Hawaii Small Boat Fishery

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. 176  Honolulu, Hawaii 96818

(808) 725-5300

Date

Aloha {FIRST NAME}{LAST NAME},

I am writing to ask for your help in understanding the importance of small-boat fishing in Hawaii. You are receiving this letter because you hold a State of Hawaii Commercial Marine License (CML) and have reported the catch and sale of fish in 2019. Your mailing address was provided by the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The enclosed survey, conducted by NOAA Fisheries, asks for details about your small-boat fishing related expenditures and activity during 2019. This information is important for estimating the economic and cultural contribution of small-boat fishing to Hawaii and for providing feedback to fishery agencies on the costs of fishing and fishing trip characteristics. Fishery management decisions are based, in part, on minimizing adverse economic impacts on fishing communities, and so this research is vital to the assessment of future ocean management plans and actions.

Your participation is needed so that we can provide estimates that accurately represent Hawaii’s small-boat fishery. It is important for us to hear the voice of every fisherman within the Hawaii small-boat fishery.

Please take a few moments to answer the enclosed survey. When you complete the survey, just return it in the postage-paid envelope included in this packet. Alternatively, you can fill out the survey online. The website is www.hawaiismallboat.com and your password is: {xxxx}.

Please be assured that your responses will be kept strictly confidential according to Federal confidentiality laws. All results will be presented in summary form. If you would like to receive a copy of the final report for this study, please fill in the information at the end of the survey.

If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact Justin Hospital at the toll-free number [1-844-234-7444] or by email to Justin.Hospital@noaa.gov

Your kokua is greatly appreciated. Mahalo!

Justin Hospital, Supervisory Economist

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries

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