Mariana Archipelago Small Boat Survey

OMB Control No. 0648-0773

Expiration Date:XX/XX/20XX

Hafa adai, help us to better understand the importance of fishing in the Mariana Archipelago. Your details of
fishing experiences and expenditures are important for getting accurate results. We want to best represent
Marianas fisher(men) and we can only do that by hearing from as many fisher(men) as possible. While your
response is voluntary, we hope that you can help us in this research.
We appreciate the confidential nature of the data being collected by this survey. NOAA’s National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) will handle individual survey data as confidential business information and a
form of protected personal information and will maintain the confidentiality of the information consistent
with legal authorities available to it, including but not limited to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. Section 552a)
and the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. Section 1905). NMFS will protect individual survey data from
public disclosure to the extent permitted by law and it has instituted procedures to provide that protection.

SECTION A. YOUR FISHING EXPERIENCES

1.

Approximately how many BOAT fishing trips did you take in 2023? __________ trips
(if not sure, please provide answer below):

0
 Fewer than 12 trips (once every month or less)
 12 – 24 trips (once every other week)
2.





25 – 49 trips (once a week)
50 – 99 trips (once or twice a week)
100 – 200 trips (two to three times a week) or more

In 2023, how many of your BOAT fishing trips were primarily: (please check one for each gear)
None
(0%)
Trolling
Deepwater Bottomfish
Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish
Atulai
Reef Fishing (Spear)
Reef Fishing (Net) Other, please
specify: _________________









Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost
(90%-100%)

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1

3.

Approximately how many NON-BOAT fishing (shoreline) trips did you take in 2023? __________ trips
(if not sure, please provide answer below):

0
 Fewer than 12 trips (once every month or less)
 12 – 24 trips (once every other week)
4.

25 – 49 trips (once a week)
50 – 99 trips (once or twice a week)
100 – 200 trips (two to three times a week) or more

In 2023, how many of your NON-BOAT fishing (shoreline) trips were: (please check one for each gear type)

Pole
Spear
Cast net
Surround net
Gill net
Rod and reel
Gleaning
Hand line
Other gear, please specify:
_____________________

5.





None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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In 2023, how many of your BOAT fishing trips were:

Single day (or night) trips
Multiday trips

None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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6.

How many people in total, including yourself, are on board for an average BOAT fishing trip? _________ people

7.

Do you always fish out of the same boat ramp or harbor?

 YES
 NO

If NO, on average, how many different boat ramps or harbors do you use in a year? _______ ramps

2

8.

In 2023, approximately how many total pounds of pelagic fish, deepwater bottomfish, nearshore/shallow bottomfish, and reef fish
did you catch?
Pelagic fish
Deepwater bottomfish
Nearshore/shallow bottomfish
Reef fish

9.

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101-250
pounds

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251-500
pounds

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500+ pounds
(about how much?)

____________
____________
____________
____________

In 2023, during what percent of your fishing trips did you fish at/visit Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs):
None
(0%)



9a.

51-100
pounds

1-50
pounds

None

Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)



In 2023, please estimate the percentage of your total fishing time that you fished at/around Fish Aggregating Devices
(FADs):
None
(0%)



Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)



SECTION B. MARKET PARTICIPATION

10.

People have different opinions on the definition of commercial fishing. How would you define a fisher(man) as
commercial? To be considered a commercial fisher(man), I feel that someone must: (check all that apply)

 Sell at least one fish
 Sell 25% or more of catch
 Sell 50% or more of catch
 Sell all catch
11.

 Make at least 25% of personal income from fishing
 Make at least 50% of personal income from fishing
 Make all personal income from fishing
 Other, please specify:_________________________

What is your primary motivation for fishing? (if multiple applies to you, put 1 as primary, 2 as secondary, and 3 as tertiary)

 Purely Recreational (I fish only for sport or pleasure)
 Recreational Expense (I fish primarily for sport or pleasure, but I also sell a few fish to cover trip expenses)
 Subsistence (I fish primarily to catch fish to feed myself/my family/my community)
 Cultural (I enjoy fishing, but I am even more concerned about keeping traditional practices alive, such as using traditional fishing
gear)

 Part-time Commercial (Fishing pays some of my bills, but I still have to work at another job)
 Full-time Commercial (Fishing brings in most or all of the money I make in a year)
 Other, please specify:_______________________________________________________________
3

12.

13.

14.

In 2023, how many of your fishing trips did you fish for a roadside vendor, and/or as an independent fisher(man)?
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

Roadside vendor



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



I am an independent
fisherman



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In 2023, how many of your fishing trips did you fish as a captain and/or crew?
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

Captain

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Crew

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In 2023, how were the catch distributed among fisher(men) in a fishing trip?

 I kept all the fish I caught (for sale/given away/

 Don't know/different every time

self-consumption)

 Other, please describe:_________________________

 I kept/received ______% of total fish caught
 I kept/received ______% of trip revenue
15.

In 2023, about what percentage of your fishing trips did you sell a portion of your catch?
None
(0%)



16.

Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)



In 2023, what percentage of your catch was:

Sold
Consumed at home
Given to family members
Given to friends/neighbors
Caught for fiestas or other
community/cultural events
Traded for goods and services
Caught and released

None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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4

If you never sold fish, go to Question 23

17.Where did you sell your catch? (check all that apply)
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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Guam Fishermen's Coop
Roadside Vendor
Retail Markets/Stores
Hotels/Restaurants
Friends/Neighbors/Coworkers
Wholesaler
Other, please specify:
____________________

18.

Can you usually sell all of the fish that you want to sell?
Pelagic Fish


 No
 I don't sell these fish
Yes

19.

Deepwater Bottomfish


 No
 I don't sell these fish


 No
 I don't sell these fish

 Yes
 No
 I don't sell these fish





Catch of non-target species
Fish too small/picky buyer
Other, please describe:_________________________

In 2023, what was the approximate value of all the fish you sold?

 $1 - $100
 $101 - $500
 $501 - $1,000
21.

Reef Fish

Yes

If NO in Q18 – why not?

 Market is too far
 The price is not good
 Market conditions
20.

Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish

Yes





$1,001 - $5,000
$5,001 - $10,000
More than $10,000

About how much? $_____________

In 2023, what percent of the value of fish sold (question 20) came from the sale of pelagic fish, deepwater bottomfish, nearshore/
shallow bottomfish, and reef fish?
None
(0%)
Pelagic Fish
Deepwater Bottomfish
Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish
Reef Fish






Very little
(1%-9%)


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Some
(10%-39%)



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5

About half
(40%-59%)

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Most
(60%-89%)

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Almost all
(90%-100%)

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22.

In 2023, after expenses, what percent of your personal income came from the sale of fish?
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)


23.

Some
(10%-39%)



About half
(40%-59%)



Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)





How important is the fish you catch as a source of food for your family?
Not at all



Slightly important



Moderately important

Very important



Extremely important





SECTION C. VESSEL AND GEAR
In this section we want to better understand the vessel and gear characteristics of Marianas’ fishing

24.

Do you own the boat that you fish on?

 YES
 NO

If YES, what percentage of your time do you fish on your own boat?______%

Go to Q25

If NO, do you always fish on the same boat?

 YES
 NO

Go to Q 32
Go to Q 32

If you own the boat your fish on:

25.

What is the length of your boat?_______ feet

26.

What is the horsepower?_______ hp

27.

In what year was the boat built? ___________

28.

In 2023, did other people (other than family members) use the boat without you?
Never
(0%)



29.
30.
31.

Very little
(1%-9%)



Sometimes
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Usually
(60%-89%)



Almost always
(90%-100%)



In what year did you purchase the boat you fish on?

_________________

How much did you pay to purchase the boat you fish on?

$_____________________

(if homebuilt – when did you complete it?)

(If homebuilt – how much did it cost to build it?)

What is the current market value, in dollars, of the electronics you currently use to fish?

6

$____________________

32.

What is the current market value, in dollars, of the gear you currently use to fish
(not including electronics)?

If you own the boat you fish on:

33.

What is the current market value, in dollars, (considering age and current condition)
of your boat (including motor(s) and trailer, but not including electronics or gear mentioned above)?
$____________________

If you own the boat your fish on:

34.

$____________________

Please enter the year in which you made any major improvements to your vessel

_____________________

SECTION D. YOUR FISHING TRIP COSTS
We now want to understand what it costs to fish.
Please remember that all your answers are strictly confidential.

35.

In 2023, what was the primary gear usage for your most common BOAT fishing trip (please check one)?

 Trolling
 Deepwater bottomfish
 Nearshore/shallow bottomfish
36.

 Atulai
 Spear fishing (boat)
 Scuba spear

Reef fishing with nets (boat)

On average, how did you pay for your fishing trip costs for your most common (question 35) gear type?

 I paid all trip costs and it costed $___________ per trip
 I paid a fixed amount of $ _________ per trip
 I paid ______% of the total trip costs per trip
 Other, please describe: ___________________________________________
37. On average, what was the total trip costs for your most common (question 35) gear type trip?
Type of Expenditure

Trip Expenditure

What type of fuel?

 gas  diesel
 gas  diesel

Amount

____________gallons

Boat fuel

$__________________

Truck fuel (round trip)

$__________________

Ice

$__________________

____________lbs

Bait

$__________________

____________case(s)

Food and beverage

$__________________

Daily maintenance and repair

$__________________

Gear lost

$__________________
$__________________

Other, please specify:___________________

7

____________gallons

38.

In 2023, what was your second most common gear usage (please check one)?

 Trolling
 Deepwater bottomfish
 Nearshore/shallow bottomfish

 Atulai
 Spear fishing (boat)
 Scuba spear

Reef fishing with nets (boat)
Spear fishing (shore)
Rod and reel (shore)

 Net fishing (shore)
 Gathering by Hand (shore)

39. On average, how did you pay for your fishing trip costs for your second most common (question 38) gear type?






I paid all trip costs and it costed $___________ per trip
I paid a fixed amount of $ _________ per trip
I paid ______% of the total trip costs per trip
Other, please describe: ___________________________________________

40. On average, what was the total trip costs for your second most common (question 38) gear type trip?
Type of Expenditure

Trip Expenditure

What type of fuel?

 gas  diesel
 gas  diesel

Amount

____________gallons

Boat fuel

$__________________

Truck fuel (round trip)

$__________________

Ice

$__________________

____________lbs

Bait

$__________________

____________case(s)

Food and beverage

$__________________

Daily maintenance and repair

$__________________

Gear lost

$__________________
$__________________

Other, please specify:___________________

8

____________gallons

SECTION E. OTHER FISHING EXPENDITURES IN 2023
In an effort to better understand your economic contribution to the Marianas’ economy, we would like to ask
about your fishing-related expenditures in 2023. In the table below please indicate how much, if any, was
spent on the following items during 2023 .
Enter “0” if you did not have any expenses in a category. Please do not leave blank.
Remember that all your answers are strictly confidential.

41.
Cost Category

42.

2023 Expenditure (dollars)

Boat insurance

$__________________________

Loan payments

$__________________________

Financial services (accounting, taxes)

$__________________________

Moorage fees

$__________________________

Repair, maintenance, and improvements for vessel, engines, or trailer

$__________________________

Oil and lube

$__________________________

Gear (lines, lures, gaffs, rods, electric/hydraulic reels, spears, wetsuits, coolers, etc.)

$__________________________

Electronics

$__________________________

Fees (Registration for truck and trailer, dry dock fees, fishing club dues, coop fees, etc.)

$__________________________

Safety Equipment

$__________________________

Other, please specify:_______________________________________

$__________________________

Some fisher(men) purchase fishing gear, electronics, safety equipment or other items off-island, online, or through a
catalog. Approximately what percentage of your expenditures were purchased off-island? _______________%

9

SECTION F. ABOUT YOU
Different people have different fishing experiences and different motivations for fishing.
The following questions help us to better understand these differences.

43. What is your gender?

 Male

Female

44. What is your age?

 Less than 25 years 35 to 44 years
 25 to 34 years 45 to 54 years




55 to 64 years
more than 64 years

45. What village do you live in? _____________________________
46. How long have you lived in the Marianas? ______________years
47. How long have you fished from a boat? _____________years
48. Are you a member of a fishing club/association/group? (please check all that apply)

 Guam Fishermen's Cooperative Association (GFCA)
 Guam Organization of Saltwater Anglers (GOSA)
 Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club (MASC)
 Other, please specify:_________________________

 Marianas Underwater Fishing Federation (MUFF)
 Saipan Fishermen Association (SFA)
 Halum Mamati Fishing Club (HMFC)
 None

49. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin?

 No

 Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano

 Yes, Cuban

 Yes, Puerto Rican  Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin, please specify:_________________________
50. What is your race? (check all that apply)

 Guamanian or Chamorro
 Filipino
 White
 Chinese
 Japanese
 Korean
 Vietnamese
 Other Asian, please specify: ______________________

 Carolinian
 Native Hawaiian
 Samoan
 Other Pacific Islander, please specify:_____________________
 Asian Indian
 American Indian or Alaska Native
 Black or African American
10

51. Are you currently employed?

Student (full-time)
 Employed full-time
Student (part-time)
 Employed part-time
 Other, please specify:______________________

Retired
Unemployed

52.How many hours per week do you work for pay (non-fishing)? __________ hours
53. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

 Less than 9th grade
 Some high school (no diploma)
 High school graduate (including GED)
 Some college (no degree)

54.

 Associates degree or technical school
 College graduate (bachelor degree)
 Advanced, professional, or doctoral degree

What was your total household income, before taxes, in 2023, including fishing income?

 Less than $2,500
 $2,500 to $4,999
 $5,000 to $9,999
 $10,000 to $14,999

 $15,000 to $24,999
 $25,000 to $29,999
 $30,000 to $39,999
 $40,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $74,999
$75,000 to $99,999
$100,000 or more

SECTION G. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

55.

Given your experience, do you think in the next year more people will be going… (please check one for each)
Pelagic Fishing

 Yes
 No
56.

57.

Nearshore/Shallow
Bottomfish Fishing

Deepwater
Bottomfish Fishing

Reef Fishing

 Yes

 Yes

 Yes

 No

 No

 No

Why do you feel this way?_________________________________________________________________________

What are the top three (3) species you target …

To sell?

2

1

To keep for self-consumption?
To give away?

11

3

58.

Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Strongly
Disagree

As someone who fishes I am respected by the community.





Fishing is an important part of who I am.
Fishing is an important part of my culture

Disagree





Neutral





Agree





Strongly
Agree





59. How important are the following for managing fisheries in the Marianas?
Not at all Slightly Moderately
Very
Extremely
Important Important Important Important Important

Rules are followed and enforced
My voice is included in decision making
Managers know how many fish there are
Managers know how healthy the reef / other habitats are
Managers know about the fisher(men) and fishing community (income,
culture, etc)
Managers build or maintain fisheries infrastructure (boat ramps, harbors, etc.)
Other, please specify:_____________________________

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60. Please state how much you agree or disagree that following management is being done well:
Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly
Agree
















Rules are followed and enforced
My voice is included in decision making
Managers know how many fish there are
Managers know how healthy the reef / other habitats are
Managers know about the fisher(men) and fishing community (income,
culture, etc)
Managers build or maintain fisheries infrastructure (boat ramps, harbors, etc.)
Other, please specify:_____________________________

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Thank you for participating in this survey.
Please go to next page to provide additional comments

12

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61. Do you have any suggestions for how the Marianas' fisheries should be managed or topics that you feel need further study?

Would you like to receive a copy of the final report for this study?
(all personal information will be kept strictly confidential)

 YES
 NO
Name:
Address:

May we contact you if we have any questions about your survey responses?

 YES
 NO

Email:_______________________________

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is collecting this economic information to improve
its ability to conduct the analyses required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other
applicable law. NMFS and the Regional Fishery Management Councils will use this information to monitor, explain and predict changes in
the economic performance and impacts of commercial fisheries. Among other things, this will enable fisheries managers and the public to
more fully consider the economic effects of proposed and existing regulations for federally managed fisheries.
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information
collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0773 and
its expiration data is XX/XX/2023. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this
information collection is estimated to be approximately 45 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses
to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection,
including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NOAA Fisheries at: 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, Attn: Justin
Hospital, and [email protected] if desired.

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