Alaska Non-Response Telephone Questionnaire

Alaska Non-Response Telephone Questionnaire
Intro
IF OBVIOUS YOUTH – Ask to speak with an adult
“Hello, my name is __________. I’m calling on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries
Service.”
¾ IF ASKED: NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
“May I please speak with______________?”
01

YES, RESPONDENT AVAILABLE/TRANSFERRING
¾ Go to Part 2

02

NO, RESPONDENT UNAVAILABLE
¾ Go to Exit.1

03

DK/REFUSED
¾ Schedule callback [1 day out]
¾ Terminate

04

IF LANGUAGE BARRIER
¾ Terminate as 103 language barrier

05

IF OTHER TYPE OF BARRIER
¾ Terminate as 114 physical/mental impairment

EXIT.1
“Thank you, I will call back later. When would be a good time to reach ____________?”
¾ SCHEDULE CALLBACK
Part 2 [Only if qualified respondent is on the phone]
“You were recently mailed login instructions for an online questionnaire about recreational fishing
in Alaska, which included a small monetary incentive as a token of our appreciation for completing
the survey. The survey collects information about your fishing activities and your opinions about
saltwater fishing to help the federal government better manage saltwater fisheries in Alaska. As of
today, we have not received your completed questionnaire. You are one of a small group of people
who have fished in Alaska who we are asking input from, so your response is very important to
us. Even if you have not fished in saltwater in Alaska, your input is still needed. If we send you
another set of login instructions, could you complete the survey within a week of receiving it?”
1

YES – SEND NEW SURVEY
¾ Skip to Verify Contact Information

2

YES – DO NOT NEED ANOTHER SURVEY
¾ “Thank you.”
¾ Skip to Part 3

3

SURVEY HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED
¾ “Thank you”
¾ Skip to Part 3

4

NO
¾ CONTINUE TO QA

QA “It is very important for our analysis that we understand how those who haven’t returned the
survey compare to those who did, so that we don’t misinterpret the survey results.
Could I take a few minutes to ask you some brief questions that will help us with our work? I’d
like to remind you that all of your answers are confidential and your name will not be revealed to
anyone.”
1
2

YES
¾ Skip to Evaluate
NO
¾ Ask for a more convenient time, otherwise, thank respondent and terminate

VERIFY CONTACT INFORMATION
“I would like to verify your contact information. What I have is…
NAME____________________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS_________________________________________
CITY__________________________STATE _______ ZIP__________
PHONE___________________________________________________
EMAIL___________________________________________________
Which method of delivery is best?
‰Mail
‰E-mail
‰Text message
Thank you, I will send the login instructions out today.”
If respondent needs new login instructions to be sent to them or if respondent indicates survey
has been or will be submitted then go to PART 3.

PART 3
“Receiving your completed questionnaire will be very helpful. Could I take a few minutes to ask
you some brief questions to help us with our preliminary results until we receive your completed
questionnaire?”
1 NO
¾ “OK. We look forward to receiving your completed questionnaire”
¾ Terminate
2

NOT NOW
¾ “OK. We look forward to receiving your completed questionnaire. Can I try
back another time.”
¾ Schedule callback
¾ Terminate

3

YES
¾ Continue with Evaluate

EVALUATE
Q1

During 2025, how many days did you spend saltwater recreational charter fishing in
Alaska? Please count partial days as full days.
01 [Enter # days fishing]
02 [If ZERO, SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS]
98 DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE
99 REFUSED

Q2

During your most recent saltwater charter fishing trip, did you go fishing in
Southcentral or Southeast Alaska? [If requested, “Southeast Alaska typically refers to
the area between Yakutat and Ketchikan. Southcentral Alaska extends from the Cook
Inlet to Prince William Sound and includes the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, and
other areas.”]
01 YES – Southcentral Alaska
02 YES – Southeast Alaska
02 NO [SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS]
98 DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE
99 REFUSED

Q3

When you were saltwater charter fishing on this trip, what species did you target?
01 PACIFIC HALIBUT
02 KING SALMON
03 SILVER SALMON
04 OTHER SALMON
05 LINGCOD

06 ROCKFISH
07 OTHER
98 DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE
99 REFUSED
DEMOGRAPHICS
Q4

In what year were you born?
01 [Record year] /1907-2008/
98 DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE
99 REFUSED

Q5

Which of the following best describes the highest level of education you have
completed? [Interviewer: Read if necessary]
01 Some high school (no diploma) or less
02 High school graduate (including GED)
03 Some college (no degree)
04 Two-year college degree (Associates degree) or technical school
05 Four-year college graduate (bachelor degree)
06 Some graduate work but did not receive a graduate degree
07 Advanced, Professional, or doctoral degree
98 DON’T KNOW
99 REFUSED

Q6

Which of the following categories best describes your household’s total annual
income before taxes in 2025? [Interviewer: Please read list]
01 Less than $25,000
02 $25,000 to $34,999
03 $35,000 to $49,999
04 $50,000 to $74,999
05 $75,000 to $99,999
06 $100,000 to $149,999
07 $150,000 to $199,999
08 $200,000 to $249,999
09 $250,000 or more
98 DON’T KNOW
99 REFUSED

If returning survey or sending new instructions (“Yes”) in Part 2
¾ “Thank you. Your assistance today will help with our preliminary analysis. Receiving
your completed questionnaire will greatly help to improve our understanding of anglers’
Alaska fishing experiences and their preferences for saltwater fishing trips in Alaska.”

If not returning survey
¾ “Those are all the questions I have for you. Do you have any comments that you would
like to add? “
01 YES
¾ Go to “Other respondent comments”
02 NO
¾ Go to Closing
98 DON’T KNOW
¾ Go to Closing
99 REFUSED
¾ Go to Closing
Closing:
“Thank you for your time. We really appreciate your participation. Thanks again, and have a
good day/evening.”
Record gender of respondent, use voice recognition only.
01 Female
02 Male

Respondent view on Alaska fishing: [Do not prompt respondent for this information.]
Did the respondent indicate any of the following?
01 I DON’T CARE ABOUT SALTWATER CHARTER FISHING IN ALASKA.
02 I DON’T KNOW ABOUT SALTWATER CHARTER FISHING IN ALASKA.
03 RESPONDENT DIDN’T PROVIDE THIS FEEDBACK.
98 DON’T KNOW
99 REFUSED
OTHER RESPONDENT COMMENTS.
____________________________________________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions
[Q: “Who sponsors the survey/who is NOAA Fisheries?”
A: This survey is sponsored by NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries
Service, a U.S. government agency responsible for the stewardship of the nation's living marine
resources and their habitat.]
[Q: “What’s the purpose of the call?”
A: This is not a sales call. We are collecting public input for government, industry, and citizen
groups to consider when evaluating ways to manage saltwater fish species, like halibut, in
Alaska. I want to assure you that your answers will be kept anonymous.]
[Q: “Why did you send money with the survey?”
A: The survey is very important and NOAA Fisheries has found they can get more input for less
money by including a small token of their appreciation with the survey.]
[Q: I haven’t saltwater fished in Alaska before.
A: The survey does not require you to have saltwater fished before, in Alaska or anywhere. In
fact, we are very interested in hearing from people who do not saltwater fish in Alaska, in
addition to those who have.]
[Q: I don’t care about saltwater fishing in Alaska. It is important that we represent your view
in the survey. If we only receive surveys from people who care a lot, the survey results would be
biased.]
[Q: “Do you have a valid OMB Control Number to undertake this survey?” Yes, this survey
has received clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The OMB control number is
0648-0639, which expires __/__/__.]
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 10 minutes, including time for reviewing instructions,
reviewing existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Russel Dame,
NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Russel.A.Dame@noaa.gov. Only aggregated results from the survey will be
released publicly. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be
subject 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. OMB Control #
0648-0639. Expiration Date: __/__/__
Privacy Act Statement
Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under 5 U.S.C. § 301, Departmental regulations which authorizes
the operations of an executive agency, including the creation, custodianship, maintenance and distribution of records, and 15
U.S.C. 1512, Powers and duties of Department.
Purpose: NOAA collects limited information, such as name, address, phone number, or email address for a variety of purposes.
This information will be used to respond to user inquiries or provide services requested by the user.
Routine Uses: Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) to be shared
among Department staff for work-related purposes. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine
uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-11, Contact Information for Members of
the Public Requesting or Providing Information Related to NOAA’s Mission.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. By providing this information, you are consenting to the use of that
information only for the purpose for which it is submitted.