In 2017 and 2020 we conducted mail surveys to collect information about West Coast fishermen, why they choose to participate in commercial fishing, and the benefits they derive from fishing, including non-monetary benefits. We also wanted to understand how individuals and communities are affected when opportunities and profitability in particular fisheries change. We sent the survey to all vessel owners who had commercial fishery landings in Washington, Oregon or California in the years preceding the surveys. We received over 1450 responses to our survey both years, over a 50% response rate. The distribution of those responses is shown in the maps below.
On this website you will find charts, tables, and maps summarizing responses to the survey questions. There are separate applications for viewing frequency distributions of the 2017 and 2020 results for the entire West Coast and by state of residence. There is also a mapping application for viewing County-level median responses (or percentages of respondents answering a particular way). The surveys were largely similar but a few questions differ between years. The frequency tables as well as the charts can be downloaded. Survey design and data collection was produced in partnership with Washington Sea Grant.
West Coast Participation Survey Tool
