West Coast Limited Entry Groundfish Cost Earnings Survey Protocol and Results from 2008

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-121

West Coast Limited Entry
Groundfish Cost Earnings Survey
Protocol and Results for 2008

December 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northwest Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Technical Memorandum
NMFS-NWFSC Series

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This document should be referenced as follows:

Lian, C.E. 2012. West Coast limited entry groundfish cost
earnings survey: Protocol and results for 2008. U.S. Dept.
Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-121, 62 p.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-121

West Coast Limited Entry
Groundfish Cost Earnings Survey
Protocol and Results for 2008
Carl E. Lian
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division
2725 Montlake Boulevard East
Seattle, Washington 98112

December 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service

Most NOAA Technical Memorandums
NMFS-NWFSC are available at the
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Web site, http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov
Copies are also available from the
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone orders: 1-800-553-6847
E-mail orders: [email protected]
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Table of Contents
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... v
List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. vii
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... ix
Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................ xi
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1
2. Survey Design .......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1. Survey Population and Sample ......................................................................................................... 2
2.2. Questionnaire Development ............................................................................................................. 2
2.3. Defining Revenues and Costs Directly Related to Commercial Fishing .......................................... 3
3. Survey Fielding Protocol ......................................................................................................................... 4
3.1. Fielding Schedule ............................................................................................................................. 4
3.2. Maximizing Response Rates ............................................................................................................ 4
4. Survey Response Rates ............................................................................................................................ 6
5. Comparing Respondents and Nonrespondents ........................................................................................ 8
5.1. Data Used to Test for Nonresponse Bias .......................................................................................... 8
5.2. Comparison Results .......................................................................................................................... 8
5.3. Statistical Tests for Nonresponse Bias ........................................................................................... 11
5.4. Correcting for Nonresponse Bias.................................................................................................... 12
6. Empirical Results ................................................................................................................................... 14
6.1. Calculated Costs ............................................................................................................................. 14
6.1.1. Landings Taxes ....................................................................................................................... 14
6.1.2. Trawl Buyback Fees ................................................................................................................ 15
6.1.3. Adjusted Captain Costs ........................................................................................................... 15
6.1.4. Opportunity Cost of Capital .................................................................................................... 16
6.2. Costs and Earnings during 2008 ..................................................................................................... 16
6.3. Profitability during 2008 ................................................................................................................ 18
6.4. Crew Size, Fuel Use, and Speed ..................................................................................................... 20
6.5. Owner as Captain............................................................................................................................ 20
6.6. Market Value of Vessels................................................................................................................. 21

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6.7 Comparison of 2004 and 2008 Survey Results................................................................................ 21
7. Concluding Comments........................................................................................................................... 23
Figures 1–8.................................................................................................................................................. 24
Tables 1–35 ................................................................................................................................................. 28
References ................................................................................................................................................... 57
Appendix A: Limited Entry Survey Questionnaire..................................................................................... 59

iv

List of Figures
Figure 1. Economic costs in 2008 for the trawl fleet ................................................................................. 24
Figure 2. Economic costs in 2008 for the fixed gear fleet ......................................................................... 24
Figure 3. Revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the trawl fleet ............................................................ 25
Figure 4. Economic costs per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the trawl fleet................................................. 25
Figure 5. Economic net revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the trawl fleet ...................................... 26
Figure 6. Revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the fixed gear fleet .................................................... 26
Figure 7. Economic costs per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the fixed gear fleet ......................................... 27
Figure 8. Economic net revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the fixed gear fleet .............................. 27

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vi

List of Tables
Table 1. Summary of survey response by vessel type, state, and revenue ................................................. 28
Table 2. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for all trawler
respondents and nonrespondents................................................................................................................. 29
Table 3. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for Alaska trawler
respondents and nonrespondents................................................................................................................. 29
Table 4. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for trawl crabber fleet
respondents and nonrespondents................................................................................................................. 30
Table 5. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for large groundfish
trawler respondents and nonrespondents .................................................................................................... 30
Table 6. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for trawl shoreside
whiting vessel respondents and nonrespondents ......................................................................................... 31
Table 7. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for trawl shrimper
fleet respondents and nonrespondents......................................................................................................... 31
Table 8. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear vessel
respondents and nonrespondents................................................................................................................. 32
Table 9. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear Alaska
vessel respondents and nonrespondents ...................................................................................................... 32
Table 10. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear crabber
fleet respondents and nonrespondents......................................................................................................... 33
Table 11. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear other
groundfish fleet respondents and nonrespondents ...................................................................................... 33
Table 12. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear “other
less than $15,000” vessel respondents and nonrespondents ....................................................................... 34
Table 13. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear sablefish
fleet respondents and nonrespondents......................................................................................................... 34
Table 14. Two sample t-tests for statistical significance of differences between trawl fleet
respondents and nonrespondents in five variables ...................................................................................... 35
Table 15. Two sample t-tests for statistical significance of differences between fixed gear fleet
respondents and nonrespondents in five variables ...................................................................................... 36
Table 16. Costs and earnings by category for trawl vessels ...................................................................... 37
Table 17. Costs and earnings by category for trawl Alaska vessels .......................................................... 38
Table 18. Costs and earnings by category for trawl crabbers .................................................................... 39
Table 19. Costs and earnings by category for large groundfish trawlers ................................................... 40
Table 20. Costs and earnings by category for trawl shoreside whiting vessels ......................................... 41

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Table 21. Costs and earnings by category for trawl shrimpers .................................................................. 42
Table 22. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear vessels............................................................... 43
Table 23. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear Alaska vessels................................................... 44
Table 24. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear crabbers ............................................................ 45
Table 25. Costs and earnings by category for other groundfish fixed gear vessels ................................... 46
Table 26. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear “other less than $15,000” vessels ..................... 47
Table 27. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear sablefish vessels ............................................... 48
Table 28. Revenue, costs, and net revenue for the trawl fleet ................................................................... 49
Table 29. Revenue, costs, and net revenue for the fixed gear fleet............................................................ 49
Table 30. Trawl fleet crew size, fuel use, and speed.................................................................................. 50
Table 31. Fixed gear fleet crew size, fuel use, and speed .......................................................................... 52
Table 32. Trawl fleet share for captain, crew, and vessel .......................................................................... 54
Table 33. Fixed gear fleet share for captain, crew, and vessel................................................................... 55
Table 34. Trawl fleet market value of vessel ............................................................................................. 56
Table 35. Fixed gear fleet market value of vessel...................................................................................... 56

viii

Executive Summary
This technical memorandum describes the fielding protocols and empirical results from
an economic cost earnings survey of the West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California)
limited entry groundfish fleet. The survey was conducted by the Fishery Resource Analysis and
Monitoring Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in cooperation with the Pacific
States Marine Fisheries Commission. Measuring the economic performance and impact of a
fishery requires data on the costs incurred by harvesters. Since harvesting vessels operating with
a limited entry groundfish permit account for more than 80% of the value of West Coast
groundfish landings, economic data on the limited entry groundfish fleet is essential for
evaluating the economic performance and impact of the West Coast groundfish fishery. The
results published here are expected to be used in regional economic impact models, measures of
economic performance, and a variety of analyses that arise regarding the management of
groundfish off the West Coast.
The surveyed population was owners of active commercial fishing vessels that 1) landed
at least $1,000 of fish on the West Coast during 2008 and 2) had a limited entry groundfish
permit. Because of the requirement for at least $1,000 of West Coast landings during 2010,
vessels that participated in the at sea whiting (Merluccius productus) fishery but did not
participate in any shoreside West Coast fisheries were not surveyed. Any vessel that participated
in the shoreside whiting fishery was included in the survey population. There were 255 vessels
in the survey population.
This survey updates an earlier cost earnings survey of the limited entry fleet. In-person
interviews were completed with the owners of 123 vessels, representing a 48% response rate.
The response rate was higher for vessels in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet (57%) than
for vessels in the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet (39%).
These 123 responses were used for statistical inference of costs, revenues, and vessel
operating characteristics (such as crew size and fuel consumption). This document presents the
results of that statistical inference for both the trawl and fixed gear fleets, as well as for the
primary vessel types in each fleet. Primary vessel types in the limited entry groundfish trawl
fleet include large groundfish trawlers, shoreside whiting harvesters, Alaska vessels, crabbers,
and shrimpers. Primary vessel types in the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet include
sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) vessels, other groundfish vessels, Alaska vessels, and crabbers.
Tests for nonresponse bias indicated that differences between survey respondents and
nonrespondents did not exhibit significant nonresponse bias when examined at the vessel type
level. Results for the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet as a whole also did not exhibit
significant nonresponse bias. In the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet, response rates
varied considerably across vessel types, and as a result, nonresponse bias was significant for the
fixed gear fleet as a whole. Results reported in this document for the entire limited entry
groundfish fixed gear fleet incorporate weights for each response that offset nonresponse bias.
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For the limited entry groundfish trawl survey respondents, the average vessel had revenue
from all sources of $585,041, reported costs of $469,068, economic costs of $507,660, and
economic net revenue of $77,381 during 2008. Since economic cost only includes costs incurred
prior to the shoreside delivery of fish and does not include shoreside management and
administration costs, it provides a measure of economic profit that is biased upward. Amounts
such as revenue, cost, and net revenue reflect operations in all fisheries (West Coast and Alaska).
Vessels that operated primarily in Alaska fisheries and the West Coast shoreside whiting fishery
earned higher economic net revenue than vessels that operated primarily in the West Coast nonwhiting groundfish trawl fishery. Vessels that operated primarily in the West Coast non-whiting
groundfish trawl fishery earned positive but smaller economic net revenue, on average ($16,562
in 2008).
For the limited entry groundfish fixed gear survey respondents, the average vessel had
revenue from all sources of $324,189, costs reported on the survey of $247,003, economic costs
of $261,876, and economic net revenue of $62,313 during 2008. As in the limited entry
groundfish trawl fleet, the vessels earning the most net revenue were Alaska vessels, which
earned per vessel economic net revenue of $422,151. Economic net revenue was lower for
vessels that operated primarily in the West Coast limited entry fixed gear fishery. Sablefish
fixed gear vessels earned an average economic net revenue of $36,410 in 2008 and other
groundfish fixed gear vessels earned an average economic net revenue of $8,641.

x

Acknowledgments
The cost earnings survey described in this document was developed through
collaboration and consultation with numerous individuals. The following individuals made
important contributions to the survey design, fielding protocol, analysis of data, or reporting of
data: Leif Anderson and Todd Lee, Northwest Fisheries Science Center; Dave Colpo, Pacific
States Marine Fisheries Commission; and Stephen Freese, National Marine Fisheries Service’s
Northwest Regional Office. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Pacific States
Marine Fisheries Commission also thank all of the vessel owners who volunteered their time and
data for the survey.

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xii

1. Introduction
This technical memorandum describes the fielding protocol and empirical results from an
economic cost earnings survey of the U.S. West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California)
limited entry groundfish fleet. The survey was conducted by the Fishery Resource Analysis and
Monitoring Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) in cooperation with
the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). Measuring the economic
performance and impact of a fishery requires data on the costs incurred by harvesters. Since
harvesting vessels operating with a limited entry groundfish permit account for more than 80%
of the value of West Coast groundfish landings, economic data on the limited entry fleet is
essential for evaluating the economic performance and impact of the West Coast groundfish
fishery. The results published here are expected to be used in regional economic impact models,
measures of economic performance, and a variety of analyses that arise regarding the
management of groundfish off the West Coast.
The survey was fielded between July 2009 and February 2010, and collected data for the
2007 and 2008 vessel fiscal years It updates results from a previous cost earnings survey of the
limited entry groundfish fleet that collected data for the 2003 and 2004 vessel fiscal years.
Section 2 discusses survey design and questionnaire development. Section 3 discusses
survey fielding. Section 4 discusses response rates. Section 5 compares respondents and
nonrespondents and summarizes the results of tests for nonresponse bias. Section 6 presents
empirical results obtained from analysis of the survey data. Section 7 provides concluding
remarks.

2. Survey Design
This survey was designed to provide economic data on vessels that participate in the
West Coast limited entry shoreside groundfish fishery. The objective was to obtain vessel-level
information on earnings and expenditures needed to support the calculation of economic
performance measures (such as net revenue and efficiency), as well as regional economic impact
analysis.

2.1. Survey Population and Sample
The population of interest for this survey was all vessels with at least one limited entry
groundfish permit at the end of 2008 and at least $1,000 of West Coast landings during 2008.
There were 255 vessels in the survey population. Vessels with less than $1,000 of West Coast
landings were considered too small in revenue to justify the expense of data collection.
Due to the relatively small number of vessels in the limited entry fleet and the high level
of landings per vessel, an attempt was made to collect cost earnings data from each member of
the survey population. The survey sample is a census of the survey population.
Fielding a survey requires contact information on each member of the survey population.
Contact information (vessel owner name, address, and telephone number) for each vessel in the
survey population was obtained from vessel and limited entry permit registration data.

2.2. Questionnaire Development
The survey questionnaire was an update of the questionnaire previously used to collect
2004 data from the West Coast limited entry groundfish fleet. 1 The updated questionnaire was
developed initially by representatives of NWFSC, National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS)
Northwest Regional Office, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, and PSMFC. After survey
content was determined, a draft questionnaire was prepared and discussed with members of the
limited entry fleet.
For this second economic cost earnings survey of the limited entry fleet, a few
modifications were made to the questionnaire. Cost data were collected for three categories
(moorage, enforcement, and dues) that did not appear on the initial questionnaire. In addition, an
“other” cost category appeared, which provided the survey respondent a chance to report any
expenses not covered by the listed categories.

1

For a description of questionnaire development for the previous limited entry survey, see Lian 2010.

2

2.3. Defining Revenues and Costs Directly Related to
Commercial Fishing
The objective of this survey was to provide the economic data needed to evaluate the
economic performance and economic impacts of the West Coast limited entry groundfish
fishery. Evaluating performance and impacts requires data on the revenues earned by and costs
incurred through the operation of commercial fishing vessels in the fishery. Since the same
entity that owns a commercial fishing vessel may also be engaged in any number of other
fishing-related or nonrelated activities, it is important to define which revenues and costs are
included in the measurement of net revenue.
This survey focused on collecting revenue and cost information directly related to the
operation of a commercial fishing vessel. Some expenses incurred by the owner of the vessel
may not be directly related to the operation of a commercial fishing vessel. Expenses incurred
after the fish have been landed are not directly related to the operation of the vessel. The vessel
owner may also own a processing plant, but expenses related to operating the processing plant
are not directly related to operation of the fishing vessel. Additionally, some expenses incurred
before the point of landing may be difficult to separate into expenses that are directly related to
operation of the vessel and expenses that are not. For example, expenses such as office space
and a shore-based truck may be associated with the operation of a vessel, but are difficult to
separate from other possible uses. Such expenses are therefore excluded from the costs collected
in the survey. As a result, estimates of net revenue in this report should be considered
“maximum estimates” due to the fact that some costs are not collected through the survey.
The survey collected annual revenue and cost data for the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years.
Revenue sources collected by this survey include Alaska landings, Hawaii landings, at sea
deliveries, the sale and leasing of permits, salmon disaster relief payments, and other activities
directly related to the operation of the vessel (e.g., chartering as part of a NMFS research
project). The survey did not collect information on West Coast landings because this
information can be obtained from the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN). Cost
categories collected by the survey included captain, crew, fuel, food, ice, bait, insurance, interest,
moorage, dues, enforcement, purchase of permits, leasing of permits, and RMI (repair,
maintenance, and improvements). Since most vessels operate in multiple fisheries, much of the
available cost data pertain to multiple fisheries. While some of the costs such as vessel repairs
and maintenance are joint costs, other costs such as fuel are not necessarily joint costs but are not
reported separately by fishery in the survey. 2

2

Joint costs are production costs incurred by the firm when two or more outputs are jointly produced. Joint costs
can occur when the cost of an input is a fixed cost and when that input is used to produce multiple outputs either
concurrently or consecutively. In the case of concurrent outputs, a variable cost can be a joint cost. Repair and
maintenance costs that prepare the vessel for use in all fisheries are joint costs. If a single trawl tow harvests both
sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus), the fuel used to harvest the sablefish and
Dover sole from the same tow is a joint cost.

3

3. Survey Fielding Protocol
This section describes the protocol used to field the survey and collect data from
respondents. Particular emphasis was placed on implementing a protocol that would maximize
response rates. Steps taken to maximize response rates are discussed in subsection 3.2.

3.1. Fielding Schedule
Survey fielding was divided into three stages, with each stage corresponding to one of the
West Coast states. Fielding began in Washington, moved to Oregon, and finished in California.
It moved southward over time so as to reduce the travel costs involved in conducting in-person
interviews. Fielding began with each member of the survey sample receiving a package by mail
containing an introductory letter describing the survey, a one-page description of reasons for
conducting the survey, and a copy of the questionnaire (the latter supplied in Appendix A).
About two weeks after the letter and questionnaire mailing, attempts began to contact each
survey recipient by telephone and schedule an in-person interview. During the following three
weeks, up to six additional attempts were made to contact each member of the survey population
until an interview date was scheduled or the vessel owner declined to participate in the survey.
Interviews were conducted at a location chosen by the respondent. The most frequent interview
locations were the respondent’s residence, vessel, or a restaurant.
Interviewers used the questionnaire during the in-person interviews, asking some
additional follow-up questions when appropriate. The interviewer’s questionnaire contained not
only the questions for which responses were collected, but also examples of how responses to
each question would be used by NWFSC staff to address fisheries management issues. For
example, interviewers were prompted to ask questions about the nature of repair and
maintenance expenses when survey respondents reported large repair and maintenance
expenditures.
Survey fielding began in July 2009 and was completed in February 2010. The extended
period of data collection reflects the fact that some members of the survey population travel to
Alaska during part of the year, and obtaining their responses to the survey required waiting for
their return. Data were collected through in-person interviews by Gilmore Research. To aid in
preparation, survey respondents received a copy of the questionnaire in the mail prior to the inperson interview.

3.2. Maximizing Response Rates
A number of methods were used to maximize survey response rates. First, the survey
was short, four pages in written form. Data collection through in-person interviews usually took
less than one hour. Second, respondents were asked only to provide information about major
cost and earnings categories, thus avoiding what might seem to respondents like unnecessary
4

detail. Third, data were collected through in-person interviews, which typically have higher
response rates than mail or telephone surveys. Fourth, there were extensive follow-up telephone
calls and mailings after the initial letter and questionnaire mailing in order to schedule in-person
interviews and obtain responses. These follow-up telephone calls were distributed among
weekday/weekend and day/evening time periods to maximize the likelihood of reaching the
contact person.

5

4. Survey Response Rates
Responses for this voluntary survey provided a representative sample of the vessels in
each of the major vessel types in the limited entry trawl fleet and the limited entry fixed gear
fleet. Because response rates varied considerably across vessel types in the limited entry fixed
gear fleet, it is necessary to weight survey responses when developing summary statistics for the
entire fixed gear fleet, even though weighting survey data is not necessary when examining
summary statistics for each individual vessel type. Table 1 presents a summary of survey
response rates. A complete survey form with data judged usable was received from 123 of the
255 survey population members, a 48% response rate. 3 Complete responses were received from
73 of 127 vessels in the trawl fleet, a 57% response rate. Complete responses were received
from 50 of 128 vessels in the fixed gear fleet, a 39% response rate.
Response rates are reported by vessel type, state of home port, and revenue from West
Coast landings. The vessel type definitions used in this report are taken from page 55 of Radtke
and Davis (2000). The primary vessel types in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet are large
groundfish trawlers (at least $100,000 annual revenue, of which at least 33% comes from trawlcaught groundfish), whiting (Merluccius productus) vessels (at least $100,000 revenue, of which
at least 33% comes from whiting), crabbers (at least $15,000 revenue, of which at least 33%
comes from crab), shrimpers (at least $15,000 revenue, of which at least 33% comes from
shrimp), and Alaska vessels (at least $100,000 revenue, of which at least 50% comes from
Alaska fisheries). Vessels that participate in the shoreside whiting fishery are typically classified
as either whiting vessels or Alaska vessels, depending on whether or not they operated in Alaska.
The primary vessel types in the limited entry fixed gear fleet are sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
fixed gear (at least $15,000 revenue, of which at least 33% comes from sablefish caught with
fixed gear), other groundfish fixed gear (at least $15,000 revenue, of which at least 33% comes
from groundfish caught with fixed gear), crabbers (already defined), and “other less than
$15,000” (vessels landing less than $15,000 of fish during the year). While most vessels that
participate in the primary sablefish fishery are classified as sablefish fixed gear vessels, there are
some vessels (especially those with a single tier 3 sablefish permit) that are classified as crabbers
or other groundfish fixed gear vessels.
In the limited entry trawl fleet, large groundfish trawlers accounted for 83 of the 127
vessels and provided a 63% response rate. Responses were received from 43% of the 14 Alaska
vessels, 67% of the 12 whiting vessels, 33% of the 9 crab vessels, 75% of the 4 shrimp vessels,
and 25% of the 4 vessels that were in other vessel types. In the limited entry fixed gear fleet,
responses were received from 37% of the 59 sablefish fixed gear vessels, 24% of the 34 other

3

Some survey respondents completed only some of the survey questions and as a result did not provide complete
data sources of costs and earnings. Other survey respondents provided data which were deemed suspect, such as
having variable costs that exceeded revenue from landings. The response rate figures in this section only count
complete responses that do not contain any suspicious responses.

6

groundfish fixed gear vessels, 53% of the 17 crab vessels, 75% of the 12 Alaska vessels, and
40% of the 5 vessels that were in other vessel types.
Table 1 presents response rates by geographic location and revenue class. In the limited
entry groundfish trawl fleet, response rates were 61% for vessels with a home port in California,
58% for vessels with a home port in Oregon, and 42% for vessels with a home port in
Washington. In the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet, response rates were 27% for
vessels based in California, 49% for vessels based in Oregon, and 47% for vessels based in
Washington. The low response rate in California reflects the low response rate among
participants in the live thornyhead (Sebastolobus spp.) fishery.
Response rates were positively correlated with revenue from West Coast landings during
2008. Among limited entry trawl vessels, the response rate was 65% for vessels with more than
$500,000 of West Coast landings revenue, 57% for vessels with between $100,000 and $500,000
of West Coast landings, and 30% for vessels having West Coast landings under $100,000.
Among limited entry groundfish fixed gear vessels, the response rate was 43% for vessels with
more than $500,000 of West Coast landings, 51% for vessels with between $100,000 and
$500,000 of West Coast landings, and 27% for vessels with under $100,000 of West Coast
landings.

7

5. Comparing Respondents and
Nonrespondents
A considerable amount of information about vessel characteristics and landings for each
member of the survey population is available from federal and state vessel registration records
and PacFIN landings data. That information can be used to compare respondents and
nonrespondents and perform tests to determine whether differences between them are
statistically significant. This section compares vessel physical characteristics and revenue from
West Coast landings for respondents and nonrespondents.

5.1. Data Used to Test for Nonresponse Bias
Data on vessel physical characteristics, West Coast landings (by species, gear type, and
port), and revenue from West Coast landings (also by species, gear type, and port) are available
for all members of the survey population. Available information on vessel characteristics
includes vessel length and horsepower. PacFIN provides vessel-level information on West Coast
(Washington, Oregon, and California) landings by date, species, gear type, and port for all
vessels in the survey population. As a result, it is possible to compare respondents and
nonrespondents with regard to seasonal patterns, species landed, and location of landings.

5.2. Comparison Results
Vessel physical characteristics and landings revenue for survey respondents and
nonrespondents are compared in Table 2 through Table 13. Table 2 through Table 7 report
results for the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet and Table 8 through Table 13 report results for
the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet. These tables compare vessel physical
characteristics and revenue from West Coast landings for the survey population, survey
respondents, and survey nonrespondents. While this section compares respondents and
nonrespondents (providing the magnitude of differences between them), subsection 5.3 and
Table 14 and Table 15 provide tests of statistical significance for the differences between
respondents and nonrespondents.
Table 2 compares respondents and nonrespondents for the entire limited entry groundfish
trawl fleet during 2008. The mean engine horsepower for survey respondents (436) was slightly
lower than the mean engine horsepower for nonrespondents (446). Both respondents and
nonrespondents had a mean vessel length of 66 feet. Mean revenue from West Coast landings
was greater for respondents ($451,877) than nonrespondents ($413,832). Respondents earned
greater revenue than nonrespondents from groundfish ($339,504 vs. $306,926) and crab
($48,909 vs. $40,304) landings.
Table 3 through Table 7 compare respondents and nonrespondents for the primary vessel
types in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet. Table 3 compares respondents and
8

nonrespondents for the Alaska trawl fleet. Survey respondents had vessels with smaller engine
horsepower than nonrespondents (a mean of 650 vs. 801) and nearly identical length (a mean of
88 feet for respondents vs. 89 feet for nonrespondents). The revenue from West Coast landings
earned by vessels classified as Alaska vessels comes primarily from whiting, and was lower for
survey respondents than nonrespondents ($416,584 vs. $466,737).
Table 4 compares respondents and nonrespondents for vessels in the limited entry
groundfish trawl fleet classified as crabbers. 4 Responses were received from three of the nine
vessels. Respondents had vessels with greater mean length (46 feet) than nonrespondents (41
feet) and more powerful engines (horsepower of 298 vs. 193). Revenue from West Coast
landings was also greater for respondents than nonrespondents (a mean of $259,718 vs.
$114,117). Respondents not only had greater revenue from crab landings than nonrespondents,
but also averaged $53,367 in revenue from groundfish landings, while the six nonrespondents
did not earn any revenue from groundfish landings.
Table 5 compares respondents and nonrespondents for vessels in the limited entry
groundfish trawl fleet classified as large groundfish trawlers. This type accounts for almost twothirds of the vessels in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet, and consists of vessels that earn
more than $100,000 revenue from West Coast landings annually with at least one-third of the
revenue coming from groundfish caught with trawl gear. Physical characteristics for respondents
and nonrespondents show almost no difference. Respondents had vessels with mean engine
horsepower of 385 while nonrespondents had vessels with mean engine horsepower of 384.
Similarly, respondents had a mean vessel length of 63 feet while nonrespondents had a mean
vessel length of 62 feet. While revenue from groundfish and crab landings was very similar for
respondents and nonrespondents, revenue from all West Coast landings was smaller for
respondents ($414,266) than nonrespondents ($440,575). This difference reflects the greater
shrimp landings recorded by nonrespondents than respondents during 2008.
Table 6 indicates that whiting vessels had smaller engines (mean horsepower of 663 for
respondents vs. 758 for nonrespondents) and shorter length (77 vs. 85 feet). While respondents
landed less groundfish on the West Coast than nonrespondents, survey respondents landed more
crab on the West Coast than nonrespondents. Revenue from landings of all species on the West
Coast was $813,966 for respondents and $776,175 for nonrespondents.
The limited entry groundfish trawl survey population also included four vessels that were
classified as shrimpers during 2008. As shown in Table 7, three of these four vessels responded
to the survey. Since confidentiality restrictions prevent publication of data based on fewer than
three responses, it is not possible to publish data in Table 7 for nonrespondents that would allow
a comparison of respondents and nonrespondents. Table 7 does supply information from survey
respondents on how the physical characteristics and revenue from West Coast landings of
shrimpers compare with other vessel types.
Table 8 compares respondents and nonrespondents for the entire limited entry groundfish
fixed gear fleet during 2008. Survey respondents had vessels with greater engine horsepower
4

The statistical significance of the differences between respondents and nonrespondents in Table 4 through Table 13
is shown in Table 14 and Table 15.

9

than nonrespondents (a mean of 292 vs. 226) and greater vessel length (a mean of 46 feet vs. 37
feet). While survey respondents and nonrespondents had similar revenue from West Coast
groundfish landings (a mean of $90,673 for respondents vs. $88,862 for nonrespondents), survey
respondents earned more than twice as much revenue from crab landings as nonrespondents (a
mean of $91,287 vs. $45,590). As a result of their greater revenue from crab landings, the mean
revenue from all West Coast landings for survey respondents was $202,637 while the mean
revenue from all West Coast landings for nonrespondents was $147,296.
Table 9 compares survey respondents and nonrespondents that were classified as Alaska
vessels in the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet. While the mean vessel length for
respondents was 66 feet, the mean vessel length for nonrespondents was 58 feet. While
respondents had higher revenue from crab landings on the West Coast than nonrespondents (a
mean of $94,065 vs. $48,068), respondents had lower revenue from West Coast groundfish
landings than nonrespondents (a mean of $110,062 vs. $167,464). As a result, respondents had
slightly lower revenue from all West Coast landings than nonrespondents ($212,304 vs.
$226,147).
Table 10 compares survey respondents and nonrespondents in the limited entry fixed gear
fleet classified as crabbers. Respondents had vessels with a shorter length than nonrespondents
(a mean of 47 feet vs. 51 feet) and smaller engine (a mean horsepower of 341 vs. 515).
Respondents earned greater revenue from West Coast crab landings than nonrespondents (a
mean of $231,156 vs. $209,649), but respondents earned less from groundfish landings than
nonrespondents (a mean of $59,500 vs. $128,085). As a result of their lower revenue from
groundfish landings, survey respondents had lower revenue from all West Coast landings than
nonrespondents (a mean of $325,812 vs. $387,268).
Table 11 compares survey respondents and nonrespondents for those members of the
limited entry fixed gear fleet classified as other groundfish fixed gear vessels (other groundfish
meaning other than sablefish). While responses were received from only 8 of the 34 vessels in
this vessel type, the physical characteristics of survey respondents and nonrespondents were
similar. Survey respondents had vessels with slightly smaller engines than survey
nonrespondents (a mean horsepower of 214 vs. 225), and vessel length was nearly identical (a
mean of 29 feet for respondents vs. 28 feet for nonrespondents). The short length of vessels in
the other groundfish fixed gear vessel type reflects the fact that many of these vessels participate
primarily in the southern California live thornyhead fishery. Survey respondents earned more
revenue from West Coast crab landings than nonrespondents (a mean of $29,039 vs. $7,986), but
earned less revenue from West Coast groundfish landings (a mean of $62,210 vs. $77,069).
When all West Coast landings are considered, survey respondents earned slightly more revenue
than nonrespondents (a mean of $89,420 vs. $73,269).
All vessels in the limited entry fixed gear fleet with under $15,000 of landings on the
West Coast are placed in the under $15,000 vessel type. The survey population contained five
vessels of this type during 2008. Of them, two responded to the survey and three were
nonrespondents. Since confidentiality restrictions prohibit reporting results based on fewer than
three independent observations, it is not possible to report results for the two respondents. It is
also not possible to report results for the five vessels in the survey population and the three
nonrespondents, as it would then be possible to easily calculate the values omitted for the two
10

respondents. As a result, Table 12 only reports results for the survey population of five vessels.
The vessels had a mean length of 41 feet and mean engine horsepower of 160. They consisted
primarily of small-scale harvesters of crab and groundfish. The mean vessel had West Coast
landings of $5,998.
Table 13 compares the survey population, respondents, and nonrespondents in the limited
entry groundfish fixed gear fleet classified as sablefish fixed gear vessels. In terms of number of
vessels, this is the largest vessel type in the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet. All of the
vessels in this type have at least one limited entry groundfish fixed gear permit with a sablefish
endorsement. Survey respondents had vessels with greater mean horsepower than
nonrespondents (a mean of 246 vs. 180) and greater length (a mean of 42 feet vs. 39 feet).
Respondents had greater revenue from West Coast crab landings (a mean of $63,532 vs.
$41,183) and West Coast groundfish landings (a mean of $117,271 vs. $102,095) than
nonrespondents during 2008. As a result, survey respondents had greater revenue from West
Coast landings of all species than nonrespondents (a mean of $207,120 vs. $154,292).

5.3. Statistical Tests for Nonresponse Bias
A two sample t-test was used to determine whether the differences observed between
survey respondents and nonrespondents were statistically significant. The two sample t-test is
based on a null hypothesis that the mean value of the variable being tested is the same for
respondents and nonrespondents. 5 Two sample t-tests were performed using data on vessel
length, engine horsepower, value of West Coast crab landings, value of West Coast groundfish
landings, and value of all West Coast landings.
Two sample t-tests for the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet are reported in Table 14.
Test results are reported for the entire limited entry groundfish trawl fleet as well as the primary
vessel types in the fleet. A total of 5 two sample t-tests were performed for the entire survey
population and 20 two sample t-tests were performed at the vessel-type level. In some cases, the
limited number of observations prevents reporting results due to confidentiality considerations. 6
Table 14 shows that for the entire limited entry trawl fleet as well as the primary vessel
types in the fleet, none of the two sample t-tests demonstrated a statistically significant
difference between survey respondents and nonrespondents at even the 90% confidence level.
While the difference in revenue from West Coast landings of all species for respondent and
nonrespondent crab vessels appears large (respondents had more than twice as much revenue as
nonrespondents from West Coast landings of all species during 2008), the difference is not
statistically significant at the 90% confidence level because of the small number of observations
and the large variance in revenue among the few observations.
5

In addition to testing for statistically significant differences between survey respondents and nonrespondents using
a two sample t-test, survey respondents and nonrespondents were compared using permutation tests, which do not
require any assumption about the distribution of the variable being used to compare respondents and
nonrespondents. Since the outcome of the permutation tests was similar to the outcome of the t-tests and the intent
of this document is to summarize survey responses, results from the permutation tests are not provided. For an
outline of the permutation testing methodology, see Goode 2006.
6
In order to protect the confidentiality of survey respondents, responses from at least three separate business entities
are required in order to report values for survey means and standard deviations.

11

Table 15 indicates that the difference in revenue from crab landings earned by
respondents and nonrespondents for the entire limited entry fixed gear fleet was statistically
significant at the 95% confidence level. However, the difference in revenue from all West Coast
landings earned by respondents and nonrespondents was not significant at even the 90%
confidence level.
Revenue from landings (for crab, groundfish, or all species) and physical characteristics
did not show a statistically significant difference at the 95% level for any of the vessel types in
the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet. Only engine horsepower in Alaska vessels
displayed a statistically significant difference between respondents and nonrespondents at the
90% level. Differences between respondents and nonrespondents are more frequently significant
for the entire limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet than for the vessel types in the fleet,
because the different survey response rates across vessel types create distortions in the inferences
for the entire limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet that are not present in the inferences for
the individual vessel types.

5.4. Correcting for Nonresponse Bias
Subsection 5.2 and subsection 5.3 indicate that statistically significant differences do not
exist at the vessel-type level between survey respondents and nonrespondents. A comparison of
respondents and nonrespondents for the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet also does not show a
consistent pattern of differences that are statistically significant. As a result, there is no reason to
adjust survey data at the vessel-type level or for the entire limited entry groundfish trawl fleet for
nonresponse bias.
While the response rate for Alaska vessels in the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet
was 75%, the response rate for vessels in the other groundfish fixed gear vessel type was only
24%. The different response rates create bias when data from the survey is aggregated without
weighting. While the survey population has 12 Alaska vessels and 32 other groundfish fixed
gear vessels, the survey respondents include 9 Alaska vessels and 8 other groundfish fixed gear
vessels. Aggregating the survey respondents without adjusting for the different response rates
would result in the Alaska vessels accounting for too large a share of the limited entry groundfish
fixed gear fleet, and would cause results reported for the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet
to be biased upward, as Alaska vessels are much larger scale operations than other groundfish
fixed gear vessels. This is the reason unweighted survey respondents have mean West Coast
landings of $202,637 while unweighted survey nonrespondents have unweighted West Coast
landings of $147,296 in Table 8.
In order to weight the survey responses for calculation of revenue and cost figures for the
entire limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet, a survey weight is calculated for responses from
each vessel type in the fleet. The weight for each vessel type is equal to the number of vessels in
the survey population divided by the number of respondents. For example, in the limited entry
groundfish fixed gear fleet, there were 12 Alaska vessels in the survey population and responses
were obtained from 9 of these vessels. The weight for Alaska vessels is 12 / 9 = 1.33. There
were 34 other groundfish fixed gear vessels in the survey population and responses were
obtained from 8 vessels, so the survey weight for other groundfish fixed gear vessels is 34 / 8 =
4.25. Statistics reported for the entire limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet in section 6 are
12

calculated using these weights with SAS PROC SURVEYMEANS. 7 All other results reported
in section 6 for individual vessel types and for the entire limited entry groundfish trawl fleet are
calculated using unweighted data from survey respondents.

7

For a description of the weighting procedure used by PROC SURVEYMEANS, see the documentation online at
http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/statug/63347/HTML/default/viewer.htm#statug_surveymeans_sect007.
htm

13

6. Empirical Results
Before examining cost and earnings data from 2008, it is worthwhile to consider the
health of the West Coast groundfish and crab fisheries during 2008. Total commercial
groundfish landings (including whiting) for all gear types on the West Coast were 97,858 mt
during 2008. This is the sixth largest annual groundfish landings total on the West Coast during
the 10 year period between 2001 and 2010. Total commercial crab landings for all gear types on
the West Coast were 20,487 mt during 2008. The 2008 value is the seventh highest annual
landings total during the 10 year period between 2001 and 2010, and the lowest annual landings
total since 2003.
Revenue from commercial West Coast groundfish landings in 2008 was $70,029,024.
This is the highest annual revenue from groundfish landings during the 2001–2010 period on
both a nominal and an inflation-adjusted basis. The historically high revenue from groundfish
landings reflects the high prices for whiting and sablefish that prevailed during 2008. Ex vessel
whiting prices averaged $0.10 per pound during 2008, the highest annual average (on both a
nominal and an inflation-adjusted basis) during the 2001–2010 period. Ex vessel sablefish prices
averaged $2.10 a pound during 2008, higher than annual average prices observed during 2001–
2007, but below annual average prices observed during 2009 and 2010.
In summary, the West Coast groundfish fishery in 2008 can be characterized by average
harvest levels and strong prices for key species such as whiting and sablefish. As a result, the
revenue earned from landings of groundfish on the West Coast was unusually high. In contrast,
the crab fishery during 2008 experienced its lowest level of ex vessel landings revenue since
2003.

6.1. Calculated Costs
The tables discussed in subsection 6.2 present the costs and revenues associated with
operation of a commercial fishing vessel. While information on revenue from West Coast
landings was taken from PacFIN data, information on all other sources of revenue was taken
from survey responses. Although most of the cost categories report information collected by the
survey, there are four cost categories that were calculated using PacFIN and cost earnings survey
data. The cost of landings taxes and buyback fees was calculated from PacFIN data and
published tax rates, while the opportunity cost of capital and adjusted captain costs were
calculated based on survey responses and PacFIN data. Combining all of this information on
revenue sources and costs permits calculation of the net revenue earned through operation of
commercial fishing vessels.
6.1.1. Landings Taxes
Calculating the landing taxes paid by the owner of a commercial fishing vessel requires
consideration of not only the tax rates charged by each state, but also the incidence of the tax
14

between the fish seller (vessel owner) and fish buyer. Calculating landings taxes is
straightforward, as PacFIN provides information on the location of landings (landings taxes vary
by state), species landed (as tax rates differ by species in some cases), landed weight (for
California taxes charged on a per pound basis), and revenue from landings (for Washington and
Oregon taxes, which are calculated as a percentage of revenue).
Determining the incidence of the landings tax between the harvester and the first receiver
is more difficult. Neither the Oregon tax code nor the California tax code include any provision
to shift some of the tax back to harvesters. As discussed in Leonard and Watson (2011), the ex
vessel price of fish reported in PacFIN is believed to be the price net of taxes, so no adjustment
to revenue reported in PacFIN for taxes is required in California and Oregon for fish sold to a
first receiver. In California and Oregon, the only landings taxes assumed in this analysis to be
paid by the vessel owner from the revenue reflected on the fish ticket are incurred on fish sold
directly to the final consumer. In contrast to California and Oregon, the Washington tax code
states that first receivers can shift half of the landings tax back to the fish seller. As a result, this
analysis assumes that the vessel owner incurs half of the 2.3% landings tax levied in Washington
when fish are sold to a first receiver. In California and Oregon, the first receiver cannot shift any
portion of the landings tax back to the fish seller.
6.1.2. Trawl Buyback Fees
PacFIN data is also used as the basis for calculating the fees paid by vessels owners to
repay the buyback program that removed 91 permits from the groundfish trawl fishery in 2003,
along with their associated crab and shrimp permits. Buyback fees are charged on trawl-caught
groundfish, crab, and shrimp. The fees on crab and shrimp landings are paid by all vessels
making landings of crab and shrimp, regardless of whether they have a limited entry groundfish
permit. Trawl groundfish landings in all states are subject to a 5% tax. Crab landings are taxed
at a 1.24% rate in California, 0.55% in Oregon, and 0.16% in Washington. Shrimp landings are
taxed at a 5.0% rate in California, 3.75% in Oregon, and 1.50% in Washington. The incidence of
buyback taxes is assumed to fall entirely on the vessel owner. Buyback fees are legally placed
on the fish harvesters who sell the fish, but fish buyers are directed to collect the fee and deduct
it from the net trip proceeds that fish buyers pay to the fish sellers.
6.1.3. Adjusted Captain Costs
Calculating economic net revenue requires adjustment for vessel owners who serve as
captain and do not pay themselves a salary for the provision of captain services. Even though
some vessel owners do not receive a payment for captain services, they are forgoing other
employment opportunities to serve as captain. These vessel owners derive their compensation
for service as captain through their earnings as the recipient of vessel net revenue. Since actual
expenditures on captain services differ greatly from the opportunity cost of providing captain
services in such cases, it is necessary to estimate the opportunity cost of serving as the vessel
captain. 8

8

Responses to the cost earnings survey indicate that the vessel owner serves as captain on 36% of trips targeting groundfish.
Vessel owners rarely serve as captain on the larger vessels that operate in the West Coast whiting fishery.

15

The estimate of opportunity cost of serving as captain is based on the payment to captains
of vessels where the owner does not serve as captain. 9 Examination of survey responses from
vessels where the owner did not serve as captain indicated that the expenditures for captain as a
share of vessel revenue decline as vessel revenue increases, and generally remain above 15% for
vessels with under $750,000 of annual revenue. Given that almost all vessels in the survey
population that exceed $750,000 of annual revenue operate in both the West Coast and Alaska, a
minimum expenditure for captain services of 15% of vessel revenue was imposed on all vessels
not categorized as Alaska vessels. No adjustment was made to the captain expenditures of
vessels that participate in the shoreside whiting fishery, as these vessels rarely have an owner
serving as captain and typically operate on a much larger scale where captain costs are below
15% of revenue.
6.1.4. Opportunity Cost of Capital
Vessel owners have a substantial capital investment in their vessel, gear, and fishing
permits. If the vessel owner were to quit fishing, these assets could be sold and the proceeds
could be used to purchase an asset providing a stream of future interest payments. Considering
the opportunity cost of capital is important because it is an economic cost incurred by the vessel
owner. Terry et al. (1996) note that conventional practice in fisheries economics has been to
estimate the opportunity cost of capital as P(i+d) where P is the market value of capital, i is the
interest rate, and d is the depreciation rate. They suggest a Moody’s Baa rated corporate bond as
providing an interest rate that incorporates some of the economic risk inherent in fishing and
straight-line depreciation as a viable approach. After examining interest rates on corporate bonds
with a Baa rating, a 5% interest rate was chosen for calculation of the opportunity cost of
capital. 10

6.2. Costs and Earnings during 2008
Table 16 through Table 22 provide average costs (expenses) and revenues for the limited
entry groundfish trawl fleet and the primary vessel types in the fleet. Each table was constructed
by taking the relevant survey responses and calculating the mean and standard error of each cost
and revenue category. For those survey respondents who reported having a fiscal year that did
not match the calendar year (i.e., they use a fiscal year that does not begin on January 1), the
revenue and cost values used were for that vessel’s fiscal year. This procedure insures that the
revenues and costs used for each vessel are measured over the same time period, but does result
in some difference across vessels as to the time period included in their 2008 data. While a
vessel that uses a fiscal year identical to a calendar year reports 2008 expenditures from January
2008 to December 2008, a vessel with a fiscal year starting in October reports cost and revenue
figures for 2008 measured from October 2007 to September 2008. 11
9
The limited entry and open access cost earnings survey questionnaires collected information on the percentage of trips where
the vessel owner served as captain, so it was possible to identify a subset of survey respondents for which the vessel owner did
not serve as captain on any trips and the payments to captain reflect expenditures for captain services when an explicit payment is
made to the captain on each trip.
10
The interest rate on a Moody’s Baa corporate bond during November 2010 was 5.18%. This information was online at
http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/BAA.
11
Fiscal year differed from calendar year for 9 of the 73 limited entry groundfish trawl survey respondents and 4 of the 50
limited entry groundfish fixed gear survey respondents.

16

Table 16 provides average costs (expenditures) and revenues for all survey respondents in
the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet. Some respondents did not respond to all questions, so
the number of observations varies across cost and revenue categories. Cost categories reported
in Table 16 include payments to captain, adjusted payments to captain, crew, fuel, food, ice, bait,
insurance, interest, moorage, dues, enforcement, leasing permits, purchasing permits, RMI,
opportunity cost of capital, other costs, landings taxes paid by the vessel owner, and buyback
fees paid by the vessel owner. The cost of captain, crew, fuel, food, ice, bait, insurance, interest,
moorage, dues, enforcement, leasing permits, purchasing permits, RMI, and other expenses were
taken directly from survey responses. As described in subsection 6.1, the cost of landings taxes
and buyback fees was calculated using PacFIN data. Adjusted captain cost and the opportunity
cost of capital were calculated following the methodology described in subsection 6.1. Table 16
indicates that the largest cost categories for the average limited entry groundfish trawler are crew
expenses ($117,552), adjusted captain expenses ($96,788), fuel ($91,741), RMI ($71,885), the
opportunity cost of capital ($34,496), insurance ($25,481), and buyback fees ($19,367) Each
other cost category involved less than $10,000 of expenditure during 2008. Figure 1, a pie chart
constructed from the data in Table 16, shows the share of costs accounted for by each cost
category. Figure 1 aggregates all of the cost categories with average expenditures under $10,000
into “other costs,” as the relatively small expenditures on these cost categories are not clearly
visible on a pie chart.
The primary sources of revenue for the average limited entry groundfish trawler were
West Coast groundfish landings ($339,504), Alaska landings ($85,648), West Coast shrimp
landings ($53,332), West Coast crab landings ($48,909), at sea deliveries ($26,788), and other
sources ($16,843, a category that includes activities such as working on NMFS groundfish stock
surveys). Each other revenue source on Table 16 provided average revenue below $10,000
during 2008. It should be noted that since the figures reported in Table 16 are averages, the
figure may be at a level rarely observed for an individual vessel. For example, the average
vessel earned $85,648 in revenue from Alaska landings, but individual vessels typically have
Alaska earnings more than $500,000 or equal to $0. Similarly, the average vessel had at sea
deliveries of $26,788, while individual vessels either had more than $250,000 of at sea deliveries
or $0 of at sea deliveries. Table 17 through Table 21 report average earnings and costs by
individual vessel type (Alaska, crab, large groundfish trawler, shrimp, and whiting) in the limited
entry groundfish trawl fleet during 2008. When examining the data in those tables, it is
important to remember that about two-thirds of the revenue earned by Alaska vessels came from
fisheries outside the West Coast, and that the results reported for both crabbers and shrimpers are
based on three respondents.
Table 22 provides cost and earnings data for the average limited entry groundfish fixed
gear vessel. As discussed in subsection 5.4, the values reported in Table 22 are calculated by
weighting survey responses to account for the different response rates across vessel types in the
limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet. Table 16 indicates that the largest cost categories for
the average limited entry groundfish trawler were crew expenses ($72,051), adjusted captain
expenses ($51,234), RMI ($31,892), fuel ($24,874), the opportunity cost of capital ($14,281),
bait ($11,597), and insurance ($10,388). Each of the other cost categories involves less than
$10,000 of expenditure during 2008. Figure 2, a pie chart constructed from the data in Table 22,
shows the share of costs accounted for by each cost category. Figure 2 aggregates all of the cost
categories with average expenditures under $10,000 into “other costs,” as the relatively small
17

expenditures on these cost categories are not clearly visible on a pie chart. The primary sources
of revenue for the average limited entry groundfish fixed gear vessel were Alaska landings
($119,664), West Coast groundfish landings ($87,053), and West Coast crab landings ($77,264).
Each other revenue source in Table 22 provided average revenue below $10,000 during 2008.
Table 23 through Table 27 report average costs and earnings by individual vessel type (Alaska,
crab, other groundfish fixed gear, other < $15,000, and sablefish fixed gear) for the limited entry
groundfish fixed gear fleet. Note that while Alaska vessels in the fixed gear fleet earned an
average of $1,266,444 from Alaska landings, they earned $212,304 from West Coast landings.
Revenue from operations in West Coast fisheries accounts for less than 20% of the total revenue
earned by these vessels.

6.3. Profitability during 2008
This document presents two measures of profitability, accounting net revenue and
economic net revenue. Accounting net revenue seeks to construct a measure of accounting
profit, while economic net revenue seeks to measure economic profit (which considers
opportunity costs incurred by operating a commercial fishing vessel that are not considered by
accounting profit). While accounting net revenue is an appropriate measure to use if trying to
determine whether the vessel owner’s financial statement will show a profit, economic net
revenue provides a measure of economic profit that considers the opportunity costs that do not
appear in a vessel owner’s financial records but are a foregone opportunity.
Both net revenue measures use revenue from West Coast landings, Alaska landings, at
sea deliveries, the sale and leasing of permits, salmon disaster relief payments, and other
activities directly related to operation of the commercial fishing vessel (e.g., chartering as part of
a NMFS research project). Costs included in the calculation of accounting net revenue include
costs reported for captain, crew, fuel, food, ice, bait, insurance, interest, moorage, dues,
enforcement, purchase of permits, leasing of permits, RMI, unloading, trucking to the fish buyer,
and freight supplies. 12 Costs calculated for landings taxes and trawl buyback fees are also
included in the calculation of accounting net revenue. Economic net revenue replaces reported
captain costs with adjusted captain costs and considers the opportunity cost of capital.
While the cost earnings surveys seek to collect information on all revenues and costs
directly related to the operation of a commercial fishing vessel, it is known that the list of costs
omits some costs. Because a small share of costs are not considered in these calculations,
accounting net revenue is greater than accounting profit and economic net revenue is greater than
economic profit.
Since most vessels operate in multiple fisheries, much of the available cost data pertains
to multiple fisheries. While it is not necessary to disaggregate costs in order to analyze net
revenue for all vessel operations, it is necessary in order to analyze net revenue at the fishery
level.

12

Costs for unloading, trucking to the buyer, and freight supplies were collected by the open access groundfish
survey, but not the earlier limited entry groundfish survey. These three costs added 1.2% to the total costs reported
by vessel owners.

18

Table 28 reports limited entry groundfish trawl fleet results for total revenue from all
sources, reported costs, accounting net revenue, economic costs, and economic net revenue.
Accounting net revenue and economic net revenue are reported for both the entire limited entry
groundfish trawl fleet and the primary vessel types in the fleet. All revenues, costs, and net
revenue figures are calculated over all operations of the vessel (in all fisheries in all geographic
areas). Figure 3 is a bar chart summarizing sources of revenue for the average limited entry
groundfish trawl vessel, Figure 4 is a bar chart summarizing costs incurred by the average trawl
vessel, and Figure 5 is a bar chart depicting economic net revenue earned by the average trawl
vessel.
For the entire limited entry groundfish trawl fleet, average accounting net revenue was
$115,983 and economic net revenue was $77,381 over all fisheries during 2008. Economic net
revenue equaled 13.2% of total revenue. The amount of accounting net revenue and economic
net revenue earned per vessel varied considerably across vessel types. The different levels of
economic net revenue reflect not only different scales of operation, but also different rates of
profitability. Alaska vessels in the groundfish trawl fleet earned mean economic net revenue of
$493,915, which represents 28.3% of revenue from all sources. Whiting vessels earned mean
economic net revenue of $167,457, which represents 19.2% of revenue from all sources.
Shrimpers earned mean economic net revenue of $131,160 per vessel, which represents 25.4% of
revenue from all sources. Crabbers earned mean economic net revenue of $33,577 per vessel,
which represents 11.8% of revenue from all sources. 13 Large groundfish trawlers accounted for
about two-thirds of the vessels in the limited entry trawl fleet and earned average economic net
revenue of $16,562 per vessel, which represents 3.7% of revenue from all sources.
Table 29 shows that for the entire limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet, average
accounting net revenue was $77,185 and economic net revenue was $52,313 across all fisheries
during 2008. Economic net revenue equaled 16.1% of total revenue. The amount of accounting
net revenue and economic net revenue earned per vessel varies greatly across vessel types.
Alaska vessels in the fixed gear fleet earned economic net revenue of $422,151 per vessel, which
equals 28.5% of revenue from all sources. Among the other vessel types (which include vessels
earning less than 50% of their total revenue in Alaska), the highest level per vessel was earned
by sablefish vessels; they earned per vessel economic net revenue of $36,410, which equals
15.3% of total revenue. Other groundfish fixed gear vessels earned per vessel economic net
revenue of $8,851, which equals 9.7% of total revenue. Figure 6 is a bar chart summarizing
sources of revenue for the average limited entry groundfish fixed gear vessel, Figure 7 is a bar
chart summarizing costs incurred by the average fixed gear vessel, and Figure 8 is a bar chart
depicting economic net revenue earned by the average fixed gear vessel.
The profitability data in Table 28 and Table 29 indicate that members of the limited entry
groundfish fleet (both trawl and fixed gear) that participate in Alaska fisheries earn higher
accounting net revenue and economic net revenue than members of the fleet that only operate in
West Coast fisheries. Net revenues are higher for vessels operating in Alaska in both absolute
terms and as a percentage of revenue. Vessels in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet that
participate in the West Coast shoreside whiting fishery yet do not participate in Alaska fisheries
13

One should recall that this information on the profitability of crabbers and the profitability of shrimpers is based
on only three observations for each vessel type.

19

also earn substantial accounting net revenue and economic net revenue, but less than vessels
participating in Alaska fisheries. Accounting net revenue and economic net revenue among
vessels operating primarily in the West Coast non-whiting groundfish fishery was much smaller,
although still positive when examined at the vessel-type level. On average, sablefish fixed gear
vessels earned a higher rate of economic net revenue than other groundfish fixed gear vessels.

6.4. Crew Size, Fuel Use, and Speed
Table 30 has a summary of survey responses on crew size (not including the captain),
fuel use, and vessel speed for limited entry groundfish trawl fleet respondents and major vessel
types in the fleet. For the entire trawl fleet, crew size exhibits some variation by activity, with a
larger crew size reported for crabbing (2.8 members) than groundfish trawling (2.0 members) or
shrimp trawling (2.0 members). Except for a few cases where the number of observations is low,
crew size does not vary greatly across vessel types; fishing activity is a greater determinant of
crew size than vessel type. For all vessels in the trawl fleet, fuel use was greater when
groundfish trawling (17.1 gallons per hour) than shrimp trawling (11.7 gallons per hour) or
crabbing (8.3 gallons per hour). Vessel speed was greater when crabbing (2.7 knots per hour)
than groundfish trawling (2.6 knots per hour) or shrimp trawling (2.2 knots per hour). Like crew
size, fuel use and speed are determined more by fishing activity than vessel type.
Table 31 has a summary of survey responses on crew size, fuel use, and vessel speed for
the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet and the primary vessel types in the fleet. Crew size
is similar for crabbing (2.4 members) and longlining (2.5 members) and smaller for salmon
trolling (1.2 members). One should consider that 2008 was a year of very little harvesting
activity in the salmon troll fishery. Fuel use was greater when longlining (5.9 gallons per hour)
than crabbing (4.8 gallons per hour) or trolling (3.6 gallons per hour). Higher fuel use by trawl
vessels than fixed gear vessels reflects both the different gear used when targeting groundfish
and the larger engine size typically observed in trawl vessels. Fixed gear fleet vessel speed was
greater when longlining (4.7 knots per hour) and crabbing (4.6 knots per hour) than when salmon
trolling (3.8 knots per hour).

6.5. Owner as Captain
Table 32 reports the percentage of trips on which the vessel owner served as captain for
members of the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet. For the entire fleet, the owner served as
captain on 35.5% of trips. This percentage varied considerably by vessel type. Owners of
vessels classified as crabbers served as captain on 66.7% of trips, while owners of vessels
classified as large groundfish trawlers served as captain on 39.5% of trips. The result for crab
vessels is based on only three survey responses. Large groundfish trawlers show a lower
likelihood of being captained by the vessel owner as vessel length increases. Alaska vessels
were captained by the vessel owner on 33.3% of trips. Whiting vessels and shrimp vessels were
captained by the vessel owner on less than 5% of trips. The result for shrimp vessels, like that
for crab vessels, is based on only three survey responses.
For the entire limited entry groundfish trawl fleet on trips where the owner does not serve
as captain, the average allocation of revenue after deductions is 18.1% to the captain, 22.5% to
the crew, and 59.5% to the vessel. On trips where the vessel owner serves as captain, the
20

allocation of revenue after deductions is 8.1% to the captain, 25.7% to the crew, and 66.2% to
the vessel. Placing the vessel owner on the ship as captain reduces the revenue share paid to the
captain and increases the revenue share paid to the vessel, reflecting the choice of some vessel
owners to not explicitly pay themselves for captain services.
Table 33 has survey results regarding percentage of trips with the vessel owner serving as
captain and the distribution of revenue after deductions for the limited entry groundfish fixed
gear fleet. For the entire fixed gear fleet, 76.8% of trips were made with the owner serving as
captain. This is nearly double the 39.5% owner on board figure obtained for the trawl fleet and
reflects the smaller scale of operation of vessels in the fixed gear fleet, as well as the owner on
board requirement for vessels operating in the limited entry fixed gear primary sablefish fishery.
The percentage of trips with the owner serving as captain was 62.3% for Alaska vessels, 99.1%
for crabbers, 57.5% for other groundfish fixed gear vessels, and 84.9% for sablefish fixed gear
vessels.
For the entire limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet on trips where the owner does not
serve as captain, the average allocation of revenue after deductions is 19.0% to the captain,
28.1% to the crew, and 52.3% to the vessel. On trips where the vessel owner serves as captain,
the allocation of revenue after deductions is 16.0% to the captain, 30.7% to the crew, and 61.4%
to the vessel. As in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet, placing the vessel owner on the ship
as captain reduces the revenue share paid to the captain and increases the revenue share paid to
the vessel, reflecting the choice of some vessel owners to not explicitly pay themselves for
captain services.

6.6. Market Value of Vessels
The survey asked vessel owners to provide the market value of their vessel. This
information is a key input in estimating the opportunity cost of capital for the vessel owner.
Table 34 indicates that the average value of a vessel in the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet
was $589,926. Vessels used in Alaska fisheries and the West Coast whiting fishery have a much
higher market value (and are much larger) than crabbers and large groundfish trawlers. Table 35
indicates that the average market value of a limited entry fixed gear vessel was $246,449. In the
limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet, Alaska vessels have a reported market value nearly
double that of crabbers and more than twice that of sablefish fixed gear or other groundfish fixed
gear vessels. While the reported market value of a vessel does not affect accounting net revenue,
higher reported market value for a vessel does increase the opportunity cost of capital and reduce
economic net revenue.

6.7 Comparison of 2004 and 2008 Survey Results
During 2004 the average vessel in the West Coast limited entry groundfish trawl fleet
earned revenue of $488,507. As shown in Figure 3, the primary sources of revenue were West
Coast groundfish landings ($214,341), Alaska landings ($111,168), West Coast crab landings
($109,402), West Coast shrimp landings ($17,976), and at sea deliveries ($11,319). Revenue
earned from all sources by the average limited entry groundfish trawl vessel increased to
$585,041 in 2008 as revenues from West Coast groundfish landings increased to $339,503 and
revenue from shrimp landings increased to $53,331. Revenue earned per vessel from West Coast
21

crab landings ($48,909), Alaska operations ($85,648), and at sea deliveries declined in 2008
relative to 2004. The increase in revenues from West Coast groundfish landings from $214,341
in 2004 to $339,503 reflects the rise in whiting and sablefish prices between 2004 and 2008.
Economic costs incurred by the average limited entry groundfish trawl vessel related to
operations in all fisheries rose from $458,392 in 2004 to $507,660 in 2008. Figure 4 shows per
vessel costs during 2004 and 2008 for the major cost categories. Higher costs in 2008 were the
result of higher fuel prices in 2008 (fuel expenses rose from $53,857 during 2004 to $91,741 in
2008) and fees to pay for the groundfish trawl buyback program. While the buyback program
removed 91 vessels from West Coast fisheries in December 2003, collection of fees to pay off
the buyback program did not begin until 2005. During 2008 the average vessel in the limited
entry groundfish trawl fleet paid $19,367 in buyback fees. As shown in Figure 5, economic net
revenue earned by the average limited entry groundfish trawl vessel in all fisheries rose from
$30,114 in 2004 to $77,381 in 2008.
During 2004 the average vessel in the West Coast limited entry groundfish fixed gear
fleet earned revenue of $327,916. Figure 6 shows that the primary sources of revenue during
2004 were Alaska operations ($130,997 per vessel), West Coast crab landings ($93,721 per
vessel), and West Coast groundfish (primarily sablefish) landings ($74,654 per vessel). Revenue
earned from all sources by the average fixed gear vessel declined slightly to $324,189 during
2008. While the increase in sablefish prices caused revenue earned from West Coast groundfish
landings to rise to $87,053, revenue earned from Alaska operations ($119,664) and West Coast
crab landings ($77,264) declined in 2008 relative to 2004. While crab prices were higher during
2008 than 2004, the West Coast crab harvest declined by more than one-third from 31,232 mt
during 2004 to 20,487 mt in 2008. The decline in crab harvest affected the limited entry
groundfish fixed gear fleet more than the limited entry groundfish trawl fleet, as the fixed gear
fleet typically derives a greater percentage of its revenue from the West Coast crab fishery.
Economic costs incurred by the average limited entry groundfish fixed gear vessel related
to operations in all fisheries rose slightly from $268,517 to $271,876. Because fixed gear vessels
use less fuel than trawlers, their fuel costs rose less than fuel costs for limited entry groundfish
trawl vessels. As shown in Figure 7, average expenditure on fuel for a fixed gear vessel rose
from $13,634 during 2004 to $24,874 during 2008. While members of the fixed gear fleet pay
buyback fees on West Coast crab and shrimp landings, they do not pay buyback fees on
groundfish landed with fixed gear. As a result, the implementation of fees to pay for the trawl
buyback program in 2005 imposed costs of $850 on the average member of the limited entry
groundfish fixed gear fleet during 2008. Figure 8 shows that the average economic net revenue
earned from operations in all fisheries by the average member of the fixed gear fleet declined
from $84,653 during 2004 to $62,313 during 2008. Despite the rise in sablefish prices, higher
fuel costs and a smaller crab harvest resulted in slightly lower economic net revenue for the
average member of the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet during 2008 than during 2004.

22

7. Concluding Comments
The NWFSC and PSMFC thank all of the vessel owners who participated in this
voluntary survey. The quality of data and summary statistics in this report depend on the
willingness of commercial fishermen to provide their time and confidential data. While this
report supplies a considerable amount of information taken from the survey responses, it does
not provide all possible summary statistics that could be derived from the survey responses.
Individuals interested in further information about the survey should contact either NWFSC or
PSMFC.
The NWFSC and PSMFC will continue to conduct voluntary cost earnings surveys of the
limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet. With implementation of the catch shares management
regime in the limited entry groundfish trawl fishery, submission of economic data is mandatory
for catcher vessels participating in the groundfish trawl fishery (as well as for catcher processors,
motherships, and first receivers/shoreside processors). Economic data will continue to be
collected from the limited entry groundfish fixed gear fleet on a voluntary basis.

23

Figures 1–8

Figure 1. Economic costs in 2008 for the trawl fleet. RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
“Other costs” include bait, ice, interest, moorage, dues, enforcement, permit leasing, permit
purchasing, landings taxes, and food.

Figure 2. Economic costs in 2008 for the fixed gear fleet. RMI = repair, maintenance, and
improvements. “Other costs” include ice, interest, moorage, dues, enforcement, permit leasing,
permit purchasing, landings taxes, buyback fees, and food.
24

Figure 3. Revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the trawl fleet.

Figure 4. Economic costs per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the trawl fleet. Economic costs are shown on a
per vessel basis. RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. “Other costs” include bait, ice,
interest, moorage, dues, enforcement, permit leasing, permit purchasing, landings taxes, and food.

25

Figure 5. Economic net revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the trawl fleet.

Figure 6. Revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the fixed gear fleet.

26

Figure 7. Economic costs per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the fixed gear fleet. Economic costs are shown
on a per vessel basis. RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. “Other costs” include ice,
interest, moorage, dues, enforcement, permit leasing, permit purchasing, landings taxes, buyback
fees, and food.

Figure 8. Economic net revenue per vessel in 2004 and 2008 for the fixed gear fleet.

27

Tables 1–35
Table 1. Summary of survey response by vessel type, state, and revenue.
Survey
population

Complete
responses

Response
rate (%)

Total survey
Limited entry trawlers
Limited entry fixed gear

255
127
128

123
73
50

48
57
39

Trawl vessel type
Alaska
Crabber
Large groundfish trawler
Shrimper
Whiting
Other

14
9
83
4
12
5

6
3
52
3
8
1

43
33
63
75
67
20

Fixed gear vessel type
Alaska
Crabber
Other groundfish fixed gear
Other < $15,000
Sablefish fixed gear
Other

12
17
34
5
59
1

9
9
8
2
22
0

75
53
24
40
37
0

Trawl by state
California
Oregon
Washington

36
79
12

22
46
5

61
58
42

Fixed gear by state
California
Oregon
Washington

61
37
30

18
18
14

30
49
47

Trawler by annual WOC landings revenue
<$100,000
$100,000 to $500,000
>$500,000

10
69
48

3
39
31

30
57
65

Fixed gear by annual WOC landings revenue
<$100,000
$100,000 to $500,000
>$500,000

62
59
7

17
30
3

27
51
43

28

Table 2. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for all trawler respondents
and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

116
72
44

439
436
445

23
23
46

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

127
73
54

66
66
66

1
2
2

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

127
73
54

45,250
48,909
40,304

7,728
11,973
8,356

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

127
73
54

325,652
339,504
306,926

20,773
25,365
34,922

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

127
73
54

435,700
451,877
413,832

24,837
31,567
40,042

Mean

Standard
error

Table 3. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for Alaska trawler
respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
6
6

725
650
801

120
117
218

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

14
6
8

88
88
89

2
3
3

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

14
6
8

17,779
18,733
17,063

12,144
18,733
17,063

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

14
6
8

419,761
396,230
437,410

74,953
87,049
118,723

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

14
6
8

439,529
416,584
456,737

82,756
89,016
133,843

29

Mean

Standard
error

Table 4. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for trawl crabber fleet
respondents and nonrespondents.
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Variable

Response status

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

9
3
6

228
298
193

26
51
21

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

9
3
6

43
46
41

2
5
3

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

9
3
6

126,841
155,636
112,444

25,134
56,502
27,445

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

9
3
6

17,789
53,367
0

14,697
40,530
0

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

9
3
6

162,651
259,718
114,117

47,713
126,801
28,889

Table 5. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for large groundfish trawler
respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

77
52
25

385
385
384

18
22
30

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

83
52
31

63
63
62

1
1
2

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

83
52
31

36,107
35,596
36,964

7,072
9,401
10,676

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

83
52
31

317,738
318,879
315,824

17,207
23,757
23,603

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

83
52
31

424,719
415,266
440,575

22,626
29,467
35,458

30

Mean

Standard
error

Table 6. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for trawl shoreside whiting
vessel respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
8
4

695
663
758

61
34
184

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
8
4

80
77
85

3
2
7

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
8
4

90,185
122,564
25,429

55,832
82,219
25,426

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
8
4

680,087
655,110
730,040

74,921
75,998
183,151

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
8
4

801,368
813,965
776,175

107,555
142,417
179,666

Mean

Standard
error

Table 7. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for trawl shrimper fleet
respondents and nonrespondents.
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Variable

Response status

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

2
2
0

†*
†
—

†
†
—

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

4
3
1

†
69
†

†
9
—

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

4
3
1

†
52,330
†

†
52,330
—

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

4
3
1

†
135,869
†

†
43,184
—

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

4
3
1

†
516,955
†

†
95,996
—

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

31

Table 8. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear vessel
respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

105
48
57

256
292
226

18
24
26

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

128
50
78

40
45
37

1
2
1

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

128
50
78

63,440
91,287
45,590

10,250
18,360
11,674

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

128
50
78

89,569
90,673
88,862

6,399
10,515
8,106

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

128
50
78

168,914
202,637
147,296

16,656
29,084
19,756

Mean

Standard
error

Table 9. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear Alaska vessel
respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
9
3

407
444
297

57
72
32

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
9
3

64
66
58

4
5
3

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
9
3

82,566
94,065
48,068

36,735
47,067
48,068

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
9
3

124,412
110,062
167,464

21,049
18,744
65,538

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
9
3

215,765
212,304
226,147

48,316
57,591
107,168

32

Mean

Standard
error

Table 10. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear crabber fleet
respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

12
8
4

399
341
515

94
65
266

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

17
9
8

49
47
51

3
3
5

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

17
9
8

221,035
231,156
209,649

40,223
58,087
59,037

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

17
9
8

91,775
59,500
128,085

28,951
19,266
56,905

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

17
9
8

354,732
325,812
387,268

72,369
86,925
124,249

Mean

Standard
error

Table 11. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear other
groundfish fleet respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

32
8
24

222
214
225

12
34
12

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

34
8
26

28
29
28

1
4
1

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

34
8
26

12,940
29,039
7,986

5,618
17,888
4,768

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

34
8
26

59,932
52,531
62,210

3,644
10,277
3,597

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

34
8
26

77,069
89,420
73,269

7,691
24,845
6,816

33

Mean

Standard
error

Table 12. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear “other less
than $15,000” vessel respondents and nonrespondents.
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Variable

Response status

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

4
2
2

160
†*
†

54
†
†

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

5
2
3

41
†
†

3
†
†

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

5
2
3

2,108
†
†

1,448
†
†

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

5
2
3

2,173
†
†

1,469
†
†

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

5
2
3

5,998
†
†

2,308
†
†

*The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

Table 13. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for fixed gear sablefish fleet
respondents and nonrespondents.
Variable

Response status

Number of
observations

Engine horsepower

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

45
21
24

211
246
180

24
27
37

Vessel length (feet)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

59
22
37

40
42
39

1
2
2

Revenue from crab (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

59
22
37

49,516
63,532
41,183

12,170
18,958
15,832

Revenue from groundfish (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

59
22
37

107,754
117,271
102,095

8,633
18,520
8,372

Revenue from all species (US$)

All
Respondents
Nonrespondents

59
22
37

173,991
207,120
154,292

22,086
45,084
22,788

34

Mean

Standard
error

Table 14. Two sample t-tests for statistical significance of differences between trawl fleet respondents
and nonrespondents in five variables.

T-statistic

Degrees of
freedom

Probability
> T if
H0 true

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

–0.26
–0.61
–0.28
0.07
–0.25

12
8
12
11
11

0.80
0.56
0.78
0.95
0.81

All trawlers

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

0.21
–0.16
0.75
0.59
0.75

91
64
103
120
109

0.84
0.87
0.45
0.56
0.46

Crabber

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

0.93
1.91
1.32
0.69
1.12

3
3
2
3
2

0.42
0.16
0.32
0.54
0.37

Lg. groundfish trawler

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

0.72
0.00
0.09
–0.10
–0.55

59
50
76
70
67

0.47
1.00
0.93
0.92
0.58

Shrimp

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

—
—
—
—
—

0
0
0
0
0

—
—
—
—
—

Whiting

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

–1.09
–0.51
–0.38
1.13
0.16

4
3
4
8
7

0.34
0.65
0.72
0.29
0.87

Fleet

Variable

Alaska

35

Table 15. Two sample t-tests for statistical significance of differences between fixed gear fleet
respondents and nonrespondents in five variables.

T-statistic

Degrees of
freedom

Probability
> T if
H0 true

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

1.58
1.88
–0.84
0.68
–0.11

10
10
2
6
3

0.15
0.09
0.48
0.52
0.92

All fixed gear

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

2.87
1.89
0.14
2.10
1.57

88
103
102
88
92

0.01
0.06
0.89
0.04
0.12

Crabber

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

–0.79
–0.64
–1.14
0.26
–0.41

11
3
9
15
13

0.45
0.56
0.28
0.80
0.69

Other < $15,000

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

†*
†
†
†
†

1
1
1
1
1

0.41
0.44
0.61
0.61
0.64

Other groundfish

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

†
†
†
†
†

9
9
9
8
8

0.92
0.78
0.40
0.29
0.55

Sablefish

Vessel length
Engine horsepower
Revenue from groundfish
Revenue from crab
Revenue from all species

1.09
1.43
0.75
0.90
1.05

43
41
30
47
32

0.28
0.16
0.46
0.37
0.30

Fleet

Variable

Alaska

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

36

Table 16. Costs and earnings by category for trawl vessels.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

70
73
73
73
72
69
72
70
71
70
67
70
71
71
70
68
69
73
73

92,682
96,788
117,552
8,114
91,741
4,361
5,405
25,481
5,338
4,122
3,022
3,649
1,439
1,704
71,885
34,496
11,970
1,225
19,367

5,472
5,204
6,915
707
6,464
762
403
1,528
706
340
552
439
367
764
5,180
2,375
1,907
184
852

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

72
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73

85,648
0
16,843
26,788
3,349
534
451,877
339,504
48,909
53,332
145
2,203
593
1,069

23,636
0
4,513
7,933
1,418
341
20,692
16,627
7,848
8,741
50
858
207
396

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

37

Table 17. Costs and earnings by category for trawl Alaska vessels.
Variable

Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Buyback tax
Landings tax

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

234,164
234,164
318,546
21,372
296,221
1,667
290
60,909
833
12,258
1,783
13,244
0
0
164,853
78,333
25,833
19,915
657

43,887
43,887
38,350
7,688
46,203
1,627
283
7,526
814
3,887
1,163
2,356
0
0
32,426
12,646
24,257
4,249
137

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

1,027,782
0
36,667
263,761
0
0
416,584
396,230
18,733
0
275
883
0
59

163,022
0
35,797
91,874
0
0
86,905
84,984
18,288
0
205
388
0
57

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

38

Table 18. Costs and earnings by category for trawl crabbers.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Buyback tax
Landings tax

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

75,117
75,628
81,622
1,647
27,188
13,753
3,667
3,333
1,817
3,672
33
160
0
0
16,277
16,667
1,226
6,452
374

40,812
40,430
38,558
1,038
12,438
8,406
3,142
3,294
1,578
1,670
33
79
0
0
4,446
6,588
1,212
4,931
198

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

0
0
9,707
0
17,667
0
259,718
53,367
155,636
46,126
0
552
1,663
2,294

0
0
9,593
0
16,480
0
125,306
40,052
55,836
45,582
0
546
1,643
1,317

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

39

Table 19. Costs and earnings by category for large groundfish trawlers.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Buyback tax
Landings tax

51
52
52
52
51
48
51
49
50
49
46
49
50
50
49
48
48
52
52

75,706
83,137
93,443
6,316
72,775
3,357
6,121
20,062
4,920
2,932
3,755
1,795
2,043
2,308
61,768
23,917
12,166
18,267
929

5,298
5,196
6,107
441
5,169
722
526
1,367
681
178
909
379
603
1,271
5,486
1,129
2,066
1,018
96

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

51
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52

0
0
16,912
0
3,644
750
415,266
318,879
35,596
50,683
27
1,875
736
719

0
0
6,689
0
2,226
563
22,706
18,306
7,244
11,633
20
1,357
333
435

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

40

Table 20. Costs and earnings by category for trawl shoreside whiting vessels.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Buyback tax
Landings tax

8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

106,929
106,929
154,574
14,280
111,448
8,750
6,788
46,901
14,693
6,338
2,370
9,421
0
695
97,933
73,438
9,759
33,369
4,197

9,666
9,666
32,121
5,202
16,234
7,189
2,637
5,067
6,913
1,588
1,336
2,375
0
673
30,123
17,207
7,043
3,785
2,209

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

0
0
8,750
46,624
0
0
813,965
655,110
122,564
19,830
943
7,047
5
30

0
0
8,472
45,143
0
0
137,895
73,584
79,608
13,501
599
3,017
4
19

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

41

Table 21. Costs and earnings by category for trawl shrimpers.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Buyback tax
Landings tax

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

70,497
80,888
104,515
5,024
42,726
6,000
3,333
16,667
1,667
1,800
0
3,973
0
0
55,804
42,500
1,003
19,091
814

25,196
15,521
22,280
2,501
10,137
5,929
1,647
8,715
1,647
1,195
0
2,981
0
0
23,531
22,235
991
5,530
149

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

0
0
0
0
0
0
516,955
135,869
52,330
320,246
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
94,865
42,675
51,713
101,578
0
0
0
0

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

42

Table 22. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear vessels.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50

50,643
51,234
72,051
5,720
24,874
11,597
1,258
10,388
6,207
2,697
776
995
8,662
13,894
31,892
14,281
3,979
538
850

6,426
6,423
10,105
808
3,694
1,426
260
1,458
1,362
171
209
170
3,098
6,180
3,934
1,544
871
96
197

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50

119,664
206
4,788
0
14,697
670
184,164
87,053
77,264
5,605
555
322
6,415
6,461

35,250
161
1,723
0
3,530
380
21,659
8,384
12,210
3,558
234
246
2,209
1,735

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

43

Table 23. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear Alaska vessels.
Variable

Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

215,111
241,069
317,000
24,611
114,444
35,944
2,900
35,633
10,873
5,478
2,411
2,591
32,444
91,667
97,129
36,389
4,467
1,030
517

30,487
31,116
66,894
5,777
22,627
3,173
1,624
6,190
3,342
978
1,269
879
20,702
62,498
16,718
9,792
2,328
197
250

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

1,266,444
0
0
0
0
0
212,304
110,062
94,065
0
0
0
0
4,866

212,455
0
0
0
0
0
55,529
18,073
45,382
0
0
0
0
1,694

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

44

Table 24. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear crabbers.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

58,222
59,547
88,758
5,741
32,834
12,190
1,928
17,801
5,383
2,389
264
2,117
1,326
33,333
54,578
20,750
13,127
831
2,161

13,713
13,736
28,779
1,202
9,177
3,542
949
3,510
4,223
376
255
1,048
1,278
32,140
17,195
7,338
6,170
538
791

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

0
0
6,667
0
28,111
3,111
325,812
59,500
231,156
948
0
0
30,894
3,226

0
0
6,428
0
12,655
3,000
83,814
18,576
56,007
914
0
0
15,968
1,619

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

45

Table 25. Costs and earnings by category for other groundfish fixed gear vessels.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

13,725
14,845
22,375
1,988
7,162
6,347
625
1,875
3,307
1,875
63
498
750
0
11,890
7,319
1,363
93
197

2,531
3,406
4,349
666
1,673
2,024
205
610
1,885
282
31
206
726
0
5,274
612
824
45
105

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

0
0
0
0
2,000
0
89,420
52,531
29,039
0
63
1,194
3,880
2,562

0
0
0
0
1,936
0
24,056
9,951
17,320
0
61
1,155
3,757
1,367

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

46

Table 26. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear “other less than $15,000” vessels.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIb
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

†a
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†

†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesc
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSd
Halibut

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†

†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†

Variable

a

The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.
b
RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
c
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
d
HMS = highly migratory species.

47

Table 27. Costs and earnings by category for fixed gear sablefish vessels.
Number of
observations

Mean (US$)

Standard
error (US$)

Cost of:
Captain
Captain adjusted
Crew
Food
Fuel
Bait
Ice
Insurance
Interest payments
Moorage
Dues
Enforcement
Leasing permits
Purchasing permits
RMIa
Capital (imputed)
Other
Landings tax
Buyback tax

22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22

40,464
40,690
52,024
4,482
16,605
10,444
1,189
8,785
7,641
2,694
1,051
697
11,232
1,659
25,953
12,357
2,986
654
987

7,162
7,158
9,099
883
3,978
2,653
490
2,353
2,974
261
433
200
6,453
1,047
4,830
1,927
966
164
414

Revenue from:
Alaska
Hawaii
Other sources
At sea deliveries
Salmon disaster fund
Sale/leasing of permits
All speciesb
Groundfish
Crab
Shrimp
Salmon
Pelagic
HMSc
Halibut

22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22

0
443
8,259
0
22,173
545
207,120
117,271
63,532
11,791
1,072
5
2,672
10,513

0
403
3,857
0
7,597
496
41,027
16,854
17,252
8,873
571
4
2,077
4,153

Variable

a

RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements.
Groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, pelagic, HMS, and halibut do not represent 100% of species landed; as a result,
the sum of revenue for these species is less than revenue reported for all species.
c
HMS = highly migratory species.
b

48

Table 28. Revenue, costs, and net revenue (in US$) for the trawl fleet.a
Fleet
Alaska
All
Crab
Lg. groundfish trawler
Shrimp
Whiting

Revenue all
sources
1,744,793
585,041
287,092
436,572
516,955
869,338

Reported
cost
1,172,545
469,058
236,338
388,663
332,913
628,444

Accounting
net revenue
572,248
115,983
50,754
47,909
184,042
240,895

Economic Economic net
cost
revenue
1,250,878
493,915
507,660
77,381
253,515
33,577
420,010
16,562
385,804
131,150
701,881
167,457

Table 29. Revenue, costs, and net revenue (in US$) for the fixed gear fleet.a
Fleet
Alaska
All
Crab
Other < $15,000
Other groundfish
Sablefish

Revenue all
sources
1,478,749
324,189
363,700
†b
91,420
238,540

Reported
cost
994,251
247,003
332,985
†
74,129
189,547

a

Accounting
net revenue
484,498
77,185
30,716
†
17,290
48,993

Economic Economic net
cost
revenue
1,056,598
422,151
271,876
52,313
355,059
8,641
†
†
82,568
8,851
202,130
36,410

For Table 28 and Table 29, values are rounded to the nearest dollar. Revenue all sources includes landings, at sea
deliveries, sale and leasing of permits, salmon disaster payments, and any other sources. Reported cost provides the
total of all cost categories as collected by the survey. Accounting net revenue is the difference between Revenue all
sources and Reported cost. Economic cost makes three adjustments to the Reported cost figure to get closer to a
measure of economic opportunity cost: 1) a minimum captain payment equal to 15% of revenue from landings and
at sea deliveries is imposed to compensate for some vessels not making an explicit salary payment to the ownercaptain for his or her provision of captains services, 2) capital costs are estimated to equal 5% of the reported market
value of the vessel, and 3) costs are increased by 5% to account for those costs that were not included in the cost
categories collected by the survey instrument. Economic net revenue equals Revenue all sources minus Economic
cost.
b
The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

49

Table 30. Trawl fleet crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour).
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size for shrimp trawling
Crew size for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use for shrimp trawling
Fuel use for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when shrimp trawling
Speed when groundfish trawling

1
0
6
1
0
6
6
6
1
0
6

†*
—
2.7
†
—
44.3
34.5
29.5
†
—
3.5

—
—
0.2
—
—
1.9
2.2
3.9
†
—
0.1

All trawlers

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size for shrimp trawling
Crew size for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use for shrimp trawling
Fuel use for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when shrimp trawling
Speed when groundfish trawling

31
36
72
28
38
68
65
63
28
36
71

2.8
2.0
2.0
8.3
11.7
17.1
14.6
13.7
2.7
2.2
2.6

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.9
1.0
0.8
0.7
0.1
0.1
0.1

Crabber

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size for shrimp trawling
Crew size for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use for shrimp trawling
Fuel use for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when shrimp trawling
Speed when groundfish trawling
Speed when trolling

3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2

2.3
†
1.3
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
2.3
†

0.3
†
0.3
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
0.1
†

Lg. groundfish trawler

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size for shrimp trawling
Crew size for groundfish trawling
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use for shrimp trawling
Fuel use for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing

23
29
52
13
20
28
48
45
43
20

2.7
2.0
1.9
1.5
7.7
10.7
12.1
11.2
10.5
2.7

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.5
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.2

Fleet

Variable

Alaska

50

Table 30 continued. Trawl fleet crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour).
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Speed when shrimp trawling
Speed when groundfish trawling
Speed when trolling

29
50
13

2.3
2.5
4.1

0.2
0.1
0.5

Shrimp

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size for shrimp trawling
Crew size for groundfish trawling
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use for shrimp trawling
Fuel use for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when shrimp trawling
Speed when groundfish trawling
Speed when trolling

1
3
3
1
1
3
3
3
3
1
3
3
1

†
2.3
2.3
†
†
17.0
18.3
14.0
14.0
2.0
1.9
2.2
†

—
0.3
0.3
—
—
3.8
4.4
3.0
3.0
—
0.1
0.1
—

Whiting

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size for shrimp trawling
Crew size for groundfish trawling
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use for shrimp trawling
Fuel use for groundfish trawling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when shrimp trawling
Speed when groundfish trawling
Speed when trolling

3
2
8
0
3
2
8
8
8
3
2
8
0

3.7
†
2.3
†
13.0
†
30.6
22.4
21.6
2.0
†
2.9
—

0.3
†
0.2
—
2.1
—
5.9
3.5
3.7
0.6
†
0.3
—

Fleet

Variable

Lg. groundfish trawler
(continued)

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

51

Table 31. Fixed gear fleet crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour).
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size when longlining
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use when longlining
Fuel use for salmon trolling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when longlining
Speed when salmon trolling

3
9
1
1
6
1
5
5
3
7
1

4.0
4.2
†*
†
18.7
†
10.0
9.8
2.8
3.6
†

0.6
0.4
—
—
9.9
—
2.1
2.1
0.9
1.1
—

All fixed gear

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size when longlining
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use when longlining
Fuel use for salmon trolling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when longlining
Speed when salmon trolling

28
44
23
25
43
25
42
42
28
44
26

2.4
2.5
1.2
4.8
5.9
3.6
7.8
7.0
4.6
4.7
3.8

0.2
0.2
0.1
0.5
1.2
0.4
0.7
0.6
0.4
0.5
0.3

Crabber

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size when longlining
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use when longlining
Fuel use for salmon trolling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when longlining
Speed when salmon trolling

9
9
5
8
8
4
8
8
8
7
4

2.4
2.3
1.4
6.2
6.2
5.5
8.4
8.2
4.8
4.6
4.0

0.4
0.3
0.2
1.4
1.4
2.5
2.2
1.9
0.7
1.2
1.0

Other < $15,000

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size when longlining
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use when longlining
Fuel use for salmon trolling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when longlining
Speed when salmon trolling

1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1

†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†
†

—
—
—
—
—
—
0.5
0.5
—
—
—

Fleet

Variable

Alaska

52

Table 31 continued. Fixed gear crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour).
Number of
observations

Mean

Standard
error

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size when longlining
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use when longlining
Fuel use for salmon trolling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when longlining
Speed when salmon trolling

3
6
3
2
6
2
6
6
3
7
3

2.3
2.5
1.7
†
2.2
†
11.0
10.6
2.2
4.6
4.6

0.3
1.1
0.3
0.4
0.4
1.5
3.0
3.2
0.7
1.2
0.9

Crew size for crabbing
Crew size when longlining
Crew size for salmon trolling
Fuel use for crabbing
Fuel use when longlining
Fuel use for salmon trolling
Fuel use for steaming full
Fuel use for steaming empty
Speed when crabbing
Speed when longlining
Speed when salmon trolling

12
19
13
13
22
17
21
21
13
22
17

2.0
1.7
1.0
4.2
3.5
3.1
6.5
5.1
5.7
5.2
3.5

0.3
0.2
0.0
0.7
0.5
0.5
1.1
0.7
0.6
1.0
0.3

Fleet

Variable

Other groundfish

Sablefish

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

53

Table 32. Trawl fleet share for captain, crew, and vessel.
Number of
observations

Mean
(%)

Standard
error

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

6
5
6
3
4
4
6

19.3
23.2
61.3
15.7
27.0
61.3
33.3

3.7
0.6
0.8
0.9
3.6
1.1
10.3

All trawlers

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

51
51
51
35
35
35
73

19.1
22.5
59.5
8.1
25.7
66.2
35.5

0.7
0.7
0.5
1.2
0.9
1.1
3.4

Crabber

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

0
1
1
2
2
2
3

—
†*
†
†
†
†
66.7

—
—
—
†
†
†
32.9

Lg. groundfish
trawler

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

33
32
34
19
28
28
52

19.5
23.4
59.1
10.7
25.5
67.3
39.7

1.0
1.0
0.8
1.7
1.2
1.6
4.9

Shrimp

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

2
2
2
0
0
0
3

†
†
†
—
—
—
3.3

†
†
†
—
—
—
3.3

Whiting

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

7
8
8
1
1
1
8

18.6
23.5
60.3
†
†
†
2.0

1.7
1.9
2.0
—
—
—
1.9

Fleet

Variable

Alaska

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

54

Table 33. Fixed gear fleet share for captain, crew, and vessel.
Number of
observations

Mean
(%)

Standard
error

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

6
6
6
6
7
7
9

11.5
44.5
44.0
13.2
48.9
39.9
62.3

1.0
6.8
6.3
7.9
10.6
7.8
13.0

All fixed gear

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

18
18
18
23
37
39
49

19.0
28.7
52.3
16.0
30.7
61.4
76.8

1.4
3.1
2.4
2.8
2.3
2.7
4.3

Crabber

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

2
2
2
4
8
8
8

†*
†
†
20.0
28.1
61.9
99.1

†
†
†
10.3
3.1
7.3
0.6

Other < $15,000

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

2
2
2
1
1
1
2

†
†
†
†
†
†
†

†
†
†
—
—
—
†

Other groundfish

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

3
3
3
3
3
4
8

25.0
12.0
63.0
23.3
24.0
64.5
57.5

0.0
0.0
0.0
1.6
8.1
12.4
16.9

Sablefish

Captain share without owner as captain
Crew share without owner as captain
Vessel share without owner as captain
Captain share with owner as captain
Crew share with owner as captain
Vessel share with owner as captain
Percent of trips with owner as captain

5
5
5
9
18
19
22

24.4
19.0
56.6
13.3
25.3
69.7
84.9

3.6
3.3
4.4
5.6
2.7
3.4
6.7

Fleet

Variable

Alaska

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three
respondents.

55

Table 34. Trawl fleet market value of vessel.
Fleet
Alaska
All trawler
Crab
Lg. groundfish trawler
Shrimp
Whiting

Number of
observations
6
68
3
48
3
8

Mean (US$)
1,466,667
589,926
233,333
378,333
750,000
1,368,750

Standard
error (US$)
252,914
47,502
131,762
22,579
444,695
344,148

Table 35. Fixed gear fleet market value of vessel.
Fleet
Alaska
All fixed gear
Crab
Other < $15,000
Other groundfish
Sablefish

Number of
observations
9
49
9
2
8
21

Mean (US$)
627,778
246,449
315,000
†*
46,375
147,143

Standard
error (US$)
195,849
43,624
146,757
†
12,238
38,538

* The dagger (†) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions
when fewer than three respondents.

56

References
Good, P. 2006. Resampling methods: A practical guide to data analysis. Third edition. Birkhauser
Press, Boston, MA.
Leonard, J., and P. Watson. 2011. Description of the input-output model for Pacific Coast fisheries.
U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-111.
Lian, C. E. 2010. West Coast limited entry groundfish trawl cost earnings survey: Protocols and results
for 2004. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-107.
Lian, C., R. Singh, and Q. Weninger. 2010. Fleet restructuring, rent generation, and the design of
individual fishing quota programs: Empirical evidence from the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery.
Mar. Resour. Econ. 24(4):329–359.
Radtke, H. D., and S. W. Davis. 2000. Description of the U.S. West Coast commercial fishing fleet and
seafood processors. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Portland, OR.
Terry, J., G. Silvia, D. Squires, W. Silverthorn, J. Seger, G. Munro, R. Marasco, D. Larson, J. Kirkley,
L. Jacobson, S. Herrick, J. Gauvin, A. B. Gautam, S. Freese, and R. Baldwin. 1996. Fixed costs
and joint cost allocation in the management of Pacific whiting–A workshop report. U.S. Dept.
Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SWFSC-234.

57

58

Appendix A: Limited Entry Survey Questionnaire
Conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center
and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SURVEY RESPONDENT
1. Name: ________________________________ 2. E-mail: ________________________________
3. Date (month/day/year): __________________ 4. Telephone: (____)________________________
5. Mailing address (street, city, state, and zip code):
__________________________________________________________________________________

VESSEL OWNERSHIP AND CHARACTERISTICS
6. Please verify the following information on record about your vessel’s characteristics. If the
information on record is correct, please place a check mark in the Corrections column. If the information
on record is incorrect or there is no information on record, please provide the correct information in the
Corrections column.
Item

Information on record

a. Owner’s name

Charles Smith

b. Owner’s address

333 1st Street, Waldport, OR
97005

c. Vessel name

FV Smith

d. USCG or state vessel ID

33221843 or OR33214

e. Home port

Newport, OR

f. Length (feet)

75

g. Fuel capacity (gallons)

300

h. Engine make and model

No information on record

i. Engine horsepower

380

Corrections

7. What is the approximate market value of your vessel (not including associated permits) in dollars?
$__________________
59

8. Please provide your vessel’s fuel consumption, speed, and crew size (not including captain) when
engaged in each of the following activities. If this vessel does not engage in an activity, please write
“NA” in the appropriate columns.
Activity

Fuel consumption
(gallons per hour)

Speed
(knots per hour)

Crew size (not
including captain)

a. Trawling (while towing)
b. Longlining
c. Shrimping (while towing)
d. Crabbing
e. Trolling
f. Steaming (fully loaded)

Not applicable

g. Steaming (empty)

Not applicable

ANNUAL COSTS AND EARNINGS
Questions 9 through 11 collect information about this vessel’s costs and earnings while operating in all
fisheries (groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, etc.). This survey’s primary objective is to collect data on
costs and earnings for 2008. However, we recognize that conditions in the fishery change from year to
year and that two years of data can provide a more complete picture than a one-year snapshot. If possible,
we would appreciate receiving your cost and earnings data for both 2007 and 2008.
9. In what month does your vessel’s fiscal year begin? ___________
10. For each of the earnings (income) sources listed below, please indicate the income earned during
your fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008. If no income was earned from a particular source during a
particular year, please write “NA” in the appropriate box.
Earnings (income) source

2007 ($)

a. Landings in Alaska
b. Landings outside the West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and
California) and Alaska. Please do not include at sea deliveries,
which are covered in part c of this question.
c. West Coast at sea deliveries
d. Sale and leasing of permits associated with this vessel
e. Salmon disaster relief payments
f. Other (please specify) __________________

60

2008 ($)

11. For each cost category below, please provide total annual expenditures during your fiscal year 2007
and fiscal year 2008. If you do not have separate data on expenditures for captain (part a) and crew (part
b), please write combined expenditures in part a and write “NA” in part b. If no expenditures were
incurred in a particular category during a particular year, please write “NA” in the appropriate box. For
location of expenditures, please indicate the location of expenditures as a percentage in the following
location categories: HP = home port, HS = home state but not home port city, WC = West Coast (WA,
OR, or CA) state but not home state, AK = Alaska, and US = United States outside of West Coast and
Alaska. For crew expenditures please indicate the percent of crew that reside in each location category.

Cost (expenditure) category

2007 ($)

2008 ($)

Location of
expenditures
(percent of total)
HP HS WC AK US

a. Captain (include share payments, bonuses,
other forms of compensation, and payroll taxes)
b. Crew (include share payments, bonuses,
other forms of compensation, and payroll taxes)
c. Fuel and lube
d. Food and crew provisions
e. Ice
f. Bait
g. Repair, maintenance, and improvements for
vessel, gear, and equipment
h. Insurance
i. Interest and financial services
j. Enforcement and monitoring (include cost of
observers and electronics such as cameras)
k. Commission dues
l. Moorage
m. Purchase of permits for this vessel

Not applicable

n. Leasing of permits for this vessel

Not applicable

o. All other expenses for this vessel

Not applicable

61

CREW COMPENSATION AND FUEL USE WHILE TARGETING GROUNDFISH
Questions 12 through 17 collect information about labor and fuel costs when this vessel is participating in
the West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California) groundfish fisheries.
12. Does this vessel use a crew share system to pay its crew when operating in West Coast groundfish
fisheries?
a. Yes (proceed to question 13).
b. No (proceed to question 17).
13. Which of the following expenses were deducted from total revenue before calculating the crew share
when this vessel operated in West Coast groundfish fisheries?
a. Fuel and lube
Yes
No
b. Food and other crew provisions.
Yes
No
c. Landing taxes
Yes
No
d. Unloading expenses
Yes
No
e. Trucking expenses
Yes
No
f. Other. Please specify ____________________ Yes
No
14. On what percent of fishing trips does the vessel owner serve as captain? _____%
15. On trips when the vessel owner serves as captain, please indicate the share of net revenue (revenue
minus the deductions listed in question 13) going to the vessel, captain, and crew. If the vessel owner
does not serve as captain on any trips, please circle NA.
Vessel share _____%

Captain share _____%

Crew share _____%

NA

16. On trips when the vessel owner does not serve as captain, please indicate the share of net revenue
(revenue minus the deductions listed in question 13) going to the vessel, captain, and crew. If the vessel
owner always serves as captain, please circle NA.
Vessel share _____%

Captain share _____%

Crew share _____%

NA

17. In order to understand how regulatory changes affect your vessel’s per trip operating costs, we need
to collect data on your fuel costs as well as your labor costs. For trips where this vessel targets flatfish,
roundfish, and rockfish, please indicate the typical daily fuel use in gallons. If this vessel did not make
any trips targeting a particular type of fish, please write “NA” in the appropriate space.
Rockfish ________________

Roundfish ________________

Flatfish ________________

Survey Conclusion and Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
Thank you for participating in this survey. The information you have provided will improve studies of
the economic performance and economic impact of the West Coast limited entry fisheries. The public
reporting burden for this information collection, including time for gathering data needed and completing
the survey with an interviewer, is estimated to average one hour per respondent. Any questions about
this survey may be directed to either Carl Lian of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (206-302-2414)
or Dave Colpo of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (503-595-3100). This survey is
conducted under OMB No. 0648-0369, which expires on April 30, 2010.
62

Recent NOAA Technical Memorandums
published by the

Northwest Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC120 Pollock, M.M., J.M. Wheaton, N. Bouwes, C. Volk, N. Weber, and C.E. Jordan. 2012. Working
with beaver to restore salmon habitat in the Bridge Creek intensively monitored watershed: Design
rationale and hypotheses. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-120, 47 p. NTIS
number PB2013-101722.
119 Waples, R.S., K. Hindar, and J.J. Hard. 2012. Genetic risks associated with marine aquaculture.
U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-119, 149 p. NTIS number PB2013-101344.
118 Stout, H.A., P.W. Lawson, D.L. Bottom, T.D. Cooney, M.J. Ford, C.E. Jordan, R.G. Kope,
L.M. Kruzic, G.R. Pess, G.H. Reeves, M.D. Scheuerell, T.C. Wainwright, R.S. Waples, E. Ward,
L.A. Weitkamp, J.G. Williams, and T.H. Williams. 2012. Scientific conclusions of the status review
for Oregon coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo.
NMFS-NWFSC-118, 242 p. NTIS number PB2012-113458.
117 Maynard, D.J., T.A. Flagg, W.C. McAuley, D.A. Frost, B. Kluver, M.R. Wastel, J.E. Colt, and
W.W. Dickhoff. 2012. Fish culture technology and practices for captive broodstock rearing of ESAlisted salmon stocks. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-117, 65 p. NTIS
number PB2012-110667.
116 Lian, C.E. 2012. West Coast open access groundfish and salmon troller survey: Protocol and results
for 2005 and 2006. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-116, 52 p. NTIS
number PB2012-107486.
115 Plummer, M.L., W. Morrison, and E. Steiner. 2012. Allocation of fishery harvests under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: Principles and practice. U.S. Dept.
Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-115, 84 p. NTIS number PB2012-107485.
114 Bradburn, M.J., A.A. Keller, and B.H. Horness. 2011. The 2003 to 2008 U.S. West Coast bottom
trawl surveys of groundfish resources off Washington, Oregon, and California: Estimates of distribution,
abundance, length, and age composition. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC114, 323 p. NTIS number PB2012-105507.
113 Ford, M.J. (ed.). 2011. Status review update for Pacific salmon and steelhead listed under the
Endangered Species Act: Pacific Northwest. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC113, 281 p. NTIS number PB2012-104687.

Most NOAA Technical Memorandums NMFS-NWFSC are available at the
Northwest Fisheries Science Center Web site, http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov