FGBNMS_SS_6-26-09rev_PartB

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
SOCIOECONOMICS OF COMMERCIAL FISHERS AND FOR HIRE DIVING AND
FISHING OPERATIONS IN THE FLOWER GARDEN BANKS NATIONAL MARINE
SANCTUARY
OMB CONTROL No. 0648-xxxx

U.S. Department of Commerce
National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
1305 East West Highway, SSMC4, 11th floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Contact: Dr. Vernon R. (Bob) Leeworthy
(301) 713-7261
Bob.Leeworthy@noaa.gov

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B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any
sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities
(e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the
universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation
must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has
been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.
Commercial Fishers. We estimate the population of commercial fishing operations that operate
in the relevant portions of the Northwest Gulf of Mexico Study Area that would be potentially
impacted by FGBNMS boundary expansion or research-only areas to number 50 operations.
This information was obtained through the use of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
mandated by NOAA Fisheries, which tracks commercial vessel locations.
The actual determination was a two-step procedure. In Step 1, we asked NOAA Fisheries
Southeast Fisheries Science Center for the names and addresses for all commercial fishing
vessels that operate in NOAA Fisheries Gulf of Mexico statistical areas 14, 15 and 16, which
most closely overlay our Northwest Gulf of Mexico Study Area. However, this resulted in over
1,000 vessels. In Step 2, we narrowed the list down to 50 operations by asking NOAA Fisheries
for the vessels that have operated over the past three years in more precise geographic locations
corresponding to the areas where boundary expansion and areas will be considered. NOAA
Fisheries has required that all commercial fishing vessels have Vessel Monitoring Systems
(VMS). Use of this information allowed us to more precisely define the relevant commercial
fishing population.
We expect between an 85% and 100% response rate, based on our past applications of the same
methods of information collection used in the Florida Keys. In our most recent application in the
Florida Keys, which included all of the same types of information, we achieved a 90% response
rate. As in the Florida Keys application, we will not send questionnaires to commercial fishers
to fill out. Instead, we send a team of data collectors into the home or office of the commercial
fishers and the data collection team works with the commercial fishers to fill out our
questionnaires and spatial catch information work sheets. Interviews are set up in advance and
the commercial fishers are informed of the types of information that will be collected and what
kinds of records (e.g. log books and financial records) are required for the information collection.
For the For Hire Recreational Diving Operations, we have identified a population of 10
operations. This was done by reviewing past research on all Texas Gulf of Mexico For Hire
Dive Operations and updating from telephone Yellow book and web sites. We expect to get a
100% response rate or a census. The representative for the dive industry on the FGBNMS SAC
has assured us that all of their members are highly supportive of the effort and we should expect
full cooperation.
For the For Hire Recreational Fishing Operations, we have identified a population of 20
operations. We identified these operations through NOAA Fisheries, telephone yellow book,
web sites and fishing magazines. Again, we expect a 100% response rate or a census. The

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representatives for the recreational fishing industry have assured us that their members are highly
supportive of the effort and we should expect full cooperation.
2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for
stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy
needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring
specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data
collection cycles to reduce burden.
Generally, we expect to get a census for all three user groups. For commercial fishers, we
expect, based on past experience, that the minimum response rate would be 85%. In past
experiences, the 15% that don’t respond accounted for less than 5% of total catch, so we think
we will be as close to a census as practical.
3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse.
The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for
the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be
provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe
studied.
In January 2009, Mr. Leeworthy attended the FGBNMS SAC Meeting and presented all that we
currently know about the commercial fishers, for hire recreational diving industry and the for
hire recreational fishing industry. The FGBNMS SAC representatives for each of these three
user groups all agreed that the information currently available was inadequate to address the
assessment of the potential socioeconomic impact of various boundary alternatives for FGBNMS
boundary expansion alternatives or areas. Bob presented what information collection he thought
would provide the necessary information to build a decision support tool to allow FGBNMS
management and a working group of the SAC to evaluate regulatory alternatives in designing
boundary expansion or areas. User group representatives each said they would contact their
memberships and do their best to make sure we got maximum cooperation.
In past applications (most recent in Florida Keys—see OMB Control No. 0648-0534), we did
achieve over 85% response rates for both commercial fishing operations and dive operations. In
addition, we had no item non response, even for income questions, as we experience when
surveying households. So we do not expect nonresponse bias to be a significant issue for the
populations in this information collection request.
4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as
effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB
must give prior approval.
All of the questionnaires and methods proposed here have been employed in past information
collections and so are well tested. They all have been slightly modified for application to the
FGBNMS. We have also worked through the FGBNMS SAC to make sure that the members of
each user group will know why it is important to provide the information and how it will be
used, in order to receive a high level of cooperation in providing the information requested.

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5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical
aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other
person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.
Dr. Vernon R. (Bob) Leeworthy
Chief Economist
NOAA/NOS/Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
1305 East West Highway, SSMC4, 11th floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 713-7261
Fax: (301) 713-0404
E-mail: Bob.Leeworthy@noaa.gov
Dr. Robert Ditton
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77840-2258 USA
Telephone: 979-845-9841
E-mail: (w) r-ditton@neo.tamu.edu
Dr. James Waters
Chief Economist
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
101 Pivers Island Rd
Beaufort, NC 28516
Telephone: 252-728-8710
E-mail: Jim.Waters@noaa.gov
Dr. Juan Agar
Senior Staff Economist
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Dr.
Miami, FL 33149
Telephone: 305-361-4218
E-mail: Juan.Agar@noaa.gov
Dr. David Carter
Senior Staff Economist
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Dr.
Miami, FL 33149
Telephone: 305-361-4467
E-mail: David.W.Carter@noaa.gov

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Christopher Liese
Staff Economist
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Dr.
Miami, FL 33149
Telephone: 305-361-4467
E-mail: Christopher.Liese@noaa.gov

References
Gulf States Fisheries Economics Workshop. 2009. New Orleans, Louisiana, March 19-20, 2009.
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Alex L. Miller
Workshop Coordinator.
Liese, Christopher, Carter, David, and Curtis, Rita. 2009. Surveying the For-Hire Sector:
Economic Heterogeneity in the Southeastern U.S. Charter Boat Industry. Staff Paper,
NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Fishery Science Center, Miami, Florida, pp 20.
Shivlani, M., Leeworthy V.R., Murray, T.J., Suman, D.O., and F. Tonioli. 2008. Knowledge,
Attitudes and Perceptions of Management Strategies and Regulations of the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary by Commercial Fishers, Dive Operators, and Environmental
Group Members: A Baseline Characterization and 10-year Comparison. Marine
Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-08-06. U.S. Department of Commerce, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver
Spring, MD. 170 pp.

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ATTACHMENT A: Questionnaires

This attachment includes all the questionnaires and supporting materials (e.g. information
cards and maps to assist respondents).
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Commercial fishers
- Information Sheet describing information collection
- Part 1 (Socioeconomic/demographic, cost-and-earnings, spatial distribution
of catch)
- Part 2 (Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Management Strategies and
Regulations)
- Maps of Gulf of Mexico Study Area

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For Hire Recreational Dive Operations
- Information Sheet describing information collection
- Part 1 (Socioeconomic/demographic, costs-and-earnings, spatial distribution
of use)
- Part 2 (Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Management Strategies and
Regulations)
- Maps of Gulf of Mexico Study Area

•

For Hire Recreational Fishing Operations (Charter-Party/Head Boats)
- Information Sheet describing information collection
- Part 1 (Socioeconomic/demographic, costs-and-earnings, spatial distribution
of use)
- Part 2 (Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions of Management Strategies and
Regulations)
- Maps of Gulf of Mexico Study Area

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