SOW.docx

Saltwater Recreational Fishing Attitudes and Preferences Survey: Sample Frame Development and Survey Implementation in the Pacific Islands Region

- Statement of Work -

Background. Recreational fishing generates substantial socioeconomic benefits across the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Despite extensive participation in recreational fishing activities across the state, relatively little information has been gathered to assess local perspectives regarding the status of: the marine environment, recreational fishing opportunities and constraints, or related management strategies. NOAA’s Saltwater Recreational Fishing Attitudes and Preferences Survey is designed to examine such perspectives among anglers in coastal communities around the nation (cf. Brinson and Wallmo 2013). The survey was implemented in 2013 in all coastal states with the exception of Hawaii. Fishing in Hawaii involves unique attributes that have necessitated modification of the survey instrument used elsewhere in the nation. The following outlines the rationale and objectives for building a viable sample frame and implementing the modified survey instrument in the State of Hawaii. The survey instrument has met all OMB/PRA requirements and is ready for implementation.

Rationale. Unlike other coastal states in the U.S., there is no marine recreational fishing license program in Hawaii and very limited participation in the voluntary National Saltwater Angler Registry. Therefore, a sample frame or frames through which to identify prospective survey respondents must be developed through other means. Although various sources are available to assist in constructing a mailing list for boat-based fishermen in Hawaii, these are either incomplete or not specific to non-commercial fishing. Very limited source materials are available for identifying shore-based anglers in the state, and thus extensive outreach and fieldwork will be needed to develop a valid sampling frame for this group (see Table 1). Of note, while recreation is a common aspect of most non-commercial fishing activities in Hawaii, local boat-based and shoreline anglers in Hawaii tend to prioritize consumption and/or sharing of the fish they capture. In some cases, fish are important components of local systems of reciprocal exchange and customary usage in extended family settings. The catch-and-release style of fishing occurs but is known to be relatively rare in the Hawaiian Islands.

Goal and Objectives. The goal of the work described herein is to gauge and analyze variability in fishing-related attitudes and preferences among contemporary non-commercial anglers in the Main Hawaiian Islands. This is to be accomplished through implementation of the Hawaii version of the national Saltwater Recreational Fishing Attitudes and Preferences Survey. The solicited research must enable: (1) analysis of potential variability in attitudes and preferences between: (a) anglers who reside on each of Main Hawaiian Islands, (b) anglers who target pelagic, bottom, neritic-pelagic, and reef species with various types of fishing gear, and (c) anglers residing in highly populated and rural areas of the state; and (2) a reasonable level of analytical comparability with information collected through the national survey – as appropriate given the aforementioned differences between non-commercial fishing in Hawaii and elsewhere. Meeting the overarching intent of this project will require that the selected contractor work closely with social science research specialists at NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) to satisfy the following objectives:

1. Identify the principal boat- and shore-based gear-use groups that characterize recreational/non-commercial fishing activities across the state;

2. Use available sources, outreach, and intercept fieldwork to develop lists of valid mailing addresses for recreation-oriented anglers who fish with various types of gear from small vessels around the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Lanai, and Hawaii (the boat-based component of the overall sampling frame);

3. Undertake outreach and fieldwork activities on each of the main islands to develop lists of valid mailing addresses for non-commercial anglers who use various gear-types from the shoreline or nearshore zones (the shore-based component of the sampling frame);

4. Use the full range of mail survey research methods recommended by Dillman (2007) to implement the Hawaii version of the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Attitudes and Preferences Survey among recreation-oriented anglers on each of the main islands as per the sampling frames developed by meeting objectives 2 and 3 above, and as preliminarily specified in Table 1 below;

5. Implement standard quality control and data security measures while reviewing the incoming surveys and while entering, coding, cleaning, storing, and analyzing the resulting data;

6. Generate descriptive statistical analyses to facilitate comparison of Hawaii findings with findings from elsewhere in the nation (as appropriate); report project findings in a manner that is of maximal utility to NOAA Fisheries and project partners; and deliver various data, databases, analyses, and draft and final project reports to PIFSC.

Table 1. Sample Frame Development Source for Development of Sampling Frame

Total target n = ~3,700

* Source: National Marine Fisheries Service (2012)

Project Elements. Implementation of the Hawaii version of the national survey will involve four principal elements or tasks – to occur in total over the course of a 12-month period beginning at time of award: (1) development of the sampling frames, (2) implementation of the survey, (3) survey fielding, data entry, and data analysis, and (4) reporting of project findings.

Of particular note, development of the respective sampling frames is critical to the success of the project and is likely to incur the relatively greatest outlay of funding. In order to meet this particular objective in a timely and streamlined manner, we recommend the employment or subcontracting of a single specialist who can maintain continuity in approach while completing of a series of essential work tasks. These tasks are as follow:

(a) Undertake outreach work on each of the main islands as needed to identify, contact, and explain the intent and nature of the survey to fishing club representatives, tackle shop owners, harbormasters, and others who are in regular contact with boat- and shore-based anglers in Hawaii;

(b) Coordinate with other research currently being implemented or planned for implementation with the target populations and seek to minimize additional burdens on research participants or prospective participants wherever possible;

(c) Undertake extensive fieldwork at boat ramps and shoreline fishing sites to promote participation in the survey and to gather valid mailing addresses from prospective respondents;

(d) Act as the primary and ongoing point of receipt for mailing addresses/contact information;

(e) Enter incoming addresses/contact information into a secure and well-managed database; and

(f) Function as an information clearinghouse and key point of contact for persons interested in the survey and associated research findings.

Table 2. Principal Project Components

Requests for Payment. Invoice submittals will be allowed on a monthly basis during the purchase order period of performance. Each request for payment shall be accompanied by a status update including that tasks that the contractor completed during the previous month.

References

Brinson, A. A. and K. Wallmo. 2013. Attitudes and Preferences of Saltwater Recreational Anglers: Report from the 2013 National Saltwater Angler Survey, Volume I. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-135. Available at:

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/Assets/economics/documents/rec-attitudes/Rec%20Attitudes%20 Report%20TM%20135.pdf

Dillman, D.A. 2007. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. econd Edition – 2007 Update. John Wiley and Sons. Hoboken, New Jersey.

National Marine Fisheries Service. 2012. Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2006-2011 series. U.S. Dept. Commerce, NOAA. Tech. Memo. Available at: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/economics/publications/feus/fisheries_economics_2011