West Coast Swordfish Fishery (WCSF) Survey Instrument an

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

Southwest Fisheries Science Center

8901 La Jolla Shores Drive

La Jolla, CA 92037-1508

SW IC 105309801

Letter to vessel owners the contractor was not able to contact by phone and who did not respond to an earlier mailing

Date

Dear <<potential respondent’s name>>,

We are writing to ask for your help in improving the understanding of the west-coast swordfish fisheries by participating in a voluntary study by NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). We have enclosed the survey in this mailing with a postage paid addressed envelope addressed to the study contractor, Doyle Hanan of Hanan&Associates, who will keep all data confidential. I hope that you will help in this study by taking the time to complete and return the survey.

The most recent data the SWFSC has on the costs and earnings of swordfish fishing businesses in California is from 2011. We are asking you to help provide the information needed to produce updated and accurate estimates of these fisheries’ economic contributions to local communities and the West Coast. We will also use this information to estimate the impacts that changes in economic, environmental and management conditions have on these fisheries. The survey focuses on two primary types of information: (1) business costs and earnings, which we will use for assessing the economic contribution and financial performance of this fleet, and (2) your opinions about the economic state of swordfish fisheries.

Over the last several months, Doyle has tried to reach you to schedule a confidential telephone or video call interview. Please contact Doyle at (858) 832-1159 or by email at [email protected] to indicate whether you prefer to provide the requested survey information during a phone or video interview or by mail.

Data collected with this survey will not be released for public use except in aggregate statistical form without identification as to its source. To protect the confidentiality of the information you provide, the information will be aggregated (averaged with at least two other businesses) in all reports to either resource managers or the public.

While your participation is voluntary, we hope you will help us in this effort to provide better economic information to understand and manage these important fisheries.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Stephen Stohs, PhD

NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Fisheries Resource Division, Economics Group

858-546-7084 ([email protected])

First mailing/intro letter with survey included

Date

Dear <<potential respondent’s name>>,

NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center has contracted with Dr. Doyle Hanan to conduct an economic survey of vessel owners, pilots and processors participating in the swordfish fisheries. This survey is similar to one conducted a few years ago. We need the requested economic information to produce updated and accurate estimates of these fisheries’ economic contributions to local communities and the West Coast, as well as to estimate the impacts changes in economic, environmental and management conditions have on these fisheries. The Pacific Fishery Management Council will use the estimates for these important fisheries to make informed management decisions based on the economic impacts on fishery participants and local communities. Doyle will call you in the next two weeks to set up a phone or video interview for the survey or to determine if you prefer to submit the information requested in the attached survey by mail. Please look for his call or call him at (858) 832-1159.

Thank you,

Stephen Stohs, PhD

NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Fisheries Resource Division, Economics Group

858-546-7084 ([email protected])

Section 1: Vessel Information for Drift Gillnet, Harpoon, Longline or Deep Set Buoy Gear Only

1	Owner: Operator:
2	Captain:
3	Vessel Name:
4	Position of person filling out form:
5	Contract captain used? 2018-2019 □ Yes □ No 2018-2019 % of time:		2019-2020 □ Yes □ No 2019-2020 % of time:
6	Year current captain was born		19____
7	Captain: years fishing		yrs
8	Captain: years operating current fishing vessel		yrs
9	Year vessel purchased
10	Purchase price	$
11	Estimated market value of vessel	$
12	Insured replacement value of vessel	$
13	Vessel purchase loan principle balance	$
14	Vessel loan payments	$ yr/mo?
15	Time remaining on this loan	Yrs Mos
16	Vessel depreciation and amortization	2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
17	Capital Construction Fund (CCF) contributions	2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
18	Total Insurance cost: (vessel, liability, and health combined)	2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
19	Do you participate in a cooperative fishermen’s pool? □ Yes □ No
20	Electronics (Check all on vessel): □ INMARSAT □ Cellular phone □ VHF radio □ CB Radio □ SSB Radio □ Video plotter □ Autopilot □ Satellite navigation □ Computer □ Depth sounder □ Radar □ Sonar □ GPS □ Doppler Radar □ Temperature sensor □ Weather fax □ Other:
21	Total Electronics Cost	2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
22	Refrigeration: □ Brine Spray, □ Chiller, □ Blast Freeze	□ Other
a)	Year purchased
b)	Purchase price	$
c)	Maintenance Costs	2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
23	Icemaker?	□ Yes □ No
a)	Year purchased
b)	Purchase price	$
24	Total crew per trip (exclude captain)	Crew:
25	Fishing shares (percentage or actual cash)	2018-2019		2019-2020
a)	Boat /Vessel	____% or $ ______		____% or $ ______
b)	Captain	____% or $ ______		____% or $ ______
c)	2nd Captain	____% or $ ______		____% or $ ______
d)	Engineer	____% or $ ______		____% or $ ______
e)	Crew	____% or $ ______		____% or $ ______

Section 1: Continued

2018-2019 ↓ 2019-2020 ↓

26	Annual mooring or slip / berthing fees (if charged separately)	$		$
27	Shipping costs	$		$
28	Annual fuel and oil costs / amounts If Total:	$	gal	$	gal
a)	Fuel If Separate:	$	gal	$	gal
b)	Oil If Separate:	$	gal	$	gal
29	Annual food costs	$		$
30	Engine replacement costs Year	$		$
31	Annual total vessel repairs and maintenance	$		$
a)	Does this include haul out fees?	□ Yes □ No		□ Yes □ No
b)	Haul out fee if charged	$		$
32	Fishing association membership dues (Please circle month or year)	$ Mo/Yr		$ Mo/Yr
33	Total license fees (local, state, federal, combined)	$		$
34	Total County or Landing, vessel and berthing fees	$		$
35	Total business travel (car, airplane, train, other____________________)	$		$
36	Total vehicle expenses	$		$
a)	Cost of new vehicle if purchased	$		$
37	Off-vessel fish storage/refrigeration expenses	$		$
38	Office expenses	$		$
39	Total fishing trips per year this vessel (all types of commercial fishing)	trips		trips
40	Total days per trip on average	days		days
41	Total days fished per trip on average	days		days
42	Did you use a spotter plane?	□ Yes □ No		□ Yes □ No
43	For how many trips did you use a spotter plane?	trips		trips
44	Do you own the plane? (If yes please fill out Section 6)	□ Yes □ No		□ Yes □ No
45	If rental plane, what was the rental fee?	$ per		$ per
46	Who is responsible for paying for fuel and oil for the plane?
a)	Total fuel cost (if known):	$		$
b)	Total oil cost (if known):	$		$
c)	Total if combined (if known):	$		$
47	If pilot was paid a share or percentage of catch/gross/etc. please provide:	_­­__% or $____		___% or $___
48	If pilot was paid a flat-rate, please provide:	$ per___		$ per___
49	Do you share the cost of a spotter plane or pilot with others? □Yes□ No indicate your share as a percentage or dollar amount (please circle units)	_­­_­­_% or $____ per: Day/Mo/Yr		_­­__% or $­___ per: Day/Mo/Yr
50	How did you decide to use the spotter plane? □ Weather □ Availability □ Spotter Ability □ Cost □ Increased catch (Check all that apply)	□ Other:		□ Other:
51	Did increased catch justify the cost of using the plane?	□ Yes □ No		□ Yes □ No

Section 2: Questions for Drift Gillnet Fishery (DGN) Participants Only

2018-2019 ↓ 2019-2020 ↓

1	Total fishing trips per year this vessel (DGN fishing)						trips			trips
2	Total days per trip on average (DGN)						days			days
3	Total days fished per trip on average (DGN)						days			days
4	Net configurations used during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 and Targeted species:
	In 2018-2019 net used for what fishery/species (SWD, Shark, Bluefin, Yellowfin, other) List Target Fish↓
a)	Net 1: Length (ft/fm)	Depth (ft/fm)		Mesh (inches)
b)	Net 2: Length (ft/fm)	Depth (ft/fm)		Mesh (inches)
c)	Net 3: Length (ft/fm)	Depth (ft/fm)		Mesh (inches)
	In 2019-2020 net used for what fishery/species (SWD, Shark, Bluefin, Yellowfin, other) List Target Fish ↓
d)	Net 1: Length (ft/fm)	Depth (ft/fm)		Mesh (inches)
e)	Net 2: Length (ft/fm)	Depth (ft/fm)		Mesh (inches)
f)	Net 3: Length (ft/fm)	Depth (ft/fm)		Mesh (inches)
5	How much extra net (auxiliary or for repair) kept on vessel? Length: (ft/fm)
6	Current drift net total initial cost					$
7	Current drift net year purchased					Year:
a)	Current drift net remaining useful life expectancy					years
b)	Current pingers brand and remaining useful life expectancy					years
c)	Drift net annual equipment costs		2018-2019 $			2019-2020 $
d)	Drift net annual maintenance & repair cost		2018-2019 $			2019-2020 $
e)	Lost gear, depredation, other costs, Please Specify:		2018-2019 $			2019-2020 $
8	Total Catch & Revenue Drift Gillnet Fishery		2018-2019 CATCH (Specify Units)		2018-2019 REVENUE	2019-2020 CATCH (Specify Units)			2019-2020 REVENUE
a)	Swordfish				$				$
b)	Shark				$				$
c)	Tuna				$				$
d)	Other (list)				$				$

Section 3: Questions for Harpoon Fishery Participants Only

2018-2019 ↓ 2019-2020 ↓

1	Total fishing trips per year this vessel (HPN fishing)			trips		trips
2	Total days per trip on average (HPN)			days		days
3	Total days fished per trip on average (HPN)			days		days
4	Why do you harpoon? (Check all that apply) □ Primary source of income □ Opportunistic/supplemental □ Recreational □ Tax write-off Income □ Lower fuel costs □ Most cost efficient method of fishing □ Other:
5	Percentage of your fishing income from harpooning			2018-2019 %		2019-2020 %
6	How many harpooning trips did you fish other gear?			2018-2019		2019-2020
a)	Troll			Trips		Trips
b)	Hook and Line			Trips		Trips
c)	Longline			Trips		Trips
d)	Pots			Trips		Trips
e)	Other			Trips		Trips
7	Total harpoon gear costs? (gun, retrofitting, plank, floats, line, and other ________________________)			$		$
8	Other fishing costs, Please Specify:			$		$
9	Total Catch & Revenue Harpoon Fishery	2018-2019 CATCH Specify Units (#, lbs, or both)	2018-2019 REVENUE		2019-2020 CATCH Specify Units (#, lbs, or both)		2019-2020 REVENUE
a)	Swordfish		$				$
b)	Shark		$				$
c)	Tuna (Specify___________)		$				$
d)	Other (please list):		$				$

Section 4: Questions for Longline Participants Only

2018-2019 ↓ 2019-2020 ↓

1	Total fishing trips per year this vessel (LL fishing)			trips			trips
2	Total days per trip on average (LL)			days			days
3	Total days fished per trip on average (LL)			days			days
4	Longline gear purchase price					$
a)	Year purchased
b)	Expected longevity					Yrs
c)	Longline length					Miles
5	Annual longline operating costs Total if combined:					$
a)	Gangion/branch lines If separate:					$
b)	Hooks If separate:					$
c)	Bait If separate:					$
d)	Trans-shipment costs If separate:					$
6	Total Catch & Revenue Longline Fishery	2018-2019 CATCH (Specify Units)	2018-2019 REVENUE		2019-2020 CATCH (Specify Units)			2019-2020 REVENUE
a)	Swordfish		$					$
b)	Shark		$					$
c)	Tuna		$					$
d)	Other (list)		$					$

Section 5: Questions for Deep Set Buoy Gear Participants Only

2018-2019 ↓ 2019-2020 ↓

1	Total fishing trips per year this vessel (DSBG fishing)			trips		trips
2	Total days per trip on average (DSBG)			days		days
3	Total days fished per trip on average (DSBG)			days		days
4	Buoy Gear purchase price					$
a)	Year purchased
b)	Expected longevity					Yrs
c)	Main Line length					Miles
5	Annual buoy gear operating costs Total if combined:					$
a)	Gangion/branch lines If separate:
b)	Hooks If separate:					$
c)	Bait If separate:					$
d)	Trans-shipment costs If separate:					$
6	Total Catch & Revenue Longline Fishery	2018-2019 CATCH (Specify Units)	2018-2019 REVENUE		2019-2020 CATCH (Specify Units)		2019-2020 REVENUE
a)	Swordfish		$				$
b)	Shark		$				$
c)	Tuna		$				$
d)	Other (list)		$				$

Section 6: Questions for Spotter Plane Pilot or Owner Only

1	Owner: Operator:
2	Year pilot was born							19____
3	Years as a spotter pilot							yrs
4	Type of airplane
5	Year built
6	Year purchased
7	Purchase price							$
8	Estimated replacement value of airplane							$
9	Insured replacement value of airplane							$
10	Airplane purchase loan principle balance							$
11	Airplane loan payments							$ per
12	Time remaining on this loan							yrs mos
13	Airplane depreciation and amortization							$
14	Electronics (Check all on airplane): □ INMARSAT □ Cellular phone □ VHF radio □ CB Radio □ SSB Radio □ Computer □ Radar □ GPS □ Other:
15	Total Electronics Cost
16	Total Insurance cost: (vessel, liability, and health combined)				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
	Total Annual Cost (book keeping and tax preparation)				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
17	Engine(s) horse power				hp		hp
18	Fuel consumption				gal/hr		gal/hr
19	Annual Operating Costs:
a)	Number of gallons of fuel and oil (combined or split)				gal.		gal.
b)	Total fuel and oil costs while fishing (combined)				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
c)	Maintenance				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
d)	Parts (tires, brakes, engine, etc.)				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
f)	Transit of the plane to/from fishing grounds				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
g)	Equipment (GPS, binoculars, software, etc.)				2018-2019 $		2019-2020 $
20	Total Flight Days and Hrs Spotting:	2018-2019				2019-2020
a)	Swordfish	Days Ave Hrs/day				Days Ave Hrs/day
b)	Shark	Days Ave Hrs/day				Days Ave Hrs/day
c)	Tuna	Days Ave Hrs/day				Days Ave Hrs/day
d)	Small Pelagics (Anch/Sard/Mac)	Days Ave Hrs/day				Days Ave Hrs/day
e)	Other	Days Ave Hrs/day				Days Ave Hrs/day
21	Total Catch & Revenue Spotter Plane		2018-2019 CATCH (Specify Units)	2018-2019 Spotter Plane Revenue		2019-2020 CATCH (Specify Units)			2019-2020 Spotter Plane Revenue
a)	Swordfish			$					$
b)	Shark			$					$
c)	Tuna			$					$
d)	Small Pelagics			$					$
e)	Other: Explain:

Section 7: Questions for Processor Participants Only

1	Owner:
2	Operator:
3	Business Name:
4	Position of person filling out form:
5	Corporation Type:
6	Year incorporated:
7	Year purchased:
8	Purchase price: $
		2018-2019	2019-2020
9	Annual accountant fees	$	$
10	Annual Rent, Lease, or Mortgage costs (circle which applies)	$	$
11	Outstanding loan amounts	$	$
12	Total annual labor costs	$	$
13	Building & equipment maintenance	$	$
14	Insurance costs:
a)	FDIC	$	$
b)	Workers comp	$	$
c)	Health insurance costs	$	$
d)	Longshore & Harbor workers	$	$
e)	Pension funding	$	$
15	Harbor fees	$	$
16	Telephone costs	$	$
17	Vehicle costs
a)	Maintenance (non-vehicular)	$	$
b)	Insurance	$	$
c)	Fuel	$	$
d)	New purchases	$	$
18	Maintenance costs	$	$
19	Total swordfish purchased (please specify number or weight)
20	Total cost swordfish purchased	$	$

Section 8: Questions for Former Swordfish Participant/Operator Only

1	Name owner/operator:
2	Were you the Captain		□ Yes □ No
3	Vessel Name
4	Position person filling out form
5	Last year fished
6	Year captain was born		19____
7	Captain: years fishing		yrs
8	Captain: years operating fishing vessel		yrs
9	Do you currently participate in a commercial fishery? □Yes □No	If yes, which fishery(s) ­­­­­
10	Why did you leave the Swordfish fishery (please briefly describe)? Economics? □Yes □No Regulations? □Yes □No Other? □Yes □No

Section 9: Additional West Coast Swordfish Fishery Survey

Questions for All Participants

1. How have you participated in the swordfish fishery either up to the present or in the past? Check all that apply.

□ Longline fisherman

□ Drift gillnet fisherman

□ Harpoon fisherman

□ Spotter pilot

□ Processor plant manager or equivalent

□ Skipper

□ Vessel owner

□ Other __________________________

2. From your perspective, what impact has regulation of the west coast swordfish fishery had on the fishery in which you participate? (Please be specific regarding regulations and their impacts.)

3. What gears should be authorized for use to target swordfish off the West Coast?

□ Longline

□ Drift gillnet

□ Harpoon

□ Buoy

□ Other __________________________

Section 9: Continued

4. Are hard caps for marine mammal and sea turtle species an effective bycatch management tool?

□ Yes

□ No

In a few words, please explain why you answered “Yes” or “No”

5. Did you know the PFMC is soliciting applications for, and has issued Exempted Fishing Permits to target swordfish using deep-set buoy gear in California over the last few years?

6. Do you have any interest in applying for an Exempted Fishing Permit to target swordfish using deep-set buoy gear?

□ Yes

□ No

In a few words, please explain why you answered “Yes” or “No”

Section 9: Continued

7. Should the level of commercial swordfish fishing activity on the West Coast of the U.S. change?

□ Yes, commercial swordfish fishing activity on the U.S. West Coast should increase.

□ No, commercial swordfish fishing on the U.S. West Coast should stay the same or decrease.

In a few words, please explain why you answered “Yes” or “No”

8. Are you concerned that changing environmental conditions (weather, local target or protected species abundance, etc.) will affect the operation of the West Coast Swordfish Fishery or the related fishing community?

□ Yes, environmental change will affect the operation of the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

□ No, environmental change will have no effect.

If yes, in a few words, what are some impacts that you expect?

Section 9: Continued

9. If the Pacific Fishery Management Council amended the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan to authorize shallow or deep-set longline fishing within the West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone to target swordfish, would you potentially be interested in participating?

□ Yes, I would potentially be interested to participate in a West Coast Shallow-set Longline Swordfish Fishery.

□ No, I would not be interested to participate.

Explain in a few words why or why not.

The next group of questions are intended to help capture the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic response on fisheries.

10. How have you changed your fishing activities due to COVID-19?

11. What are the main reasons you made those changes?

12. By how much did your total annual fishing costs change in 202X-202X due to COVID-19? $_____.00

13. By how much did your total annual fishing revenue change in 202X-202X due to COVID-19? $_____.00

The Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) 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. The SWFSC and the Pacific Fishery Management Council will use this information to monitor, explain and predict changes in the economic performance and impacts of the West Coast Swordfish Fishery. Among other things, this will enable fisheries managers and the public to more fully consider the economic effects of proposed and existing regulations for this important fishery.

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/20XX. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 30 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 suggestions for reducing this burden to Dr. Stephen Stohs, NMFS SWFSC, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1508, [email protected].

We appreciate the confidential nature of the data being collected by this survey. The SWFSC 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). The SWFSC will protect individual survey data from public disclosure to the extent permitted by law and it has instituted procedures to provide that protection.