to no longer be a fisherman (in my current occupation).	1	2	3	4	5
I am confident that I could get work elsewhere if I needed to.	1	2	3	4	5
I would be nervous trying something outside the fishery (outside my current occupation).	1	2	3	4	5
I have planned for my financial security.	1	2	3	4	5
Every time there is a change I plan a way to make it work for myself.	1	2	3	4	5
I am more likely to adapt to change compared to other fishermen (others in this business).	1	2	3	4	5
I do not think I am competitive enough to be a fisherman (continue in this business) much longer.	1	2	3	4	5
I am confident things will turn out well for me.	1	2	3	4	5
If there are any more changes due to natural disasters such as [____name of storm_____], I will not be able to continue to be a fisherman (in this business) much longer.	1	2	3	4	5
I can cope with impacts to the fishery (my business) due to natural disasters such as [____name of storm_____].	1	2	3	4	5
I am interested in learning new skills outside the fishery (my current occupation).	1	2	3	4	5

49. Would you say you learned anything from [____name of storm_____] that will help you prepare for future natural disasters?

1. Yes

2. No

3. DO NOT KNOW

50. What, if any, different measures will you take in the future to prepare for natural disasters such as [____name of storm_____]? (SPECIFY) ________________________________________________________

SECTION E:

COMMENTS

Do you have any additional comments you would like to share?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

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