Economic Data Collections in the Southeast

Economic Data Collections Overview

A major activity of social science research is the collection of economic data which is used to:

• Establish socioeconomic baselines for commercial fisheries in Federal waters of the Southeast.

• Assess the financial and economic performance of the fisheries.

• Develop economic models to evaluate management proposals.

We conduct three continuous, in-house data collections for the most frequently managed species:

1. Coastal Fisheries Economic Survey

   • Annually samples 20 percent of federally-permitted vessels in the South Atlantic fisheries for snapper-grouper, coastal migratory pelagics, and dolphin-wahoo, and in the Gulf of America* fisheries for reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics (e.g., mackerels)

2. Shrimp Fisheries Economic Survey

   • Annually samples 33 percent of federally-permitted vessels in the Gulf of America penaeid shrimp fishery and the South Atlantic penaeid and rock shrimp fisheries

3. For-Hire Fishing Trip Price Data Collection

   • Annually collects information on marine fishing trip prices from the websites of federally-permitted charter and head boat vessels in the Gulf of America and the South Atlantic

This information is used to assess trends in the financial and economic state of the fisheries, and to determine the economic and social effects of regulations and other factors affecting the Southeast shrimp fisheries. Individual information is confidential and only summary statistics are released to the public.

U.S. Southeast Coastal Logbook Fisheries Economic Data Collection

The southeast coastal logbook fisheries economic surveys collect economic data on commercial fishing trips and vessels in the following federally permitted fisheries:

• Gulf of America reef fish

• South Atlantic snapper-grouper

• King and Spanish mackerel

• Sharks

• Atlantic dolphin/wahoo

Data are collected by two separate surveys; one at the trip-level and one at the annual, vessel-level.

At the beginning of each year, approximately 20 percent of all vessels with valid permits for the above fisheries are selected. These vessels are required to complete the trip expense section on the logbook form for each commercial fishing trip they take in these fisheries for the entire calendar year.

Trip economic expenses questions on the trip logbook currently include: fuel used and price per gallon; bait, ice, grocery and miscellaneous expenses, payment for catch, hired crew and captain, if any.

Additionally, after the calendar year is over, surveys are mailed to these vessels to collect expense data at the annual, vessel-level. This survey focuses on supplemental fixed and overhead costs as well as activity in unrelated fisheries.

Shrimp Fisheries Economic Data Collection for Gulf of America & U.S. South Atlantic

Data is collected each spring for the Annual Economic Survey of Gulf and Atlantic Shrimp Permit Holders. Surveys are sent by mail to a random sample of a third of all vessels with federal permits for the harvest of Gulf of America penaeid shrimp or South Atlantic penaeid or rock shrimp.

The survey collects data about:

• Operating expenses.

• Costs of owning and maintaining shrimp vessels.