Northeast Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Demand Survey

Stated preference choice experiment data were collected in conjunction with NMFS’ Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) along the coastal states of Maine through North Carolina during calendar year 2010. All anglers intercepted in the Northeast for the MRFSS were asked to participate in a voluntary follow-up mail survey. All anglers that agreed to participate in the follow-up were sent mail questionnaires using a modified Dillman Tailored Design. Anglers were given the option of completing the survey by mail or online. The choice experiment survey asked anglers that have targeted summer flounder, scup, or black sea bass to simultaneously compare features of different hypothetical fishing trips and then to choose the trip they liked best. The features or attributes varied across trips and included bag and size limits of each species, the number of legal-sized fish caught of each species, the number of sub-legal sized fish caught of each species, the number of other types of fish that were legally kept, and the total trip cost. Respondents were also permitted to choose an opt-out option which was “Do something other than saltwater fishing.” The collection of choice responses from the various choice scenarios allows for the examination of tradeoffs and behavioral responses to various biological and regulatory changes. A total of 10,244 surveys were mailed out and 3,067 completed mail surveys were returned for a response rate of 30%.

The collection of choice responses from the various choice scenarios allows for the examination of tradeoffs and behavioral responses to regulatory changes.

Data access usually requires a formal written request

Contact owner for access

NEFSC Data Access Procedure:

1. Formal request in writing usually to the data owner/contact or Center Director;

2. Requester is contacted by data owner to review and verify the request content and details for data delivery options.

3. If data is confidential then owner will determine if the data may be released to the requester;

4. If data can be released, the data is downloaded and packaged for delivery electronically; or the requester may be directed to where the data is available online.

None, but contact owner for special instructions on using the data sets

NEFSC Data Access Constraint:

If data is stored on an internal NEFSC network, the requester may not have direct access to query the data unless they are also authorized for network access.

None, but contact owner for special instructions on using the data sets

None, but contact owner for special instructions on using the data sets

None, but contact owner for special instructions on using the data sets

Unix SAS data sets (version 7), 5 bi-monthly data sets totaling 17,349 KB

Raw survey data

Followed Dillman total design method shown to increase response rates and data accuracy

not applicable

backed up; multiple copies

Mail surveys were designed, and sent out recreational fishermen. Their responses were reviewed, keypunched, and audited by a contract firm. Later, the responses were analyzed using SAS.