Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey Post Catc

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Social Survey
Post Catch Shares
Version 4

Sponsored by:
NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service)
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Human Dimensions Program

Questions?
Please Contact Suzanne Russell, NWFSC Social Scientist
Phone: (206) 860-3274
Email: [email protected]

OMB Control No.: 0648-0606
This survey is voluntary.

EXPIRATION DATE:
ALL RESPONSES ARE CONFIDENTIAL

i
SURVEY INFORMATION
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY? This study aims to collect social and cultural information from
those participating in any aspect of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery. The study collected baseline
data in 2010 to generate a description of the people in the industry before the ‘individual fishing quota’
program was implemented. After implementation we will repeat the study at various intervals. We can
then compare the results from each data collection effort to better understand any changes or social
impacts that have occurred in the industry.
WHO IS CONDUCTING THIS STUDY? This study is being conducted by the Human Dimensions
Program at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This program researches people within
ecosystems. This means we study human society as it relates to marine resources, inclusive of
commercial fishing.
HOW IS THIS STUDY FUNDED? This project is funded by the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and
Technology, Economics and Social Sciences Program, provided to the Human Dimensions Program,
Conservation Biology Division, NWFSC, NMFS, NOAA.
HOW WILL THIS STUDY BE USED? The information collected in this study will be used to understand
the impacts of fishery management measures, and to inform fishery management in the future. The
information will be publically available. It will also serve to meet regulatory requirements, including, for
example, regulations concerning information about fishing communities in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation Act National Standards 8,1,and 4 and regulations concerning minorities and environmental
policy in Executive Order 12898 – the Environmental Justice Initiative and the National Environmental
Policy Act.
HOW IS THIS SURVEY ORGANIZED? The survey is organized into seven parts; demographics, individual
participation, connections, quota perspectives, quota share allocation recipients/mangers, a section for
fishermen/harvesters, and a section for buyers/first receivers and processors. The questions allow us to
better understand all of the components of the fishery and how they function and are connected.
WHO DOES THIS STUDY INCLUDE? This study includes former trawl limited entry permit holders,
quota share holders, quota share allocation recipients, vessel owners, vessel captains/operators, crew,
processors, buyers/first receivers, industry suppliers and service providers, fisherman’s
wives/partners/spouses and others who participate in aspects of the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? This survey takes most people 45 minutes or less to complete.
ARE MY ANSWERS CONFIDENTIAL? This is a confidential survey. Analysis of the survey results will be
anonymous and/or aggregated. Information in this survey will be subject to the confidentiality requirements
of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and will not be provided or presented in any way as to identify
individual respondents. Please see next page for more information.
DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE? Your participation and input is VERY important and will help us to better
understand the unique opportunities and challenges of this fishery. However, this is a voluntary survey
and you may choose to skip any question or end at any point in the survey.
HOW WAS MY NAME OBTAINED? Depending on your role in the industry, your name was obtained
through quota permit ownership, vessel ownership, websites, through your employer, or through third party
referrals.
Thank you for your participation!
Please contact Suzanne Russell, NWFSC Social Scientist for more information.
Contact information: [email protected], or by phone: (206) 860-3274

ii

Filled out by survey administrator
Code number: ___________________

Name of survey administrator: ___________________

Survey Location: _____________________________ Date: ___________________________
Research Community: _____________________________ Trawl/Fixed/Other_________________
Notes: ____________________________________________________________________

SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS
All answers given in this survey should reflect YOUR OWN perception of the commercial
fishing industry based on your personal experience and knowledge.


Please ask questions at any time. Feel free to ask the researcher who is working with you or
contact Suzanne Russell at 206-860-3274, [email protected].



Please follow directions carefully.



Please DO NOT write your name anywhere on this survey, only on the blue form provided.



Please mark one answer per question unless otherwise specified. Please write clearly.



If you are unable to answer the question or it does not apply to you, please make sure to select
the ‘do not know’ or ‘not applicable’ box from the options provided.



If you chose to not answer a question for any reason, please write a notation next to the question
in the margin if an appropriate option (ex. Not applicable) is not provided in the question.



Please mark boxes clearly.
In electronic survey versions, check boxes can be selected and unselected with a click of
the mouse.
If you mark an answer incorrectly, please draw a horizontal line through the incorrect
answer and check the correct answer.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PARTICIPATION

EXPLANATION OF CONFIDENTIALITY
The information you provide will be kept confidential to the extent possible per the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (as amended) Sec 402(b) and NOAA Administrative Order NAO 216-100,
Protection of Confidential Fisheries Statistics. In addition, in the event of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
request, we will protect the confidentiality to the extent possible under the Exemption 4 of the FOIA. To support
the confidentiality of this research the following processes are in place:
• Your name will not be included on the survey document. It will be tracked in an alternate document to
reduce duplication, to account for your participation in the survey, and code your name as needed for
the data analysis. Access to this document will be limited to researchers working on this study and
protected via confidentiality agreements.
• All personal names provided on the survey document as answers to questions, will be viewed only by
the study researchers. The names will either be coded with a descriptor such as ‘X Community
Fisherman’ or assigned a code such as ‘A1’ as an identifier. The type of code that will be applied to the
data for each applicable question may vary based on the question itself or the associated analysis of
question.
• As researchers write final reports and publish the findings of this research, your responses will be
combined with responses from other participants so that no single individual may be identified.

iii

Section Completion Guide
Please see the following table for guidance on which survey sections to complete. Anyone can complete any of
the survey sections; this information is simply provided for your assistance.
■ = Please complete all sections that are marked with this symbol
□ = Sections marked with this symbol are optional based on your knowledge of the subject.
Sections
Industry Role

A

B

C

D

E

F

Fishermen

■

■

■

■

□

■

At-Sea Mothership and/or Catcher Processor Owner and/or Operator

■

■

■

■

■

■

At-Sea Mothership Employee

■

■

■

■

At-Sea Catcher Processor Employee – Fisherman

■

■

■

■

At-Sea Catcher Processor Employee – Processing Role

■

■

■

■

At-Sea Mothership/Catcher Processor Employee – Other Role

■

■

■

□

Shoreside Processor Owner and/or Operator

■

■

■

■

Shoreside Processor Employee

■

■

■

□

□

Buyer/First Receiver

■

■

■

■

■

Fisherman’s Wife/Partner

■

■

■

■

Industry Supplier of goods or services

■

■

■

□

Other Business Operations

■

■

■

□

Observer

■

■

■

For further clarification, the following table is provided to define the terms used in the table above.
Industry Role

Fishermen
(Harvester)

Buyer/First Receiver
Shoreside Processor
Industry Supplier of
Goods or Services
Other Business
Operations

Description
Existing (from 2011 catch shares implementation) & New
(after 2011) Quota Share Permit Owners
Quota allocation recipient (2011 original recipient)
Vessel Owners
Vessel Account Owners
Captains/Operators
Crew
As defined in next section
Those working for processors permanently fixed on land
Net suppliers, gear suppliers, equipment suppliers, fuel,
shipyards, various repair services, etc.
Any individual who is active in other activities that provide
services or other support utilized by fishery participants such
as harbormasters, accounting, business management, etc.,
but does not clearly fall into the other roles identified. For
example: a business partner who may not be an owner.

G
■
□

■
□
□

□

■

□

■

iv

SURVEY DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are for the application to this survey only. Where possible, these definitions have been
derived from definitions found in associated fishery management documents 1.
AT-SEA PROCESSOR: An operation conducting processing that takes place on a vessel or other platform that
floats and is capable of being moved from one location to another, whether shore-based or on the water.
BUYER/FIRST RECEIVER: A person(s) or organization(s) who receives, purchases, or takes custody, control,
or possession of commercially caught fish onshore directly from a vessel.
CATCH SHARE PROGRAM: Not defined in MSA. A catch share program is a generic term used to describe
fishery management programs that allocate a specific percentage of the total allowable fishery catch or a
specific fishing area to individuals, cooperatives, communities, or other entities. Each recipient of a catch share
is directly accountable to stop fishing when its exclusive allocation is reached. It includes more specific
programs defined in statute such as Limited Access Privileges (LAP) and Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQ). It also
includes Territorial Use Rights Fisheries (TURFs) that grant an exclusive privilege to fish in a geographically
designated fishing ground 2.
COMMERCIAL FISHING: (1) Fishing by a person who possesses a commercial fishing license or is required by
law to possess such license issued by one of the states or the Federal Government as a prerequisite to taking,
landing and/or sale; or (2) Fishing that results in or can be reasonably expected to result in sale, barter, trade or
other disposition of fish for other than personal consumption.
FISHERMAN: An individual who plays a role on a vessel that commercially harvests, takes, or catches fish.
INDIVUDAL FISHING QUOTA: A specific portion of a fishery’s total harvest limit that can be harvested solely by
an individual or business holding the individual fishing quota.
OWNER OF A VESSEL OR VESSEL OWNER: A person identified as the current owner in the Certificate of
Documentation (CG–1270) issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for a documented vessel, or in a
registration certificate issued by a state or the USCG for an undocumented vessel.
PERMIT OWNER: A person who owns a limited entry permit.
PERMIT HOLDER: A vessel owner as identified on the USCG form 1270 or state motor vehicle licensing
document.
PERMIT LESSEE: A person who has the right to possess and use a limited entry permit for a designated
period of time, with reversion of those rights to the permit owner.
QUOTA POUNDS (QP): Means the quotas, expressed in round weight of fish, that are issued annually to each
Quota Share permit owner in the Shorebased IFQ Program based on the amount of QS they own and the
amount of fish allocated to the Shorebased IFQ Program. QP have the same species/species group and area
designations as the QS from which they are issued 3.
QUOTA SHARES (QS): Means the amount of fishing quota for an individual species/species group and area
expressed as a percentage of the annual allocation of fish to the Shorebased IFQ Program. The QS is used as
the basis for the annual calculation and allocation of a QS permit owner’s QP in the Shorebased IFQ Program3.
QUOTA SHARE PERMIT OWNER: An individual who has received or holds quota share as previously defined.
SHORESIDE PROCESSOR: An individual or operation/business that is permanently fixed to land that engages
in processing; or receives live Groundfish directly from a fishing vessel for retail sale without further processing.
1

Source: Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries, Part 660 Fisheries off the West Coast States, Subpart G- West Coast Groundfish
Fisheries §660.302 Definitions. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, accessed 6/12/2012.
2
Source: NOAA Catch Shares Policy. NOAA Fisheries Catch Share Policy, accessed 6/12/2012.
3
Source: Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries, Part 660 Fisheries off the West Coast States, Subpart G- West Coast Groundfish
Fisheries §660.111 Trawl fishery – definitions Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: accessed 5-9-2012.

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares – V4

Page | 1

Section A: Demographic Information
Demographic questions help us to better understand the unique characteristics of people. They are standard
questions in social science and can be compared to the U.S. Census data to better describe a specific
population such as fishermen.
A1 What is your gender?
Answer
Male
Female

A2 How old are you?
Answer

A3 What is the highest level of education you have attained?
Answer
Some high school
Associates degree
High school diploma or equivalent
Bachelor’s degree
Some college or vocational, no degree
Graduate or professional degree

A4 Are you Hispanic or Latino?
Answer
Yes, Hispanic or Latino
No, Not Hispanic or Latino

A5 What is your race? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White/Caucasian

A6 What is your ancestry (ethnic origin)? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Answer
Answer
Chinese
Italian
Mexican
English
Irish
Norwegian
Filipino
Japanese
Russian
German
Korean
Vietnamese
Other (Specify)

A7 What is your current marital status?
Answer
Single
➨ Go to A7a
Married
Partner
Divorced
Widowed
Other (Specify)

Answer
Portuguese
Scottish
American Indian

A7a If married, does your spouse participate in
any aspect of the commercial fishing industry?
Answer
Yes
No

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 2

Section A: Demographic Information
A8 How many members are in your household (including yourself)? (U.S. Census defines a household
consists of all the people related and unrelated that occupy a housing unit 4)
Answer in #

A9 What percentage of your
household income comes from
your participation in
any commercial fishing activity?
Answer

A10 How are you paid for your work in the commercial
fishing industry? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
By trip
By percentage of value of catch
By days at sea
Hourly

Prefer not to answer this
question

Salary
Owner Share
Other (Specify)

A11 Please indicate your permanent residence (where you are registered to vote or your
principal home you intend to return to) or your most current residence:
Answer
City/Town:
State:
Zip Code:

A11a Please clarify if the above address is your permanent (where you are registered to vote
or your principal home you intend to return to), or your current (temporary or secondary
home) address.
Answer Description
Permanent Residence
Current Residence
A11b How long have you lived at your permanent or current residence?
Answer

A12 Please describe your living situation. Please mark all that apply.
Answer

4

Answer
Own Residence

Live with Parents

Rent Residence

Other (Specify)

U.S. Census Current Population Survey Definitions U.S. Census Definitions, accessed 5/22/2013.

END Section A: Demographic Information

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 3

Section B: Individual Participation
Questions in this section help us better understand additional characteristics of the people in the industry,
beyond what the demographic information provided in the previous section. In this section we seek to
better understand how you participate in commercial fishing and your historical activity in fishing.
B1 Please indicate your role and any role your
spouse/partner may have in any aspect of the
commercial fishing industry. Please mark all that
apply.
* Please complete this question from your perspective not
your spouse’s/partner’s.

Self

Role Description
Quota Share Permit Owner
Co- Quota Share Permit Owner
Vessel Owner
Co-Vessel Owner

Spouse/
Partner

B2 Has your family historically participated
in any commercial fishing activity?
(Including yourself)
Answer
Yes
➨ Go to B3
No
➨ Go to B4
B3 If so, for how many generations has
your family participated in any
commercial fishing activity?
(Including yourself)
Answer

Vessel Account Owner
Co-Vessel Account Owner
Limited Entry Permit Owner
Captain/Operator
QS/QP Manager
Risk Pool Manager
Broker

B4 How old were you when you started to
work in any commercial fishing
activity?
Answer

Fishing Crew
Groundfish Fixed Gear LEP owner
Other Fisheries Owner
Observer
At-Sea Catcher Processor and/or
Mothership Owner
At-Sea Catcher Processor and/or
Mothership Operator
At-Sea Catcher Processor and/or
Mothership Employee - Fisherman
At-Sea Catcher Processor and/or
Mothership Employee–Processing Role
Vessel Crew – Other
Non-Fishing/Non-Processing Role
Buyer (First Receiver)
Shoreside Processor Owner

B5 For how many total years have you
worked in any commercial fishing
activity?
Answer

B6 Of the years you’ve worked in
commercial fishing, how many years
have you worked in the Pacific Coast
groundfish trawl fishing industry?
Answer

Shoreside Processor Operator
Shoreside Processor Employee
Fisherman’s Wife*/Partner/Spouse
Industry Supplier/Service Provider (Nets,
Fuel, Shipyard, etc.)
Business Operations (accounting etc.)
Other (Specify)
NOT APPLICABLE

B6a How many years did you participate in
the Pacific Coast Groundfish trawl
fishing industry prior to the catch
share program?

Answer

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 4

Section B: Individual Participation Continued
B7 What location do you work from in relation to where you live (your permanent or current residence;
for at-sea industry members, where you live when you are not working aboard a vessel)?
Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Same city/town
Different City/Town
Same Harbor
Different Harbor
Same County
Different County
Same State
Different State
Other (Specify)

B7a Please list the city/towns/harbors where you participate in the commercial fishing industry.
City/Town/Harbor
State

B7b Why do you participate in the commercial fishing industry in a location other than where you live?
Answer

B8 Please indicate your level of employment in each category indicated below.
Please mark all that apply. (NOTE: We understand fishermen don’t work on an hourly basis. Please select
the option that best represents your situation. For example: A full time groundfish fishery employment
response could be fishing the groundfish fishery quota over the year and supplementing that effort with fishing
in another fishery or a non-fishing job.)

Groundfish
Fishery

Answer
Full-Time Employment

(40 hrs./week)

Part-Time

(less than 40 hrs./week)

Seasonal Full-Time Employment

(Part of the year 40 hrs. /week.)

Seasonal Part-Time Employment

(Part of the year less than
40 hrs. /week.)

Other (Specify)

All Other
Fisheries

NonFishing

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 5

Section B: Individual Participation Continued
B8a Do you work multiple jobs?
(In any combination of fishing or non-fishing)

Answer
Yes, multiple part-time jobs
Yes, multiple full-time jobs
Yes, both full and part-time jobs
No

B9 Do you maintain a job outside the
commercial fishing industry?
Answer
Yes

➨ Go to B9a

No

➨ Go to B10

B9a Please list any jobs you have outside of the commercial fishing industry.
Answer

B9b Please explain why you work outside the commercial fishing industry.
For example: personal interest, supplement income, etc.
Answer

B10 How would you rate the following items in your role in the commercial fishing industry?
Description
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Job satisfaction
Compensation/Pay (Amount)
Method of Compensation/Pay
(How you are paid)

Job Stability
Standard of Living
Relationship with Co-Workers
B10a What would improve the above (B10) conditions? Please indicate how each
item may be improved. For example: Standard of Living would improve with increased income.
Answer
Job Satisfaction
Compensation/Pay (Amount)
Method of Compensation/Pay
(How you are paid)
Job Stability
Standard of Living
Relationship with Co-Workers

END Section B: Individual Participation

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 6

Section C: Connections
Questions in this section help us understand how people in the industry are connected, how information and
resources flow, and identify important resources.
C1 Who do you depend on for everyday information about the commercial fishing industry?
For example: status of fishing grounds. Please list first and last names of people, companies, and/or
organizations. Personal names will be coded to protect identity, see page ii.
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE
C2 Who do you depend on for equipment and supplies you utilize while working in the commercial
fishing industry? For example: net suppliers, vessel parts, etc. Please list first and last names of
people, companies, and/or organizations. Personal names will be coded to protect identity, see page ii
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE
C3 Who do you depend on for services you utilize while working in the commercial fishing industry? For
example shipyards, equipment repairs, etc. Please list first and last names of people, companies,
and/or organizations. Personal names will be coded to protect identity, see page ii
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 7

Section C: Connections Continued
C4 Who do you depend on for information about fisheries management? For example: changes in
regulations. Please list first and last names of people, companies, and/or organizations. Personal
names will be coded to protect identity, see page ii
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE

C5 Where do you get information related to your work in the fishery?
Answer
Telephone/Cell Phone
Internet, Social Networking Sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
Radio
Print Media (Newspaper, Magazines, Newsletters)
Other (Specify)
Verbal/Word of Mouth
E-mail Notices (NMFS, etc.)
NOT APPLICABLE

C6 Please list any organizations or associations you are a member of that relate(s) to your participation in
any aspect of the commercial fishing industry.
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE

END Section C: Connections

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 8

Section D: Catch Shares Perspectives
Questions in this section will help us understand people’s opinions about the new catch shares program as
well as what actions they have taken since the management change.
D1 Did you support the catch shares program
before the management change in January
2011?
Answer
Yes
Was Not Sure
No
Not Applicable

D2 Do you support the catch shares program
now?
Answer
Yes
Not Sure
No
Not Applicable

D3 Below are some possible outcomes of the catch shares program. Please rate your level of agreement
with each item listed? Please mark all that apply.
Strongly
Agree

Agree

Undecided

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

More stable jobs
Reduced bycatch
Increases individual accountability
Fewer jobs
Decrease in income
Increased cost to enter fishery
Increased cost to remain in the fishery
Loss of businesses and community
infrastructure
Boats leave the fishery and impact the
community (negatively)
Processors leave the community and
impact the community (negatively)
Observer coverage is too costly
Arranging for observer coverage is difficult
Impacts small boats/small businesses
(negatively)

Increase participation in non-groundfish
fisheries
Other (Specify)

D4 How were you personally affected by the catch shares program implemented in January 2011? Please
describe what contributed to your answer.
Answer
Please describe:
Positively
Negatively
No significant change
NOT APPLICABLE

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 9

Section D: Catch Shares Perspectives Continued

D5 Please select the description below that most closely represents your activities in the Pacific Coast
Groundfish Trawl Fishery in the last 5 years.
Answer
No change in groundfish fishery activity (Same as prior to catch shares in January 2011)
Increased level of activity in the groundfish fishery (Fishing more, processing more, other role more, etc.)
Decreased level of activity in the groundfish fishery (Fishing less, processing less, less of other role, etc.)
New to the groundfish fishery (Started fishing, started processing, started new role/business, etc.)
Exited the groundfish fishery (No longer participate in any capacity)
Exited all fisheries (No longer participate in any capacity in any fisheries)
Other (Specify)

NOT APPLICABLE
D5a Please select the description below that most accurately clarifies your activities in Non-Pacific CoastGroundfish Trawl Fisheries in the last 5 years.
Answer
No change in non-groundfish fisheries (Same as prior to catch shares in January 2011)
Increased participation in non-groundfish fisheries
➨ Go to
D5b

(Fishing more, processing more, other role more, etc.)

Decreased participation in non-groundfish fisheries
(Fishing less, processing less, less of other role, etc.)

Entered new non-groundfish fisheries (Not previously fished, processed, or worked in etc.)
Exited commercial fisheries activity in all fisheries (No longer participate in any capacity)

➨ Go to D6

Other (Specify)

NOT APPLICABLE
D5b Please select the non-Pacific Coast -Groundfish fisheries you have participated in, in any capacity,
in the last 5 years. Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Pacific Whiting
Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands Groundfish
Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands King and
Pacific Salmon
Tanner Crab
Pacific Halibut
GOA Groundfish
Highly Migratory Species (For example: Tunas,
Alaska Scallop
Billfish/Swordfish, Sharks, Dorado, etc.)
Coastal Pelagic Species (Pacific sardine, Pacific
mackerel, Jack mackerel, Northern Anchovy, Market
Squid, etc.)

Dungeness Crab
Pink Shrimp
Other (Specify)

Alaska Salmon
Alaska Halibut

Continue to Question D7

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 10

Section D: Catch Shares Perspectives Continued
D6 Please describe any new/additional work or activities you have engaged in due to your exit from the
commercial fishing industry or to supplement current commercial fishing activities.
ANSWER

NOT APPLICABLE
D6a Please describe what factors, events, or other circumstances have contributed to the change in your
activities identified in D6.
ANSWER

NOT APPLICABLE

D7 Please indicate your plans for participation in the fishing industry sectors described below.
Please mark all that apply. (NOTE: Groundfish refers to Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery)
Answer
Keep current activity levels in the groundfish
fishery

Keep current activity levels in non-groundfish
fisheries

Increase current activity levels in the
groundfish fishery

Increase current activity levels in nongroundfish fisheries

Decrease current activity levels in the
groundfish fishery

Decrease current activity levels in nongroundfish fisheries

Exit the groundfish fishery
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

Exit some but not all non-groundfish fisheries
Exit all non-groundfish fisheries

NOT APPLICABLE
D8 How do you see your role in the relevant fishery below changing in the next 5 years? Please mark all
that apply.
Trawl Groundfish Fishery
Any Non-Groundfish Fishery
Become a vessel owner
Become a permit owner

Become a vessel owner
Become a permit owner in X fishery (describe):

Become a skipper

Become a skipper

Become crew
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

Become crew

NOT APPLICABLE

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 11

Section D: Catch Shares Perspectives Continued

D9 Please rate your level of satisfaction with the catch shares program by year.
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

2021

Excellent
Good
Neutral
Fair
Poor
D10 Please describe any results of the catch shares program that occurred in the last 5 years, but you
did not expect.
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE

D11 Has the catch shares program changed your lifestyle?
Answer
Yes ➨ Go to 9a
No

➨ End Section

D12 If you answered yes, the catch shares program has changed your lifestyle, please describe how.
For example: Fish groundfish more consistently or changed fishery because quota shares/lbs. too
expensive, etc.
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE

END Section D: Catch Shares Perspectives

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 12

Section E: Quota Share Owners/Managers & Vessel Account Owners/Managers
Questions in this section will help us understand what actions people have taken under the catch shares
program and what changes have occurred to date. QS = quota share, QP = quota pounds

E1 Please indicate your role as described below. Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Quota Share Permit Owner
Quota Share Permit Co-Owner
Vessel Account Owner/Manager
Vessel Account Co-Owner/Manager
Vessel Owner

➨ Go to E1a
➨ Go to E1a
➨ Go to E2

Non-Owner Quota Share/Vessel Account Manager
Other (Specify)

➨ Go to E2

➨ Go to E2
➨ Go to E2

NOT APPLICABLE

E1a Please select the following description that best describes when you received your quota share (QS)
permit.
Answer
QS permit was obtained upon the program implementation in January 2011.
QS permit was received after program implementation.
Other (Specify)

E2 Did you or the QS permit owner you work for,
receive an initial quota share allocation for catch
shares implementation in January 2011?
Answer
Yes
➨ Go to E2a
No

➨ Go to E3

E2a Do you or the QS permit owner you
work for/manage still have the same
quota share identified in question E2?
Answer
Yes
No

E3 How many vessels (or vessel accounts) received quota pounds resulting from the quota share you own
or manage?
Answer

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 13

Section E: Quota Share Owners/Managers & Vessel Account Owners/Managers Cont’d.
E4 Please select the actions described below that apply to the QS/QP you own, work for, or manage.
Please mark all that apply. QP = quota pounds, QS = quota shares
Answer
Quota Pound Transfers: QS Account
Transferred QP from a QS account I own/manage to a vessel account(s) I own/manage
Transferred QP from a QS account I own/manage to a vessel account(s), I do not own/manage
Obtained QP in a vessel account(s) I own/manage from a QS account I own/manage
Obtained QP in a vessel account(s) I own/manage from a QS account that I do not own/manage
Quota Pound Transfers: Vessel Account
Transferred QP from a vessel account(s) I own/manage to another vessel account I own/manage
Transferred QP from a vessel account(s) I own/manage to another vessel account I do not own/manage
Obtained QP in a vessel account(S) I own/manage from a vessel account(s) I own/manage
Obtained QP in a vessel account(s) I own/manage from a vessel account(s) I do not own/manage
Quota Share Transfers
Transferred QS from a QS permit/account(s) I own/manage to another QS permit/account(s) I own/manage
Transferred QS from a QS permit/account(s) I own/manage to another QS permit/account(s) I do not own/manage

Obtained QS from a QS permit/account(s) I own/manage to another QS permit/account(s) I own/manage
Obtained QS from a QS permit/account(s) I own/manage to another QS permit/account(s) I do not own/manage

No action
Exited the fishery
Other (Specify)

E4a Why did you take the actions selected in E4? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
To cover a deficit

To increase target species QS percentage

To avoid a deficit

To maximize surplus carryover QP in vessel account(s)

To increase Halibut IBQ pounds

To manage risk pool

To increase Halibut IBQ QS percentage

To divest of excess QS due to accumulation limits

To increase overfished species QP

To divest QS due to portfolio

To increase overfished species QS percentage

To diversify species portfolio

To increase target species QP

To diversify business opportunities

To generate income
Other (Specify)

NOT APPLICABLE

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 14

Section E: Quota Share Owners/Managers & Vessel Account Owners/Managers Cont’d.

E5 Did any additional QS/QP you
received meet your expectations?
Answer
QP
QS
Yes

➨ Go to E6

No

➨ Go to E5a
NOT APPLICABLE

E5a If you answered NO in question E5, please
describe why the additional QS/QP did not meet
your expectations.
Answer

➨ Go to E6

E6 Have you had any difficulty
transferring quota pounds or quota
share percentage(s)?
Answer
Yes
➨ Go to E6a & 6b
No

➨ Go to E7
NOT APPLICABLE

E6a Please indicate the purpose of the transfer of
quota pounds or quota share percentages(s).
Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Obtaining additional QP/QS
Selling QP/QS
Divesting QP/QS
NOT APPLICABLE

➨ CONTINUE to E6b
E6b If you answered YES in question E6, please indicate why you had the difficulties identified in E6.
Answer
Too expensive
Hard to determine who has QP/QS available
Species/species mix not acceptable
Hard to determine who needs QP/QS
Amount of QP not available
Process difficult to understand
Amount of QS not available
Mechanism difficult to utilize
Not enough QS on market
Other (Specify)

E7 What are your plans for the fishery? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Answer
Acquire more quota pounds

Acquire more quota shares

Maintain current level of participation
with existing levels of quota pounds
Sell/Transfer quota pounds
Exit the fishery
Other (Specify)

Maintain current level of participation with
existing levels of quota shares
Sell/Transfer quota shares
Do Not Know

NOT APPLICABLE

FISHERMEN: PLEASE CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
AT-SEA & SHORESIDE PROCESSOR & BUYERS: PLEASE CONTINUE TO PAGE 23

END Section E: Quota Share Owners/Managers & Vessel Account Owners/Managers

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 15

Section F: FISHERMEN
Questions in this section are specifically for fishermen. Information gathered will help us understand how
fishermen are connected to each other and to processors, how fishermen move between the groundfish
fishery and other fisheries, the relationships among people they work with, and what happens to fish after
it’s caught.
F1 Please rank, in order of importance, which fisheries you participate in on a regular basis in the last 5
years (1 being the most important). BSAI: Bering Sea/Aleutian Island, GOA: Gulf of Alaska.
Rank
Pacific Coast Fisheries
Rank
Alaska Fisheries
Pacific Whiting
Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands Groundfish
Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands King and
Groundfish
Tanner Crab
Salmon
GOA Groundfish
Pacific Halibut
Alaska Scallop
Highly Migratory Species (For example: Tunas,
Alaska Salmon
Billfish/Swordfish, Sharks, Dorado, etc.)
Coastal Pelagic Species (Pacific sardine, Pacific mackerel,
Jack mackerel, Northern Anchovy, Market Squid, etc.)

Alaska Halibut
Other (Specify)

Dungeness Crab
Other (Specify)

F2 What are the most common species you have commercially fished in the last 5 years? Please mark
all that apply.
Rockfish
Chilipepper

Roundfish
Lingcod

Other Continued
Herring

Longspine Thornyhead
Shortspine Thornyhead
Splitnose
Yellowtail
Pacific Ocean Perch

Pacific Cod
Pacific Whiting
Sablefish
Sharks and Skates

Mackerel
Tuna
Pink Shrimp
Ridgeback Prawn
Squid

Longnose Skate

Alaska Pollock

Flatfish
Arrowtooth Flounder
Dover Sole
English Sole
Petrale Sole
Starry Flounder

Big Skate
California Skate
Spiny Dogfish

Alaska King Crab
Alaska Tanner Crab
Alaska Salmon
Alaska Atka Mackerel
Alaska Sablefish
Alaska Halibut

Rex Sole
Sanddabs

Pacific Halibut
California Halibut
Pacific Salmon

Other (Specify)

Other
Dungeness Crab

Alaska Pacific Cod
Alaska Flatfish

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 16

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued
F3 Have you changed the species you have caught in the last 5 years.
Answer
Yes
➨ Go to F3a
No
➨ Go to F4
NOT APPLICABLE
F3a Why have you changed the species you catch?
Answer

F4 What gear(s) do you commonly use to fish in the last 5 years? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Setline
Drift Gill Net
Midwater Trawl
Jig
Purse Seine/Round Haul Net
Pair Trawl
Pole
Vertical Hook and Line
Longline
Troll

Danish/Scottish Seine
Lobster Pot
Crab Pot
Fish Pot

Stick Gear

Prawn Trap

Shrimp Trawl, Single or Double
Rigged

Gill Net/Trammel Net
Dip Net
Set Net
Other (Specify)

Flatfish Trawl

Shrimp Trawl, Single Rigged

Groundfish Trawl, Large Footrope

Diving Gear

Shrimp Trawl, Double Rigged

Groundfish Trawl, Small Footrope

F5 Have the vessel(s) you own or work on used
excluders?
Answer
Yes
➨ Go to F5a
No
NOT APPLICABLE

Roller Trawl
Beam Trawl
River Trawl

➨ Go to F6

F5a Was the use of the excluder(s) directly
related to the trawl catch shares program?
Answer
Yes
No
NOT APPLICABLE

➨ Go to F5d
➨ Go to F5b

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 17

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued

F5b If you answered NO in question F5a, please
indicate when the vessel started using
excluders. (Approx. MM/YY).
Answer

F5c Has the use of the excluder(s) increased due
to the trawl catch shares program?
Answer
Yes
No
NOT APPLICABLE

F5d What species is the vessel trying to avoid by the use of the excluder?
Answer

F5e What percentage of time is the excluder used?
Answer

F5g Has the excluder been beneficial and
served its purpose?
Answer
Yes
➨Go to F7
No
NOT APPLICABLE

➨Go to 5h
➨Go to F7

F6 What contributes to the lack of use of an
excluder? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Cost
Availability/Access to excluders
Do not fish in areas where risk is high
for bycatch species
Other (Specify)

NOT APPLICABLE

F5f During specific fishing trips, what contributes to
the decision to use the excluder?
Answer

F5h If you answered NO, to F5g, Please describe
why the excluder has not been beneficial.
Answer

F7 Independent of excluders, what efforts to change
gear are being made to avoid or reduce bycatch?
Answer

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 18

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued

F8 In the last 5 years, please complete the following table to identify and describe the
boats you own or you work on.
Own: Please check the box if you own or co-own the vessel listed.
Mooring Port(s): Please tell us the port(s) where the boat most frequently moors (This may be different than where the boat lands catch).
Trawl Participant: Please check whether or not the vessel actively participates in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery.
Other Fisheries: Please list all the other fisheries the boat(s) actively participates in. Please include both West Coast and Alaska Fisheries.
Do Not Know: If you do not know a piece of information please indicate Do Not Know in the corresponding space in the table.
NOT APPLICABLE
Trawl
Own
Vessel Name
Other Fisheries
Mooring Port(s)
No.
Participant
Bellingham, WA
Crab
Example
Y
N
✔ Wandering Seas
1

Y

N

2

Y

N

3

Y

N

4

Y

N

5

Y

N

6

Y

N

7

Y

N

8

Y

N

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 19

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued

F9 Has safety improved as a result of the catch shares system?
Answer
Yes

➨ Go to F10a

No
NOT APPLICABLE

F9a Please describe why you think safety has or has not improved. For example, improved schedules
allow me to avoid bad weather.
Answer

Do Not Know

F10 What is the crew size (including the skipper) for each fishery you participate in. Please indicate the
fishery and the crew size when participating in that fishery. See example below.
Number
4

Fishery
For Example: Groundfish Fishery

Number

Fishery

F10a Have the people you work with within each fishery changed in the last 5 years?
Yes

No
X

Fishery
Example: Groundfish Fishery

NOT APPLICABLE

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 20

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued
F10b Please describe why you think this has or has not changed.
Answer

Do Not Know
F11 What is your relationship to others on the boat(s) you commercially fish/work on? Note: Please
include quota share permit owners not on board.
Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Related to at least one individual – Family

Co-workers

All on boat are family members

Friends

Business partner(s)

Other (Specify)

F12 Please rate the quality of your relationships with the following people on the most recent groundfish
trawl fishery boat(s) you have worked on. Please indicate if this has changed since in the last 5 years.
QS = quota share
Changed
Self/Not
Individual
Negative
Neutral
Positive
Applicable
YES
NO
QS Owner
Vessel Account Owner

Vessel Owner
Captain/Operator
Crew
Observer
Other (Specify)

F12a If the quality of the relationships noted in question (F14) has changed, please explain why you think
they have changed.
Answer

Do Not Know

NOT APPLICABLE

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 21

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued

F13 To whom do you sell your trawl caught groundfish? Please provide information for the
vessel you most recently worked on or owned. Please list business(es).
Answer

Do Not Know

NOT APPLICABLE

F14 What items are taken into consideration when deciding where to sell the catch?
Answer
Mutual agreement with Buyer
Mutual agreement with Processor
Contract with Buyer
Contract with Processor
Only Single Buyer Available
Best Price/Market

Mothership or Catcher - Processor
Longstanding Relationship
Vessel owned by Processor
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

F15 Do you have a choice of where you sell your
fish?
Answer
Yes
➨ Go to F16
No
➨ Go to F15a
Do Not Know

F15a If you answered NO in question F15, please
describe why you don’t have a choice.
Answer

NOT APPLICABLE

F16 How many buyers/processors are located in
the port(s) you deliver to for the fisheries
below?
Answer
Trawl caught groundfish
All other fisheries (crab, shrimp, tuna, etc.)
Do Not Know
F17 What limits your choice of where you sell your fish?
Answer
Market
Limited number of processors
Location of processors
Amount purchased by processor
Amount paid for catch by processor
Species purchased by processor
Multiple species required by
processor for purchase of all species

Sell/deliver to a Mothership or Catcher-Processor
No Limitations
Vessel is owned by processor
Other (Specify)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 22

(for example groundfish and
crab) F: FISHERMEN Continued
Section

F18 Please rate the quality of your relationships with the following people related to the selling of trawl
caught Pacific Coast Groundish species. Please indicate if this has changed in the last 5 years.
Changed
Self/Not
Individual
Negative
Neutral
Positive
Applicable
YES
NO
Buyer/First Receiver
Processor
Mothership
Other (Specify)
NOT APPLICABLE
F18a If the responses in question F20 have changed, please describe why you think they have changed.
Answer

Do Not Know

NOT APPLICABLE

F19 Do you plan to continue your participation in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery?
Answer
Yes

➨ Go to F22

No

➨ Go to F21a

NOT APPLICABLE

F19a Please describe why you do not plan on continuing fishing in the commercial Pacific Coast
Groundfish trawl fishery.

Answer

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 23

Section F: FISHERMEN Continued

F20 Do you plan on continuing your participation in other commercial fisheries?
Answer
Yes

➨ Go to F22a

No

➨ Go to F22b

F20a Please list other commercial fisheries you plan on participating in.
Answer

F20b Please describe why you do not plan on continuing fishing in other commercial fisheries.
Answer

END SURVEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 24

Section G: PROCESSORS (AT-SEA and/or SHORESIDE) and BUYERS/RECEIVERS
Questions in this section are specific to processors, including shoreside processers, buyers, and receivers,
catcher-processors, and motherships. Information gathered in this section will help us understand the
connections between processors and fishermen, the flow of the product from the fishermen to the distributor
and the stops along the way, and the decisions that processors must make.
G1 Please select below which option best describes the type of processor that you own or work for.
Please provide the name of the company next to the corresponding selection. Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Company Name
Shoreside Processor
Mothership
Catcher-Processor
Independent
Buyer/First Receiver
Other (Specify)

G2 In which port/city is the processing plant you own/work for physically located? For catcherprocessors or motherships, please indicate most common port(s). For buyers please indicate base
city of business.
Port/City
State

G3 Is the processor you work for part of a larger company? If so what are the company’s other
locations?
Answer
Port/City
State

Yes

No
➨ Go to G4
Do Not Know
G4 Please list, in order of importance, the top 10 species of fish that are processed or purchased by the
company you own/work for. Please refer to question F2 for species examples.
Answer
1

6

2

7

3

8

4

9

5

10
Do Not Know

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 25

Section G: PROCESSORS (AT-SEA and/or SHORESIDE) and BUYERS/RECEIVERS Cont’d.
G5 Please explain why some of the species you process are more important than others.
For example market value is higher, available year round, etc.
Species
Explanation

Do Not Know

G6 Whom do you purchase trawl-caught
groundfish from? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Commercial Fishing Boats

G7 How many boats do you purchase trawl
caught groundfish from in a typical
season?
Answer

Buyers/First Receivers
Do Not Know

Do Not Know

NOT APPLICABLE

NOT APPLICABLE

Other (Specify)

G8 What items are taken into consideration when deciding where to purchase trawl caught groundfish?
Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Mutual agreement with Fisherman/Boat
Contract with Fisherman/Boat
Relationship with Fishermen
Company Fishing Boats
Buyer/First Receiver
Contract/Agreement with Buyer/First Receiver
Catcher – Processor
Geographic Location (distance from plant)
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 26

Section G: PROCESSORS (AT-SEA and/or SHORESIDE) and BUYERS/RECEIVERS Cont’d.
G9 Please rate the quality of your relationships with the following people related to the purchasing of
Trawl-caught groundfish and indicate whether those relationships have changed in the last 5 years.
Changed
Self/Not
Individuals
Negative
Neutral
Positive
Applicable
YES
NO
QS Owner
Vessel Account Owner
Vessel Owner
Captain/Operator
Buyer
Distributor
Marketer
Laborers
Other (Specify)
G9a If the responses in question G9 have changed, please describe why you think they have changed.
Answer

Do Not Know

NOT APPLICABLE

G10 Is the trawl caught groundfish purchased typically processed in the same port where it is purchased?
Answer
Yes
No
Depends on Species
Other (Specify)
Do Not Know

➨ Go to G11
➨ Go to G10a

➨ Go to G11

G10a Please clarify why groundfish purchased in one port, is processed in another location.
Species
Location and reason for different location

Do Not Know

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 27

Section G: PROCESSORS (AT-SEA and/or SHORESIDE) and BUYERS/RECEIVERS Cont’d.
G10b Where do you process groundfish that is not processed in the same port where it is purchased?
Please mark all that apply and list locations (For example, Coos Bay, OR).
Answer
Locations
Local
Regional
National
International
Do Not Know
G10c How are the product(s) transported? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Boat
Truck
Air
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

G11 What items does your company take into consideration when deciding where to sell
trawl caught groundfish? Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Contract with wholesaler
Agreement with wholesaler
Contract with distributor
Agreement with distributor
Contract with restaurant(s)
Agreement with restaurant(s)
Contract with retailer(s)
Best Markets
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

Agreement with retailer(s)
Longstanding relationships

G12 Where do you market your product? Please mark all that apply and list locations.
(For example: Seattle, WA).
Answer
Locations
Local
Regional
National
International
Do Not Know

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 28

Section G: PROCESSORS (AT-SEA and/or SHORESIDE) and BUYERS/RECEIVERS Cont’d.
G13 How is the product(s) transported to the final distributor or company distribution location?
Please mark all that apply.
Answer
Boat
Truck
Air
Do Not Know
Other (Specify)

G14 What other businesses do you depend on for the complete purchase, processing, and
sale of your company’s seafood products? For example: trucking company, broker, etc.
Answer

Do Not
Know
G15 To help us better understand what happens to trawl caught groundfish after it is purchased from a
vessel, please describe the path the product takes from purchase to selling. For example:
Vessel
Shoreside Processor
Local distributor
National market
Answer

Do Not Know

END SURVEY
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION

Pacific
Groundfish
Fishery
Social
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– Post
Catch
–V4 Page | 29
TheCoast
following
space
is left
blank
notes
orShares
comments

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
The above space is left blank for notes or comments

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Survey – Post Catch Shares –V4 Page | 30

Please address any questions or comments to:
Suzanne Russell
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
[email protected]
206-860-3274

Public reporting or burden for this survey is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a
collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection
of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden,
to Suzanne Russell, NWFSC-Human Dimension Program, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA
98112-2097.