Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Stakeholder Su

Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council
Stakeholder Survey
Help us improve our communications.

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
2203 N. Lois Avenue
Suite 1100
Tampa, Florida 33607
813-348-1630

Questions?
Email Charlene.Ponce@gulfcouncil.org
This survey is voluntary.
All responses are anonymous and confidential.

OMB# -648-xxxx - Expires xx/xx/xxxx

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Your opinions are important!
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is asking fisheries stakeholders about its stakeholder
communications.
Please take a few minutes to offer your input. Your responses and opinions will help us improve our
communications program to reflect the preferences and needs of fisheries stakeholders. The survey should
take no more than ten minutes. This survey does not request any personally identifiable information.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
I - General
1. How would you classify your interest in Gulf of Mexico fisheries? Please check all that apply.

___ Recreational Angler

___ Primarily Fresh Water

___ Primarily Saltwater

___ Inshore

___ Offshore

How do you access the offshore fishery?

___Private Boat

___Charter Boat

___ For-Hire Captain/Crew

___ State Waters

___ Federal Waters

___ Commercial Fisherman

___ State Waters

___ Federal Waters

___ Owner

___ Captain

___ Deckhand

___ Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Owner

___ Member of an Environmental Non-Government Organization

___ Seafood Dealer/Processor (owner or employee)

___ Seafood Consumer

___ Employed in Coastal Tourism (bait/tackle store, marina, boat yard, etc.)

___ Other (please specify): _________________________________________

2. Please rate how frequently you rely on the following resources for fishery management related
information?
Resource
Television/Radio
Newspaper
Magazines
Clubs/Associations/
Organizations
Fishing Websites/Blogs/
Forums
Social Media (Facebook,
Twitter, other)
Friends
Gulf Council:
Direct Contact
Website
Press Releases
NOAA Fisheries:
Direct Contact
Website
Fishery Bulletins
State Marine Resource
Department:
Direct Contact
Website
Press Releases
Other (please describe):

Regularly

Occassionally

Rarely

Never

Not Aware

3. Please rate your level of participation in the following Council related activities:
Activity
Attend Gulf Council
Meetings:
Regular Meetings
Advisory Panel/Science
Meetings
Scoping Meetings
Public Hearings
Attend Recreational Fishing
Club Meetings
Attend Commercial Fishing
Organization Meetings
Attend Environmental
Organization Meetings
Provide Gulf Council with
comments on fishery issues:
written/email
oral
online comment form
Discuss fishery issues with
Gulf Council Members or
staff
Serve on a Council Advisory
Panel or Committee
Other (please describe):

Regular

Occassional

Rare

Never

Not Aware

4. Below is a sampling of Council communications. Please rate how often you currently use each one.
Use Regularly

Use Occassionally Use Rarely

Never Use

Do Not Receive/
Unaware

Press Releases
Gulf Council News
Council Web Site
Council Blog
Council Facebook
Navigating the
Council Process
Scoping Guides
Public Hearing
Guides
Council YouTube
Channel
5. How likely are you to use the following Council communications in the future?
Regularly
Press Releases
Gulf Council News
Council Web Site
Council Blog
Council Facebook
Navigating the
Council Process
Scoping Guides
Public Hearing
Guides
Council YouTube
Channel

Occassionally

Rarely

Never Use

6. What single source of information (from the Council or other organization) do you depend on most to stay
informed about fishery issues? Please be as specific as possible.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. In general, finding information on the Gulf Council website is:

Easy

Neither Easy
nor Difficult

Difficult

Addional comments/suggestions for improvement: __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. In general, Council communications are:
Easy to understand

Somewhat Understandable

Difficult to Understand

Addional comments/suggestions for improvement: __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. Regulation changes can be frequent. How often do you check for updated regulations?

Never

Sometimes

Often

10. Have you downloaded the Gulf Council’s free iPhone or Droid regulations App?

yes

no

I do not have an iPhone or Droid

11. What is your zip code?

____________

II. Your Thoughts
12. If you have any further opinions/comments about Council communications and how we might improve
them, please list them here.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

III. For More Information
If you would like to know more about the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, please visit
www.gulfcouncil.org. There you will find information on upcoming fishery management decisions, stock
assessments, and the latest on federal fishing regulations. You can also sign up to have news and updates
delivered straight to your inbox.
Please also visit:

THANK YOU for participating in this survey. Your input will help the Gulf Council improve its stakeholder
communications.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information nis estimated to average 10 minutes per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining
the date needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Charlene Ponce, Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, Florida 33607.
Confidentiality is not promised, as this survey does not collect any personally identifiable 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.