Social Impacts of Catch Shares Implementation in the Mid

Lisa L. Colburn
Social Scientist
NOAA/NMFS
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Narragansett Laboratory
28 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Office: 401-782-3253 * Fax: 401-782-3201 * Email:lisa.l.colburn@noaa.gov

Social Impacts of the Implementation of a Catch Shares
Program in the Mid-Atlantic
Brief Information
Principle Investigators: Lisa L. Colburn, NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC
Co-Investigators: Patricia M. Clay, NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC
Richard B. Pollnac, Contractor for NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC
Project Summary
Our research involves evaluating the impacts that changes in management
regulations, such as catch shares, have on various parts of the Mid-Atlantic
fishery. Our emphasis will be on impacts on fishing communities and
individual well-being. The individuals interviewed will be representative of
the diversity of all commercial fishers in the Mid-Atlantic.
Why am I Being Invited to Take Part in This Study?
You are being invited to take part in the research project we have already
described to you. Our intent is to determine how you feel about fishing
today and the impacts on fishing that are the result of management
regulations. Responses to our questions will not be associated with your
name.
If you decide to take part in this study, your participation will involve
responding to several questions concerning your community.
Your part in this study is anonymous. That means that your answers to
all questions are private. No one else can know if you participated in this
study and no one else can find out what your answers were. Scientific
reports will be based on group data and will not identify you or any
individual as being in this project.
How much time is required? The average time to complete the survey is
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25 minutes.
Who will see the information you give? The information you provide will
be combined with responses from other participants and analyzed. The
analysis of the data will be added to reports or publications and available
by anyone whom is interested in the research
The decision to participate in this research project is up to you.
Participation is entirely voluntary. You do not have to participate and you
can refuse to answer any question.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lisa Colburn the
person responsible for this study.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS STUDY.

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SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE IMPLEMENTION
OF CATCH SHARES PROGRAMS
IN THE MID-ATLANTIC
Survey

Sponsored by:
NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service)
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Social Science Branch

Questions?
Contact: Lisa L. Colburn, NEFSC Social Scientist
Phone: 401-782-3253
Email: lisa.l.colburn@noaa.gov

THIS SURVEY IS VOLUNTARY

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SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE IMPLEMENTION OF A CATCH SHARES
PROGRAM IN THE MID-ATLANTIC
Interviewer Name: __________________

Date: ______________

Section A: Demographic information
Demographic questions help us to better understand the unique characteristics of
people and their relationship to fishing.
1. Location of interview: ______________________
2. Town/city of residence of interviewee: ________________________
3a. Do you own a commercial fishing vessel? □ Yes □ No (Go to 4)
3b. Number of vessels: _____
If number of vessels does not exceed 2:
3c. Vessel Type

3d. Vessel Length

4. Primary port of landing (in terms of frequency or the most recently used):

____________________

5. Homeport: _______________________
Use the table below to answer questions 6a and 7a.
6a. What is your principal fishing type (target species)?
6b. What gear do you use? __________________
7a. What other types of fishing do you conduct (target species)?
7b. What gear do you use? _______________
Target Species
Scallops
Large Mesh Groundfish
Small Mesh Groundfish
Lobster
Monkfish
Herring
Red Crab
Ocean quahog
Squid
Butterfish
Mackerel
Scup
Black Sea Bass
Other:
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Principle Fishing Type (6a)
□
□
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□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

Other Fishing Type(s) (7a)
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
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□
□
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8. In terms of income, which fishery was the most important for you in the past year? ________________
9. Do you have any occupation(s) in addition to fishing? □ Yes □ No (Go to 11)
10. Rank these activities (including fishing as one activity) in terms of importance to your income:
Occupations
Rank

11. What is your current position in the fishery/on the boat?
Position
Check One
Non-fishing owner (shore captain)
□
Captain/Owner
□
Captain
□
Crew
□
Only vessel owners, captains or captain/owners answer question 12. If not go to 13.
12. How difficult has it been to attract and keep competent crew members compared to two years ago?
Very difficult
Difficult
No change
Easy
Very easy
1□
2□
3□
4□
5□
13. What is/was your average crew size?
(13a.) Today
(13b.) Two years ago

(13c.) Two years from now

14. How many years of commercial fishing experience do you have? _______
15. How many generations of your family have fished? (Including interviewee as a generation) ______
16. Number of immediate family members involved in fishing? (e.g.: parents, siblings, kids) ______
17. Number of other relations involved in fishing? (e.g.: grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers/sisters in law,
etc.) ______
18. Is the current level of income from your fishing business enough for you to see yourself still fishing in the short
term, medium term, or long term?
Still Fishing in:
Check One
Short term
1□
Medium term
2□
Long term
3□
19. How does your income from fishing this year compare to what it was two years ago?
Much lower
Lower
No change
Higher
1□
2□
3□
4□

Much higher
5□

20. How old are you? ______
21. How many years of formal education do you have? _______

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Section B: Participation
This section identifies levels of participation of the interviewee in the fisheries
management process.
1. Do you belong to any type of fishermen’s organization?  Yes  No
2. Do you attend any public meetings where fishery management issues are discussed (e.g., Regional Council,
Department of Environmental Management, etc.)?  Yes  No (Go to 6)
3. Do you urge others to attend the meetings?  Yes  No
4. Do you talk at the meeting, present ideas, debate issues, etc.?  Yes  No
5. Do you feel your participation makes any difference?
No difference 0____ 1_____ 2_____ 3_____ 4_____ 5_____ 6_____ Big difference

All interviewees answer question 6 regardless of attendance at meetings or not.
6. Do you feel that the meetings have any influence on the management plans developed?
No difference 0____ 1_____ 2_____ 3_____ 4_____ 5_____ 6_____ Big difference
7. Do you use internet to obtain information about the fishery or fishery management?  Yes  No
8. Do you read any publications related to fisheries?  Yes  No

Notes

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Section C: Management
This section identifies the effects of fishery management regulations on fishermen
and their families.
1. What regulations have most affected your fishing activity? How?
Regulation(s)
Effects

2. What regulations have had the greatest impact on families? How?
Regulation(s)
Effects

3. What regulations affect income the most? How?
Regulation(s)

Effects

4. Are the rules and regulations that affect your fishing activities clear and straightforward?
Very unclear
Unclear
Neutral
Clear
Very clear
1□
2□
3□
4□
5□
Notes

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Section D: Catch Shares Perspectives
This section identifies advantages and disadvantages of participation in sectors
management.
1. Do you belong to a sector?  Yes  No
All interviewees answer questions 2 and 3 regardless of them belonging to a sector or not.
2. What are the advantages of belonging to a sector?
Answer:

3. What are the disadvantages of belonging to a sector?
Answer:

Notes

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Section E: Environmental Ethics, Job Satisfaction and Well-Being
Questions on environmental ethics, job satisfaction and well-being help us
understand the affects of changes in fisheries management policies.
Environmental Ethics:
Ask if the person interviewed agrees, disagrees or neither with regard to each question. If agree or disagree, ask if
they strongly agree/disagree, just agree/disagree or agree/disagree a little.
1.

2.

3.

There are way too many fishermen in the sea.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree a
Neutral
disagree
Little
1□
2□
3□
4□

Agree a
Little
5□

Today’s fishing practices are not enough to hurt nature.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree a
Neutral
Agree a
disagree
Little
Little
7□
6□
5□
4□
3□
The so-called over fishing of the oceans is exaggerated.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree a
Neutral
disagree
Little
7□
6□
5□
4□

Agree a
Little
3□

Agree
6□

Agree
2□

Agree
2□

Strongly
agree
7□

Strongly
agree
1□

Strongly
agree
1□

Job Satisfaction:
Ask if the person interviewed is satisfied, dissatisfied or neither with regard to each question. If satisfied or
dissatisfied, ask if they are very satisfied/dissatisfied or just satisfied/dissatisfied.
How satisfied are you with…
1. Your actual earnings?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

2. Time spent away from home?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

3. Predictability of your earnings?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

4. Job safety?
Very Dissatisfied
1□

Dissatisfied
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

5. Adventure of the job?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

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6. Physical fatigue of the job?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

7. Opportunity to be your own boss?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

8. Challenge of the job?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

9. Healthfulness of the job?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

10a. Would you advise a young person to enter fishing?  Yes  No
10b. Why?

11a. Would you still fish if you had your life to live over?  Yes  No
11b. Why?

Well-being:
12. How satisfied are you with the overall health of the marine environment (for example pollution, fish
stocks, etc)?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
1□
2□
3□
4□
5□
13. In general, how satisfied are you with your life?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
1□
2□
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

14. How satisfied are you with your physical health?
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
1□
2□
3□

Satisfied
4□

Very Satisfied
5□

Often
4□

All the time
5□

15. How often do you feel happy?
Never
Not often
1□
2□

Neutral
3□

12a. In the unlikely event that you could no longer fish, what kind of a job would you like to have?
_________________________________________
12b. Would you need additional training to get this type of job?  Yes  No

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END OF SURVEY – THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
PLEASE USE THIS SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Please address any questions or comments to:
Lisa L. Colburn
28 Tarzwell Dr.
Naragansett, RI 02882
Lisa.L.Colburn@noaa.gov
401-782-3253

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 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. 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.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden, to Lisa
L. Colburn, NEFSC - Social Sciences Branch, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Naragansett, RI 02882 .

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