Marine Recreational Use

Economic impacts from recreation to the local and regional economy also extend from other types of marine recreation besides marine angling. Such economic impacts might include bird watching, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, etc. Determination of the economic impacts that these activities have on the economy is an important aspect of marine recreation that needs additional attention.

The GSMFC plans to contract with Knowledge Networks to collect information on marine recreational use. It appears that the focus of the project will be the implementation of a survey that will enable GSMFC and NMFS to estimate the economic impacts and use value from marine recreational use activities. Such activities might include canoeing, bird watching, sailing, and others. Data to be collected include expenditure data, access value data, demographics, and attitudinal information. The population to be sampled includes the general public using the Knowledge Networks survey panel. The survey will be implemented in monthly waves, with the sample rotating in and out each month and no individual being sampled more than a to be determined number of times. Notification to selected individuals will occur in advance, so that they can keep track of their activities and expenditures.

The year 2011 was used to finalize the survey instrument and submit a package to OMB for approval. Given the national scope of this project, and NOAA largely administering the survey in other parts of the country, OMB approval was required. The survey package was approved in late 2011 by OMB. Throughout early 2012 the GSMFC and the NMFS have worked with Knowledge Networks in order to develop a contract and begin the data collection process. The contract is still in the development process and it is anticipated that data collection will commence during the first half of 2012.