For Hire Telephone Survey Questionnaire

OMB Control Number 0648-0709

Expiration Date: XX/XX/20XX

Public Burden Statement

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 0648-0709. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey/information collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 3.5 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 National Marine Fisheries Service, John Foster, NOAA Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Hwy SSCM3 Room 12359, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Hello, I’m calling on behalf of NOAA Fisheries Services and the For-Hire Survey. Can I please speak to name of contact? If person sought is not available, ask if they will be available anytime this week. If yes, scheduled convenient time to call back to talk to that person, thank respondent, and terminate interview. If no, thank respondent and terminate interview.

Are you still the captain, owner or designated representative of the [vessel name]?

If “yes”, ask: Can you provide information on the activity of the [vessel name] during the last week (Monday through Sunday)?

If “yes”, continue to survey description.

If “no”, ask: Is someone else currently operating the [vessel name]?

If “yes”, then ask: Do you know the name and telephone number of new contact?

If “yes”, take name and telephone number, thank respondent and terminate interview.

If “no”, denote whatever information is given and terminate interview.

The [vessel name] has been selected at random from a directory of for-hire fishing vessels to be included in this week’s survey of trips. The information you provide will be used to estimate total fishing effort and catch by the for-hire sector which is essential for assessing the health of fish stocks. This data will remain confidential, and this survey is being conducted in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, therefore your participation is voluntary. The estimated reporting burden for this survey is approximately 3.5 minutes. (Continue with interview)

INTRO TWO: (for previously interviewed vessel reps)

Hello this is [interviewer name] calling on behalf of NOAA Fisheries for the For-Hire Survey. May I speak with [contact name]?

Alternate survey description for re-contacts:

The [vessel name] has been selected for this week’s sample and I am calling to collect your effort information for this time period. As you know, this data will remain confidential, and this survey is being conducted in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, therefore your participation is voluntary. The estimated reporting burden for this survey is approximately 3.5 minutes.

(Continue with interview.)

Q1 During the last week (Monday through Sunday), how many saltwater fishing trips targeting finfish did the [vessel name] take?

Record –

If Q1=0, go to Q18.

Q2 How many of these trips were with paying passengers?

Record –

Q3 How many of these trips consisted of more than one day of fishing?

Record –

Q4 During the last week (Monday through Sunday), how many additional non-fishing trips did your boat make? Please include any trips taken for fuel, bait, or other recreational activities.

Record – If Q4>0, go to 4A.

Q4A On what days did each of these additional boat trips occur?

Record –

Now that we have information on the total number of trips taken, we would like to obtain specific information about each of these trips. We will begin with the most recent recreational fishing trip and work backwards to last Monday.

Q5 Did your boat take any saltwater fishing trips that ended on day of week (starting with Sunday)? If “yes”, obtain the total number of trips that day. Repeat this and the following questions for each day of the week. If more than one trip is made in one day, profile each trip separately for that day.

1=Monday

2=Tuesday

3=Wednesday

4=Thursday

5=Friday

6=Saturday

7=Sunday

Q6 How many separate fishing trips did you take on [trip_date]?

Record –

Q6A Was this trip with paying passengers?

Yes –

No –

Q7 We are only interested in collecting information about passengers who actively fished by having a line in the water. Excluding captain and crew, how many people actually fished during the trip?

Record –

Q8 Did this trip return to a [State where vessel was sampled] marina, dock, or launch ramp?

Yes – Go to Q9

No – Go to Q8A

Q8A To what state did your boat return from this trip?

Record –

Q9 To what county did this trip return? (Record FIPS code for county of trip).

Record –

Q10 Did this trip return to a marina, dock, or launch ramp to which the public normally has access? If so, to what particular marina, dock, or launch ramp did this trip return? (Record MRFSS 4-digit site code)

7777=private access site

8888=unknown public access site

9999=refused site information

Q11 At what time (to the nearest half-hour) did your boat leave the dock for that trip? (Record return time as military time)

Record –

Q12 At what time (to the nearest half-hour) did your boat return from that trip? (Record return time as military time)

Record –

Q13 To the nearest half-hour, how much time was spent actively fishing with gear in the water? (Record vessel fishing hours. If vessel fishing hours exceed 24 hours record “yes” for multi-day trip and split into individual day trips on consecutive days with equal fishing hours)

Record –

Q14 What fishing method or methods (read all options) were used on that trip? (Record as many options as offered)

1=trolling

2=bottom fishing

3=casting

4=fly-fishing

5=drifting

6=chunking

7=chumming

8=other

97=don’t know

99=refused

Q15 Was most of your fishing effort on that trip in the ocean, a gulf, a river, a sound, an inlet, or a bay?

1= ocean – Go to Q 15A

2= sound – Go to Q16 unless criteria for 15.1-15.6 below are met

3= river – Go to Q16 unless criteria for 15.1-15.6 below are met

4= bay – Go to Q16 unless criteria for 15.1-15.6 below are met

5= inlet or other non-ocean water body – Go to Q16

Q15.1 If (TRIP_ST=MD (24) or TRIP_ST=VA (51)) and Q15=3 or 4:

Was most of your fishing in the Chesapeake Bay (F) or a river that empties into the Chesapeake Bay?

Yes – Go to 15.1.1

No – Go to Q16

Q15.1.1 Was most of your fishing in the Potomac River (above line between Point Lookout and Smith Point?

Yes – Go to Q16

No – Go to Q16

Q15.2 If ((TRIP_ST = NY (36) and (TRIPCNTY=5 or TRIPCNTY=59 or TRIPCNTY=81 or TRIPCNTY=103 or TRIPCNTY=119)) or TRIP_ST = CT (9) or TRIP_ST=RI (44))

and Q15=2,3 or 4:

Was most of your fishing in Long Island Sound (C) or a bay or river that opens into Long Island Sound?

Yes – Go to Q16

No – Go to Q16

Q15.3 IF ((TRIP_ST = MA (25) and TRIPCNTY=5) or TRIP_ST = RI (44)) and Q15=3 or 4:

Was most of your fishing in Narragansett Bay (A) or a bay or river that opens into Narragansett Bay?

Yes – Go to Q16

No – Go to Q16

Q15.4 If (TRIP_ST = MA (25) and (TRIPCNTY=1 or TRIPCNTY=5 or TRIPCNTY=7 or TRIPCNTY=23)) and Q15=3 or 4:

Was most of your fishing in Buzzard’s Bay (B) or a bay or river that opens into Buzzard’s Bay?

Yes – Go to Q16

No – Go to Q16

Q15.5 IF ((TRIP_ST = NY (36) and (TRIPCNTY=47 or TRIPCNTY=81 or TRIPCNTY=85)) or (TRIP_ST = NJ (34) and (TRIPCNTY=23 or TRIPCNTY=25))) and Q15=3 or 4:

Was most of your fishing in Raritan Bay (D) or a bay or river that opens into Raritan Bay?

Yes – Go to Q16

No – Go to Q16

Q15.6 If ((TRIP_ST = NJ (34) and (TRIPCNTY=9 or TRIPCNTY=11)) or TRIP_ST=10) and Q15=3 or 4:

Was most of your fishing in Delaware Bay (E) or a bay or river that opens into Delaware Bay?

Yes – Go to Q16

No – Go to Q16

Q15A Was most of your fishing less than or greater than three miles from shore?

1=less than 3 miles

2=greater than 3 miles

Q16 Did this trip cover more than one day of fishing?

Yes – Go to Q16A

No – Go to Q17

Q16A How many days of fishing occurred on this trip?

Record –

Q17 What species were targeted on that trip? That is, when you left the dock, what species were you planning on fishing for? (Record NMFS codes for up to two species or species groups; refer to state or regional short list of species and species groups)

[26] Other Species

[98] Don’t know/Don’t remember

[99] Refused

FOLLOW-UP

Q18 Did you receive notification from us that we would contact you for this interview? If “no”, ask for correct mailing address and briefly explain that a letter will be sent prior to any later contacts and continue.

Yes – Go to Q19

No – Record correct address. Go to Q19

Don’t know – Go to Q19

Refused – Go to Q19

Q19 In case the vessel name is ever selected again for this survey, at what time of day would you prefer to be called? (Record preferred time as military time)

Those are all of the questions that I have for you, thank you for your time and cooperation. Have a good day/evening. Goodbye.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority:  The collection of this information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852 et. seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975.

Purpose: Collection of recreational fisheries catch and effort data is necessary to fulfill statutory requirements of Section 303 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852 et. seq.), which requires that conservation and management measures prevent over fishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery, and also to comply with Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries.  Section 303 (a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies data and analysis to be included in Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), as well as pertinent data that shall be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce under the plan.  Recreational fishing catch and effort statistics are fundamental for assessing the influence of fishing on any stock of fish.  The quantities taken, the fishing effort, and the seasonal and geographical distribution of the catch and effort are required to assess the health of fish stocks and develop and evaluate national fisheries management policies and plans. 

Routine Uses:  The Department will use this information in developing, implementing and monitoring fishery management programs. Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a), to be shared within NMFS offices, in order to coordinate monitoring and management of sustainability of fisheries and protected resources, as well as with the applicable State or Regional Marine Fisheries Commissions and International Organizations. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-19, Permits and Registrations for the United States Federally Regulated Fisheries. Any public release of survey data will be without identification as to its source or in aggregate statistical form. Prior to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554. 

Disclosure:  Furnishing this information is voluntary unless the vessel has a valid Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit, in which case participation is mandatory. Failure to provide complete and accurate information will result in the vessel representative not participating in the survey and not helping to assess the influence of fishing. For HMS permitted vessels, failure to comply will affect permit status.