Mail survey

Dear Oahu Resident:
In a few days you will receive a request to answer a questionnaire for an important research
project on non-commercial fishing in Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural
Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are working with XXX (the
contractor to be used) to conduct a shore fishing survey. XXX is responsible for conducting the
survey and compiling results for DAR and NMFS. Your participation is voluntary and the
information you provide will be kept confidential.
The purpose of this survey is to hear about your experiences with recreational fishing in Hawaii.
Even if you do not fish recreationally, it is also important to let us know. I am writing you now
because we have found that many people like to know ahead of time that they will be contacted.
The study is important and will help DAR, NMFS, and other management agencies best manage
the Hawaii fishery.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. It is only with the generous help of
people like you that this research can be successful.

Angler Name
Address
City, State, ZIP

Aloha!

On behalf of the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, we are writing to ask for
your help. Enclosed you will find a pilot mail survey intended to collect shoreline fishing information from Oahu
residents. The study was developed as part of a collaborative effort to improve the accuracy of non-commercial
(recreational) data to be used for resource management purposes as well as to support and perpetuate fishing
activities in Hawai‘i. This survey will help better understand the important role recreational fishing plays in our
state and communities.

Your address was randomly selected from a list of all O‘ahu residents. We are interested in how often you fish
and what types of fishing gear you typically use. It is very important that households who fish often as well as
those who do not fish at all both return the enclosed survey. We have included a questionnaire for up to four
fishers in your household. If there are more than four fishers in your household, please indicate how many more
fishers on the enclosed postcard, send it back to us and we will send you extra questionnaires.

Your participation is voluntary and the information you provide will be kept strictly confidential, in accordance
with the Privacy Act of 1974, and will only be used to help us better understand how our shoreline fisheries are
used. If you have any questions, please contact Hongguang Ma by phone 808-725-5663 or email
Hongguang.Ma@noaa.gov.

Mahalo for your support, we truly appreciate your cooperation in completing this survey!

Aloha!

Several weeks ago we wrote to you asking for your help with a non-commercial fishing survey. Enclosed is the
survey questionnaire. The study was developed as part of a collaborative effort to improve the accuracy of noncommercial (recreational) data to be used for resource management purposes as well as to support and perpetuate
fishing activities in Hawai‘i. This survey will help better understand the important role recreational fishing plays
in our state and communities.

Your address was randomly selected from a list of all O‘ahu residents. We are interested in how often you fish
and what types of fishing gear you typically use. It is very important that households who fish often as well as
those who do not fish at all both return the enclosed survey. Your participation is voluntary and the information
you provide will be kept strictly confidential, in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, and will only be used to
help us better understand how our shoreline fisheries are used. If you have any questions, please contact
Hongguang Ma by phone 808-725-5663 or email Hongguang.Ma@noaa.gov.

Mahalo for your support, we truly appreciate your cooperation in completing this survey!