Vessel phone follow-up interview (alternative to mail su

LETTERS, POSTCARD, AND FOLLOW-UP PHONE SCRIPT
1.

Advance Letter for Fishing Vessel Survey

Phish Erman

Address
City, state, zip
Dear Mr. Erman:
The University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF), in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries (the
National Marine Fisheries Service), is conducting a study to learn more about commercial
fishing activity in the Gulf Coast region of Alaska. With your help, we can identify the
important role fishing activity plays for the economy of the Gulf Coast region and provide
better information to fishery managers to enhance fishery management practices.
Your name was selected at random from commercial fishermen who landed fish at ports in the
Gulf Coast region of Alaska during 2005. Very few fishermen were chosen for the study, so
your help is critical to its success. In the next few days, you will receive a survey in the mail
from UAF.
The survey asks about employment and earnings of crew and skipper(s) working on your vessel.
We recognize the sensitivity of the information to be collected, and want to assure you it will be
handled confidentially. All individual surveys will be held by the researchers at UAF and
destroyed upon completion of the study.
You are one of a small number of fishermen who are fishing in waters off Alaska and landing at
ports in the Gulf Coast region of Alaska selected to help. To keep costs low and make sure that
the information obtained correctly represents Gulf Coast region fishing activity, we need to hear
from you.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Hans Geier
Project Director
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

2.

Initial Mailing Letter for Fishing Vessel Survey (Cover Letter)

Mr. Phish Erman

Address
City, state, zip
Dear Mr. Erman:
As you know, commercial fishing plays a significant role in the economy of the Gulf Coast region of
Alaska. One way commercial fishing contributes to the region’s economy is through the jobs held by
fishing vessel crew and skippers, and the income these crew and skippers spend in the region.
Information about employment and income from commercial fishing is needed by local and state
governments, businesses, and others who make decisions that affect people and industries in the Gulf
Coast region of Alaska.
To help us improve our understanding of commercial fishing’s role in the economy of the Gulf Coast
region of Alaska, we ask that you complete the enclosed survey. The survey is being conducted in
cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and collects employment and income
information related to the landings by your vessel, the . The information you provide will
be used to enhance the fishery management practices of NMFS, and, thereby, increase the long-run
economic benefits to those who engage in fishing activities, including you.
We recognize the sensitivity of the information being collected, and want to assure you it will be
handled confidentially. All individual surveys will be held by the researchers at University of Alaska,
Fairbanks (UAF) and destroyed upon completion of the study. Your name and address will only be used
for mailing purposes. Only summary results will be reported to the public and no data identifying you or
your individual vessel will be provided to the public, NMFS, or other agencies that receive the study
results.
Most of the information you need to complete the survey is available on your 2005 federal business tax
return documents and your crew settlement sheets. With these materials, the survey should take about 20
minutes to complete and mail back in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope.
You are one of only a few vessel owners being asked to participate in this study. You were randomly
selected from all vessel owners who delivered fish to seafood processing plants in the Gulf Coast region
of Alaska. To ensure the results of the study truly represent vessels like yours, it is very important that
you complete and return the survey.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about this study. Please call me at 907-4747727 or email at ffhtg@uaf.edu. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Hans Geier
Project Director
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

3.

Postcard Reminder for Fishing Vessel Survey

Last week a survey was mailed to you seeking information about your commercial fishing
activity for the Gulf Coast region of Alaska.
If you have already completed and returned the survey, please accept our sincere thanks. If you
have not completed and returned the survey, we ask that you do so today.
It is very important that we hear from you. You are one of a small number of fishermen
selected to participate in this study. Your response will help us improve understanding of
commercial fishing’s role in the economy of the Gulf Coast region of Alaska. However, a high
rate of participation is required to make sure we have a sufficient number of respondents to
understand the role fishing activity plays in the Gulf Coast economy.
If you need another copy of the survey, please call me at 907-474-7727 and another survey
will be mailed to you.
Thank you for your help.
Hans Geier
Project Director
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Script of Follow-up Telephone Interview with Vessel owners
Hello, my name is ________________ and I am calling from the University of Alaska,
Fairbanks. I am trying to reach [vessel owner].
[IF NOT AVAILABLE] Æ Thank you, I will call back later. When would be a good
time to reach [vessel owner]?
[IF QUALIFIED RESPONDENT IS ON THE PHONE]
QA.

Recently, we mailed you a survey asking you about your recent fishing activity, entitled
“Gulf Coast Alaska Fisheries Economic Activity Survey.” Do you remember receiving
that survey?
1
2

YES [SKIP TO QA1]
NO [SKIP TO QA2]

QA1. As of today, we have not received your completed survey. You are one of a small group
of vessel owners who landed fish at ports in the Gulf Coast region of Alaska we are
asking for input, so your response is very important. All of your answers are confidential
and your name will not be revealed to anyone. If we send you another survey, would you
be able to complete the survey and return it to us within a week of receiving it?
1 YES – SEND NEW SURVEY [SKIP TO VERIFY]
2 YES – DO NOT NEED ANOTHER SURVEY [Thanks. We will be looking forward
to receiving your completed survey.]
3 SURVEY HAS ALREADY BEEN RETURNED [THANK AND TERMINATE]
4 NO [SKIP TO QA3]
QA2. We are collecting employment and labor income information for your vessel to help us
understand better the important role that your fishing activity plays in the economy of the
Gulf Coast region of Alaska. You are one of a small group of vessel owners we are
asking for the information, so your response is very important. I’d like to remind you
that all of your answers are confidential and your name will not be revealed to anyone. If
we send you another survey, could you return the survey to us within a week after you
receive it?
1 YES – SEND NEW SURVEY [SKIP TO VERIFY]
2 YES – DO NOT NEED ANOTHER SURVEY [Thanks. We will be looking forward
to receiving your completed survey.]
3 NO [SKIP TO QA3]
VERIFY (If new survey needs to be sent)
I would like to verify some information that I have. I have your name as…
NAME____________________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS_________________________________________
CITY__________________________STATE _______ ZIP__________
PHONE___________________________________________________

Thank you, I will send another survey out today.
QA3. It is extremely important for our analysis that we obtain the information from fishermen
like you. The information you provide will help us understand how your fishing activity
have contributed to the community’s economy, and be used to enhance the fishery
management practices of NOAA Fisheries, and, thereby, increase the long-run economic
benefits to the fishermen like you. If it is convenient for you, we can administer phone
interview with you now. Would you be able to spend about 20 minutes to provide the
information now?
1
2

YES [SKIP TO PHONE]
NO [THANK AND TERMINATE]

PHONE
Thank you very much. I am going to ask you first about the characteristics of your vessel.

Q1.

I would like to verify some information about your name, address, and characteristics of
your vessel. The information is public information, and is from a government data source
(Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, Alaska Department of Fish and Game). I
have your name as…
Column 1
Item

Column 2
Information on Record

Owner’s name

Phish Erman

Owner’s address

Rt. 1, Box 368, Stewart, MN
55385

Vessel name

Lutefisk

USCG vessel ID

3333666

State/vessel ID

AK/FV33336

Vessel home port

Cordova, AK

Length (feet)

32

Fuel capacity

600 gal.

Engine horsepower

300

Fuel type

Diesel

Net tonnage

15 tons

Gross tonnage

35 tons

Refrigeration system?

Yes

Freezing system?

No

Column 3
Corrections (if any)

NOTE FOR RESPONDENTS (Say the following to the respondents)
In the remaining questions, I am going to ask you about employment of crew and skipper(s) and
payments to them during the 2005 calendar year (January 1 – December 31).
Q2.

On average, in 2005, how many total crew and skipper jobs (positions) did this vessel
have while fishing or having maintenance or repairs performed?
____________________

Q3.

During 2005, for how many months (0 to 12) were you an owner of this vessel?
____________________

Q4.

I am going to list six (groups of) species for which I am interested in estimating the
employment. They are salmon (all), herring, halibut and black cod (sablefish), crab (all),
groundfish (all), and other species (all). For each of these species, can you tell me the
total number of crew members, skippers, and owners serving as skippers employed by
this vessel in 2005? If a crew member (or skipper) fished for more than one species,
count them as employed for each species they fished.
Column 1
Species this vessel
landed in 2005

Salmon (all)
Herring
Halibut and black
cod (sablefish)
Crab (all)
Groundfish (all)
Other species (all)

Column 2
Number of crew
employed

Column 3
Number of skippers
employed

Column 4
Number of owners
that served as
skippers

Q5.

For each of the species that I listed in the previous question, can you tell me the number
of crew members, skippers, and owners that served as skippers you employed for this
vessel that were Gulf Coast region residents in 2005? (IF THE RESPONDENT DOES
NOT HAVE THE SURVEY THAT HAS THE GULF COAST REGION MAP OR IF
HE/SHE DOES NOT KNOW GULF COAST REGION, EXPLAIN THE REGION TO
HIM/HER, BY PROVIDING DESCRIPTIONS OF THE REGION.) For determining the
residency, please use the addresses on record of the crew members, skippers, and owners
that served as skippers. If a crew member (or skipper) fished for more than one species,
count them as employed for each species they fished.
Column 1
Species this vessel
landed in 2005

Salmon (all)
Herring
Halibut and black
cod (sablefish)
Crab (all)
Groundfish (all)
Other species (all)

Column 2
Number of Gulf
Coast region
resident crew
members

Column 3
Number of Gulf
Coast region
resident skippers

Column 4
Number of Gulf
Coast region
resident owners that
served as skippers

Q6.

For each species that I listed in an earlier question, please tell me the number of days
during 2005 you paid P&I (crew liability insurance) on your vessel’s crew.
Column 1
Species this vessel landed during 2005

Salmon (all)
Herring
Halibut and black cod (sablefish)
Crab (all)
Groundfish (all)
Other species (all)

Column 2
Number of days you paid P & I on
your vessel’s crew

Q7.

For each species that I listed in an earlier question, can you tell me the payment (in
dollars) made to crew and skipper(s) for the 2005 calendar year. To help you figure out
the payments to crew and skipper(s), I will give you the ex-vessel value of each landed
species in 2005, which was obtained from a government data source (Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission, Alaska Department of Fish and Game). Information
contained on delivery settlement sheets may assist you in accurately answering the
question. The government data says that the ex-vessel value of salmon is _________
dollars in 2005…
Column 1
Species this vessel
landed in 2005

Column 2
2005 Ex-vessel
value reported by
species for this
vessel

Column 3
Total crew
payments

Column 4
Total skipper
payments

Salmon (all)

$175,000

$

$

Herring

$52,000

$

$

Halibut and Black
Cod (Sablefish)

$0

$

$

Crab (all)

$0

$

$

Groundfish (all)

$0

$

$

Other species (all)

$0

$

$

COMMENTS
That’s all the questions I have for you. Thank you very much. Do you have any comments that
you feel would assist us to report the economic contribution of fishers like you to the economy of
the Gulf Coast region of Alaska.
1
2

YES [OBTAIN THE COMMENTS AND GO TO CONCLUDE]
NO [GO TO CONDLUDE]

CONCLUDE
Thank you for your time. We really appreciate your participation. If you have any further
questions, please contact me (Hans Geier) at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks by phone (907)
474-7727 or by e-mail at ffhtg@uaf

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS AND ANSWERS
[If concerned about purpose of the call] This is not a marketing or sales call. We are collecting
information on your fishing activity. I want to assure you that your answers will be kept
confidential and your name will not be revealed to anyone.
[If asking about the study sponsor] This survey is being conducted in cooperation with NOAA
Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service, a U.S. government agency
charged with understanding the effects of federal management actions and policies affecting the
nation’s saltwater fisheries.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT (PRA) STATEMENT
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 minutes 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. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for
reducing this burden to Chang Seung, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (Address: 7600 Sand
Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115-6349, Phone: 206-526-4250)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall
any person be subjected 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.

OMB Control No.: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy