West Coast North Pacific Albacore Fishery

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

Southwest Fisheries Science Center

8901 La Jolla Shores Drive

La Jolla, CA 92037-1508

105310001

Letter to vessel owners the contractor was not able to contact by phone and who did not respond to an earlier mailing, a survey form is included in this mailing

date

Dear <<Name of potential respondent>>,

We are writing to ask for your help in improving the understanding of the west-coast albacore fishery by participating in a voluntary study contracted by NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center. We have enclosed the survey in this mailing with a postage paid addressed envelope addressed to the contractor who will keep all data confidential. I hope that you will help in this study by taking the time to complete and return the survey.

The most recent data that NOAA has on the costs and earnings of the albacore fishery is from 1999. We are asking you to help provide the information needed to produce updated and accurate estimates of this fishery’s economic contributions to local communities and the US West Coast. We will also use this information to estimate the impacts that changes in economic, environmental, and management conditions have on this fishery. The survey focuses on two primary types of information: (1) business costs and earnings to be used for assessing the economic contribution and financial performance of this fleet, and (2) your opinions about the economic state of albacore fisheries.

Over the last several months, a NOAA contractor has tried to reach you to schedule a confidential telephone interview or video call interview. Please contact the contractor at XXX.XXX.XXXX or email@this.address to indicate whether you prefer to provide the requested information during a phone or video interview or by mail.

Data collected will not be released for public use except in aggregate statistical form without identification as to its source. To protect the confidentiality of the information you provide, the information will be aggregated (averaged with at least two other businesses) in all reports to either resource managers or the public.

While your participation is voluntary, we hope you will help us in this effort to provide better economic information to understand and manage this important fishery

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Stephen Stohs, PhD

NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Fisheries Resource Division, Economics Group

858.546.7084 (Stephen.Stohs@noaa.gov)

Advance notice letter with the survey form

Dear <<Name of potential respondent>>, Date

NOAA/NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center has retained a contractor to conduct an economic survey of vessel owners participating in the west-coast albacore fishery. This survey is similar to one done a few years ago. We need the requested economic information to produce updated and accurate estimates of this fishery’s economic contributions to local communities and the West Coast, as well as to estimate the impacts changes in economic, environmental and management conditions have on this fishery. The Pacific Fishery Management Council will use the estimates for this important fishery to make informed management decisions based on the economic impacts on fishery participants and local communities. Our contractor, <<contractors name>>, will be calling you in the next two weeks to set up a phone or video interview for the survey or to determine if you prefer to submit the information requested in the attached survey by mail. Please look for his call or call him at XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you,

Stephen Stohs, PhD

NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Fisheries Resource Division, Economics Group

858.546.7084 (Stephen.Stohs@noaa.gov)