The Mariana Archipelago Small Boat Fishery Cost-Earnings

OMB Control No. 0648-0773

Expiration Date: xx/xx/20xx

The Mariana Archipelago Small Boat Fishery Cost-Earnings Survey
Hafa adai, help us to better understand the importance of fishing in the Mariana Archipelago. Your details
of fishing experiences and expenditures are important for getting accurate results. We want to best represent
Marianas fishermen and we can only do that by hearing from as many fishermen as possible. While your
response is voluntary, we hope that you can help us in this research.
We appreciate the confidential nature of the data being collected by this survey. NOAA’s Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) will handle individual survey data as confidential business information
and a form of protected personal information and will maintain the confidentiality of the information
consistent with legal authorities available to it, including but not limited to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C.
Section 552a) and the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. Section 1905). The PIFSC will protect individual
survey data from public disclosure to the extent permitted by law and it has instituted procedures to
provide that protection.
Date of Survey_____________ Fisherman's name_________________ Interviewer ________________

SECTION A. YOUR FISHING EXPERIENCES

1. In 202X-1, were you ...






Boat owner (but not going out for fishing)
Owner operator
Captain (not boat owner)
Crew

2. What type of fishing trips did you take in 202X-1?




3.

I went fishing using a boat only

Go to Q3

I went fishing sometimes using a boat and sometimes not using a boat I

Go to Q3

went fishing not using a boat

Go to Q5

Approximately how many BOAT fishing trips did you take in 202x-1? __________ trips
(If not sure, please provide an answer below):

0
 Fewer than 12 trips (once every month or less)
 12 – 24 trips (once every other week)





1

25 – 49 trips (once a week)
50 – 99 trips (once or twice a week)
100 – 200 trips (two to three times a week) or more

4.

We understand the gear you used may have varied by trip, please indicate what percent of your BOAT fishing trips in 202X-1 you took
______with each type of gear: (Please check one for each type of gear)
None
(0%)
Trolling
Deepwater Bottomfish
Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish
Atulai
Reef Fishing (Spear)
Reef Fishing (Net) Other, please
specify: _________________

5.

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






Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost
(90%-100%)


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Approximately how many NON-BOAT fishing (shoreline) trips did you take in 202X-1? __________ trips
(If not sure, please provide an answer below):

0
 Fewer than 12 trips (once every month or less)
 12 – 24 trips (once every other week)





25 – 49 trips (once a week)
50 – 99 trips (once or twice a week)
100 – 200 trips (two to three times a week) or more

6.

In 202X-1, what percent of your NON-BOAT fishing (shoreline) trips did you take with each type of gear? (Please check one for each type
______of gear)
Pole
Spear
Cast net
Surround net
Gill net
Rod and reel
Gleaning
Hand line
Other gear, please specify:
_____________________

7.

None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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In 202X-1, how many of your BOAT fishing trips were of each of the following lengths? (Please check one box for each trip length)

Single day (or night) trips
Multiday trips

None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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2

8.
9.

How many people in total, including yourself, were on board for an average BOAT fishing trip? _________ people
Did you always fish out of the same boat ramp or harbor?

YES
 NO

If NO, how many different boat ramps or harbors did you use in 202X-1? _______ ramps/harbors

10.

In 202X-1, approximately how many total pounds of pelagic fish, deepwater bottomfish, nearshore/shallow bottomfish, and reef fish
---------- did you catch?

Pelagic fish
Deepwater bottomfish
Nearshore/shallow bottomfish
Reef fish

11.

51-100
pounds

1-50
pounds

None

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101-250
pounds


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251-500
pounds


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500+ pounds
(about how much?)

____________
____________
____________
____________

In 202X-1, during what percent of your fishing trips did you fish at/visit Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs):
None
(0%)



Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)



11a. In 202X-1, during the trips when you visited a Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), please estimate the percentage of your total fishing
----------------time that you fished at/around FADs:
None
(0%)



Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)



SECTION B. MARKET PARTICIPATION

12.

People have different opinions on the definition of commercial fishing. How would you define a fisherman as
commercial? To be considered a commercial fisherman, I feel that someone must do the following. (Please check all that apply)

 Sell at least one fish
 Sell 25% or more of catch
 Sell 50% or more of catch
 Sell all catch
13.

 Make at least 25% of personal income from fishing
 Make at least 50% of personal income from fishing
 Make all personal income from fishing
 Other, please specify:_________________________

What was your motivation for fishing in 202X-1? (If you had multiple motivations, put 1 as first, 2 as second, and 3 as third)

 Purely Recreational (I fished only for sport or pleasure)
 Recreational Expense (I fished primarily for sport or pleasure, but I also sold a few fish to cover trip expenses)
 Subsistence (I fished primarily to catch fish to feed myself/my family/my community)
 Cultural (I enjoyed fishing, but I was even more concerned about keeping traditional practices alive, such as using traditional fishing gear)
 Part-time Commercial (Fishing paid some of my bills, but I still had to work at another job)
 Full-time Commercial (Fishing brought in most or all of the money I made in 202X-1)
 Other, please specify:_______________________________________________________________
3

14.

15.

16.

In 202X-1, how many of your fishing trips did you fish for a roadside vendor, and/or as an independent fisherman?
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

Roadside vendor

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I was an independent
fisherman

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In 202X-1, how many of your fishing trips did you fish as a captain and/or crew?
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

Captain

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Crew



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In 202X-1, how was the catch/revenue distributed among fishermen in a fishing trip?

 I kept all the fish I caught (for sale/given away/

 Don't know/different every time

self-consumption)

 Other, please describe:_________________________

 I kept/received ______% of total fish caught
 I kept/received ______% of trip revenue
17.

In 202X-1, about what percent of your fishing trips did you sell a portion of your catch?
None
(0%)



18.

Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)





Most
(60%-89%)



Almost all
(90%-100%)



In 202X-1, what percent of your catch did you use in each of the following ways?

Sold
Consumed at home
Given to family members
Given to friends/neighbors
Caught for fiestas or other
community/cultural events
Traded for goods and services
Caught and released

None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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4

If you did not sell any of your fish in 202X-1, please skip to Question 25.

19. In 202X-1, where did you sell your fish? (Please check all that apply)
None
(0%)

Very little
(1%-9%)

Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)

Most
(60%-89%)

Almost all
(90%-100%)

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Guam Fishermen's Coop
Roadside Vendor
Retail Markets/Stores
Hotels/Restaurants
Friends/Neighbors/Coworkers
Wholesaler
Other, please specify:
____________________

20.

In 202X-1, could you usually sell all of the fish that you wanted to sell for each of the following types of fish?
Pelagic Fish


 No
 I don't sell these fish
Yes

21.

Deepwater Bottomfish


 No
 I don't sell these fish


 No
 I don't sell these fish

 Yes
 No
 I don't sell these fish





Catch of non-target species
Fish too small/picky buyer
Other, please describe:_________________________

In 202X-1, what was the approximate value of all the fish you sold?

 $1 - $100
 $101 - $500
 $501 - $1,000
23.

Reef Fish

Yes

If NO in Q20 – why not?

 Market is too far
 The price is not good
 Market conditions
22.

Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish

Yes





$1,001 - $5,000
$5,001 - $10,000
More than $10,000

About how much? $_____________

In 202X-1, what percent of the value of fish sold (question 22) came from the sale of pelagic fish, deepwater bottomfish, nearshore/
shallow bottomfish, and reef fish?
None
(0%)
Pelagic Fish
Deepwater Bottomfish
Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish
Reef Fish

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Very little
(1%-9%)

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Some
(10%-39%)

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5

About half
(40%-59%)

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Most
(60%-89%)

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Almost all
(90%-100%)

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24.

In 202X-1, after expenses, what percent of your personal income came from the sale of fish?
None
(0%)


25.

Very little
(1%-9%)



Some
(10%-39%)

About half
(40%-59%)



Most
(60%-89%)





Almost all
(90%-100%)



In 202X-1, how important was the fish you caught as a source of food for your family?
Not at all



Slightly important

Moderately important



Very important



Extremely important





SECTION C. YOUR BOAT
In this section, we want to better understand the boat and gear characteristics of Marianas’ fishing in 202X-1 .

26.

Did you own the boat that you fished on in 202X-1?

 YES
 NO

Go to Q27
If NO, did you always fish on the same boat?




YES

Go to Q34

NO

Go to Q34

27. In 202X-1, what percent of time did other people (other than family members) use that boat without you?
Never
(0%)



Very little
(1%-9%)



Sometimes
(10%-39%)



28.

What was the length of your boat?_______ feet

29.

What was the total horsepower?_______ hp

30.

About half
(40%-59%)



Usually
(60%-89%)



Almost always
(90%-100%)



In what year was that boat built? ___________

31.

In what year did you purchase the boat you fished on in 202X-1?

_________________

32.

How much did you pay to purchase that boat?

$_____________________

I(If homebuilt – when did you complete it?)

(If homebuilt – how much did it cost to build it?)

33.

In 202X-1, what was the current market value, in dollars, of the electronics you used $____________________
-----------to fish?

6

34.

In 202X-1, what was the current market value, in dollars, of the gear you used to fish (not including electronics)?
$____________________

If you own the boat your fish on:

35.

$____________________
In 202X-1, what was the current market value, in dollars, of that boat?
(Considering age and current condition and including motor(s) and trailer, but not including electronics or gear mentioned above)?

If you own the boat your fish on:

36.

Please enter the most recent year in which you made any major improvements to that
boat

_____________________

SECTION D. YOUR FISHING TRIP COSTS
We now want to understand your per trip costs for fishing.
Please remember that all your answers are strictly confidential.

37.

In 202X-1, what was the primary gear used for your most common type of fishing trip with a BOAT? (Please check one)

 Trolling
 Deepwater bottomfish
 Nearshore/shallow bottomfish

 Atulai
 Spear fishing (boat)
 Scuba spear

Reef fishing with nets (boat)

37a. On average per trip, how much money did you spend on your most common (question 37) type of fishing trip with a BOAT?
Type of Expenditure

Trip Expenditure

What type of fuel?

 gas  diesel
 gas  diesel

Amount

____________gallons

Boat fuel (average for a trip)

$__________________

Truck fuel (round trip)

$__________________

Ice

$__________________

____________lbs

Bait

$__________________

____________case(s)

Food and beverage

$__________________

Daily maintenance and repair

$__________________

Gear lost

$__________________
$__________________

Other, please specify:___________________

37b.

____________gallons

How were the trip costs distributed for your most common (question 37) type of fishing trip with a BOAT? (Please check one)

I paid all trip costs
I paid a fixed amount of $ _________
I paid ______% of the total trip costs
Other, please describe: ___________________________________________
7

38.

In 202X-1, what was your second most common gear used for fishing trip with a BOAT? (Please check one)

 Trolling
 Deepwater bottomfish
 Nearshore/shallow bottomfish

 Atulai
 Spear fishing (boat)
 Scuba spear

Reef fishing with nets (boat)
Spear fishing (shore)
Rod and reel (shore)

 Net fishing (shore)
 Gathering by Hand (shore)

38a. On average per trip, how much money did you spend on your second most common (question 38) type of fishing trip with a BOAT?
Type of Expenditure

Trip Expenditure

What type of fuel?

 gas  diesel
 gas  diesel

Amount

____________gallons

Boat fuel (average for a trip)

$__________________

Truck fuel (round trip)

$__________________

Ice

$__________________

____________lbs

Bait

$__________________

____________case(s)

Food and beverage

$__________________

Daily maintenance and repair

$__________________

Gear lost

$__________________
$__________________

Other, please specify:___________________

____________gallons

38b. How were the trip costs distributed for your second most common (question 38) type of fishing trip with a BOAT? (Please check one)






I paid all trip costs
I paid a fixed amount of $ _________
I paid ______% of the total trip costs
Other, please describe: ___________________________________________

8

SECTION E. 202X-1 FISHING EXPENDITURES (for boat owner only)
In an effort to better understand your economic contribution to the Marianas’ economy, we would like to
ask about your fishing-related expenditures in 202X-1 . In the table below please indicate how much, if any,
was spent on the following items during 202X-1 .
Enter “0” if you did not have any expenses in a category. Please do not leave blank.
Remember that all your answers are strictly confidential.

39.

Cost Category

202X-1 Expenditure (dollars)

Boat insurance

$__________________________

Loan payments

$__________________________

Financial services (accounting, taxes)

$__________________________

Moorage fees

$__________________________

Repair, maintenance, and improvements for vessel, engines, or trailer

$__________________________

Oil and lube

$__________________________

Gear (lines, lures, gaffs, rods, electric/hydraulic reels, spears, wetsuits, coolers, etc.)

$__________________________

Electronics

$__________________________

Fees (Registration for truck and trailer, dry dock fees, fishing club dues, coop fees, etc.)

$__________________________

Safety Equipment

$__________________________

Other, please specify:_______________________________________

$__________________________

40.

Some fishermen purchase fishing gear, electronics, safety equipment or other items off-island, online, or through a
catalog. Approximately what percentage of your expenditures were purchased off-island? _______________%

9

SECTION F. ABOUT YOU
Different people had different fishing experiences and different motivations for fishing.
The following questions help us to better understand these differences.

41. What is your gender?

Male
42.

Female

What is your age?

Less than 25 years 35 to 44 years
25 to 34 years 45 to 54 years




55 to 64 years
more than 64 years

43.

What village did you live in 202X-1? _____________________________

44.

How long have you lived in the Marianas? ______________years

45.

How long have you fished from a boat? _____________years

46.

Are you a member of a fishing club/association/group? (Please check all that apply)

 Guam Fishermen's Cooperative Association (GFCA)
 Guam Organization of Saltwater Anglers (GOSA)
 Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club (MASC)
 Other, please specify:_________________________

 Marianas Underwater Fishing Federation (MUFF)
 Saipan Fishermen Association (SFA)
 Halum Mamati Fishing Club (HMFC)
 None

47. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin?

 No

 Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano

 Yes, Cuban

 Yes, Puerto Rican  Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin, please specify:_________________________
48. What is your race? (Please check all that apply)

 Guamanian or Chamorro
 Filipino
 White
 Chinese
 Japanese
 Korean
 Vietnamese
 Other Asian, please specify: ______________________

 Carolinian
 Native Hawaiian
 Samoan
 Other Pacific Islander, please specify:_____________________
 Asian Indian
 American Indian or Alaska Native
 Black or African American
10

49. Are you currently employed?

Student (full-time)
 Employed full-time
Student (part-time)
 Employed part-time
 Other, please specify:______________________

Retired
Unemployed

50.

How many hours per week do you work for pay (non-fishing)? __________ hours

51.

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

52.

What was your total household income, before taxes, in 202X-1, including fishing income?

 Less than 9th grade
 Some high school (no diploma)
 High school graduate (including GED)
 Some college (no degree)
 Less than $2,500
 $2,500 to $4,999
 $5,000 to $9,999
 $10,000 to $14,999

 Associates degree or technical school
 College graduate (bachelor degree)
 Advanced, professional, or doctoral degree

 $15,000 to $24,999
 $25,000 to $29,999
 $30,000 to $39,999
 $40,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $74,999
$75,000 to $99,999
$100,000 or more

SECTION G. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

53.

Given your experience, do you think in the next year more people will be doing each of the following types of fishing? (Please check one
---------for each type of fishing)
Pelagic Fishing

 Yes
 No
54.

55.

Nearshore/Shallow
Bottomfish Fishing

Deepwater
Bottomfish Fishing

Reef Fishing

 Yes

 Yes

 Yes

 No

 No

 No

Why do you feel this way?_________________________________________________________________________

What were the top three (3) species you targeted for each of the following uses in 202X-1?

To sell?

2

1

To keep for self-consumption?
To give away?

11

3

56.

Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Strongly
Disagree

As someone who fishes I am respected by the community.





Fishing is an important part of who I am.
Fishing is an important part of my culture

Disagree





Neutral





Agree





Strongly
Agree





57. How important is each of the following for managing fisheries in the Marianas?
Not at all Slightly Moderately
Very
Extremely
Important Important Important Important Important

Rules are followed and enforced
My voice is included in decision making
Managers know how many fish there are
Managers know how healthy the reef / other habitats are
Managers know about the fishermen and fishing community (income,
culture, etc)
Local agencies build or maintain fisheries infrastructure (boat ramps,

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harbors, etc.)
Other, please specify:_____________________________

58. Please state how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements:
Rules are followed and enforced
My voice is included in decision making
Managers know how many fish there are
Managers know how healthy the reef / other habitats are
Managers know about the fishermen and fishing community (income,
culture, etc)
Local agencies build or maintain fisheries infrastructure (boat ramps,
harbors, etc.)
Other, please specify:_____________________________

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Strongly
Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly
Agree

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59. Do you have any suggestions for how the Marianas' fisheries should be managed or topics that you feel need further study?

60. Did you substantially change your fishing activities in 202X?

 Yes
 No

If YES in Q60, please answer the following questions.

60a. How did you change your fishing activities in 202X?

60b. What were the main reasons you made those changes?

60c. By how much did each of the following increase or decrease for your vessel(s) in 202X due to those changes?
(Please enter “0” if there was no change)

Landings decreased by ______% OR increased by______%
Fishing revenues decreased by ______% OR increased by______%
Total operating costs decreased by ______% OR increased by______%
Crew size decreased by #______ crew OR increased by #______ crew

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Thank you for participating in this survey.

The information you have provided will improve our understanding of the importance
of fishing in the Mariana Archipelago.
Would you like to receive a copy of the final report for this study?
(All personal information will be kept strictly confidential)

 YES
 NO

Name:
Address:
Email:

May we contact you if we have any questions about your survey responses?



YES



NO

Phone:_______________ Best time to contact you:____________
Email: _______________ (if not provided above)
(Your phone number and email address will be kept strictly confidential)

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. The PIFSC is collecting this economic information to improve its ability to conduct the analyses
required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other applicable law. The PIFSC and the
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will use this information to monitor, explain and predict changes in the economic
performance and impacts of the Mariana Archipelago small boat fishery. Among other things, this will enable fisheries managers and the
public to more fully consider the economic effects of proposed and existing regulations for this important fishery.
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information
collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0773
and its expiration date is XX/XX/20XX. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this
information collection is estimated to be approximately 45 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses
to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information
collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NOAA Fisheries at: 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818,
Attn: Justin Hospital, and Justin.Hospital@noaa.gov if desired.

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