MAFAC customer survey on climate information needs

OMB Control No. 0648-0342
Expiration Date: 5/31/2018

The purpose of this survey is to help the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC)
learn more about the information resources fishery stakeholders need and use regarding
the effects of large-scale environmental change on fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal
communities. This is a voluntary survey.
This survey includes 15 questions. We would like to learn from you the types of information
resources you need and use, the leaders you trust, and what information formats you find
useful. We will use the information gathered in this survey to formulate recommendations
for NOAA regarding the information needs of stakeholders, how NOAA communicates with
stakeholders, and which tools or methods are most useful.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact us at MAFACinfo@noaa.gov.
Thank you for participating in this survey. Your feedback is important to us.
Sincerely,
Erika Feller and Samantha Danchuck, Co-leads
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Individual responses to this survey will not be shared
or distributed. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Heidi Lovett, NOAA
Fisheries Office of Policy, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of 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.

* 1. How concerned are you about the effects of environmental change on fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal
communities?
Very Concerned
Moderately concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not at all concerned
No opinion

* 2. What kind of information related to the effects of environmental change on fisheries, aquaculture, and
coastal communities would be most useful for you?
Extremely useful
Changing ocean
temperatures
Ocean acidification or
other changes in ocean
chemistry
Sea level rise
Severe weather or
flooding
Changes in distribution
or abundance of fish or
prey
Changes in habitat
distribution or condition
Effects on shoreside
infrastructure (e.g.,
access to port or harbor
facilities)
Effects on fishing
sectors or communities
Early warnings (monthly
to seasonal) of changing
ocean or resource
conditions
Near-term forecasts (1-2
years) of ocean or
resource conditions
Long-term forecasts (5
years or more) of future
ocean or resource
conditions
Tools for how to respond
to environmental change
Other information (please specify):

Moderately useful

Somewhat useful

Not at all useful

No opinion

* 3. How important to you are the following information sources about the effects of environmental change on
fisheries, aquaculture, or coastal communities?
Critical - I couldn't
do my work without
it.
NOAA Email newsletters
(such as NOAA
Fisheries FishNews)
Print magazines or
newsletters (such as
National Fisherman or
Sport Fishing)
NOAA websites
Other websites
Meetings or conferences
(such as the American
Fisheries Society annual
or regional meetings)
Social media (Twitter,
Facebook, YouTube,
etc.)
Fishery Management
Council and related
advisory body meetings
E-news magazines
Radio
Local or national
broadcast news
Newspaper
Reports or journal
articles
Federal regulations or
guidance
Industry newsletters
Listservs
Other sources

Moderately
Important

Somewhat
unimportant

Not at all important

Neutral/No opinion

4. Please tell us your top 3 most used sources of information below. Please be specific.
1.
2.
3.

* 5. Who are the experts you trust as credible sources of information about effects of environmental change
on fisheries, aquaculture or coastal communities?
Most trusted

Somewhat trusted

Not trusted

Neutral/No opinion

University scientists
Industry leaders
Federal scientists
NOAA or NMFS
managers
Fishery Management
Councils and
Commissions members
and staff
State agency managers
State agency scientists
Sea Grant extension
agents
Friends or colleagues
Conservation group
representatives
County or municipal
government leader
Federal or state elected
officials
News media (e.g.,
reporter, columnists,
bloggers)
Cooperative research
organization (e.g.,
GMRI, North Pacific
Research Board, or
others)
Other fishermen

6. Do you have an example of a group or a person who is a leader in your state/region on understanding
and addressing the effects of environmental change on fisheries, aquaculture, or coastal communities?
Please describe.

* 7. Please rate the usefulness of the following information formats.
Extremely useful

Useful

Somewhat useful

Not at all useful

No opinion

Photographs
Charts or graphs
First-hand experience
and field trips
Technical article
Executive summary
Fact sheets, posters,
brochures, or pamphlets
Videos (webinars or
YouTube videos)
Newspaper or magazine
articles
Expert presentation
(e.g., at a Council
meeting or a workshop)
Social media (e.g.,
Facebook, Twitter)
Infographics

8. Is there another way of presenting data that is not mentioned above that you find useful? Please
describe it below.

* 9. What are your primary uses of information about environmental change and effects on fisheries,
aquaculture, or coastal communities? (you may select more than one answer)
Scientific research
Education
Business
Personal
Management planning
Other (please specify)

10. Is there an example of a NOAA communication that impressed you favorably? Please tell us about it.

We would like to know a little bit more about you.
* 11. What is your affiliation? (you may select more than one answer)
Commercial fisherman
Crew - commercial boat
For-hire/charter/headboat captain or guide
Crew - for-hire/charter/headboat
Tribe, Pacific Islander, native Hawaiian, or native Alaskan
Recreational angler
Aquaculture
Other fishing related business/industry
University faculty/staff
University student
Other research institution
State/local government
Federal government
News media
Student or teacher (K-12)
Nonprofit organization
Other (please specify)

* 12. Which region(s) are you most interested in the effects of environmental change on fisheries,
aquaculture, or coastal communities? (This may or may not be the same region where you live. Please
choose as many as apply.)
New England
Mid Atlantic
South Atlantic
Caribbean
Gulf of Mexico
West Coast
Pacific Islands
Alaska
Great Lakes
All of the above

* 13. Please tell us your age.
25 or under
26-40
41-64
65 or over
I prefer not to answer.

14. How did you hear about this survey?
Friend
Through work
Direct email from NOAA Fisheries
Direct email from another source
E-newsletter
Paper copy
Other (please specify)

Thank you for completing this survey.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact us at
MAFACinfo@noaa.gov.
And, if you are willing to talk more with us regarding your responses to this survey
or on matters related to this subject, please send us an email at
MAFACinfo@noaa.gov.