Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Study
Study Background
The Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) and the NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Regional Office per the Magnuson Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (reauthorized 2007)(MSA) P.L. 109-479, sec. 302.f implemented a new rationalization or catchshares program for the Pacific Trawl Groundfish and Whiting fisheries in January 2011.
Changes in how fisheries are managed not only result in changes in stock assessments, stock abundance, and species recovery, but also results in changes to the people within the fishery.
Scientific research in other fisheries that have adopted quota or "catchshare" type management systems has shown impacts to the people working in the fishery. Industry members including fishermen/crew members, processors, and equipment suppliers such as net suppliers are likely to notice changes in the fishery. The type and degree of change will depend on the characteristics of the fishery and the management system.
Human Dimensions Research
Social scientists in NOAA Fisheries study the human species in an effort to better understand human behavior, institutions, and relations to one another and the natural world. In the realm of fisheries, social scientists within the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s Human Dimensions Program focus on a greater understanding of the link between people and marine resources such as fish, marine mammals, and marine ecosystems. This research provides information that supports NOAA Fisheries and other agencies and contributes to the larger pool of scientific information that is available to the public and greater research community.
Groundfish Fishery Study
In this study, scientists will strive to better understand and describe individuals and fishing communities, as well as their connections, and degree of involvement in the West Coast Groundfish Fishery. Scientists will collect new information that is uniquely obtained through survey responses and conversations with fishing industry members. The information collected will provide a greater understanding of the human dimension of the fishery.
In addition, this research will be conducted repetitively over time to generate a foundational or baseline description of the fishery both before and after the management change. Repeated studies will show how the human dimensions of the fishery have changed over time. Capturing snapshots of the fishery both before and after the management change will help identify and measure social impacts that have occurred as a result of the catch-shares implementation.
Researchers will work with industry members to collect social and cultural information through interviews, focus groups, and a survey tool. Contact with industry members will be primarily in-person, as well as over the phone, and electronically when necessary.
This study provides an opportunity for industry members to communicate unique information about the fishery. The information generated will clarify and expand upon our knowledge of fishing communities and how they are linked not only to the Groundfish fishery but to other fisheries as well. This project will improve our ability to describe fishing communities and provide a more accurate representation of those communities. The more information we have about the human dimension of the fishery, the more social information can be made available and contribute towards improving fisheries management.
2010 Baseline Data Collection
The first effort to collect data was conducted in the Fall of 2010. This effort collected data prior to the implementation of the program. Data was collected in communities from Bellingham, WA, to Morrow Bay, CA. We thank all those who participated in this effort.
The results of the 2010 data collection are currently undergoing analysis. The report is forthcoming. The final report will be distributed to management as well as to all study participants, and will be available on this website. To view some preliminary results of this data analysis please view the 2010 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Social Study, Baseline Preliminary Results. This document provides sample of preliminary results that are subject to change prior to the final report. It serves to provide examples of the analysis of the different sections of the survey.
2012 Data Collection
In 2012, researchers will be collecting the first round of data after the implementation of the program. Data collected will both duplicate the data collected in 2010 and expand to include information specific to the catch shares program. Data collection will commence in August of 2012 and is estimated to conclude by December 31, 2012.
To help obtain the most accurate and detailed information of all the fishing industry members and the related communities we encourage your participation!
Please Participate
We would like to invite industry members to participate in our research efforts.
We are interested in hearing from anyone whom works in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery. This would include vessel owners, former limited entry permit owners/holders/lessees, quota allocation recipients, quota share permit owners,fishermen, operators, crew, processors, processors workers, buyers/first receivers, associated shoreside business such as net and fuel suppliers, service providers, fishermen’s wives/spouses/partners, and others that feel they are part of the industry and may be affected by the management change.
Participation is voluntary and all responses are confidential.
Why participate?
- The study provides industry members a forum to communicate information from their unique perspectives.
- Clarifies and expands researcher’s existing knowledge of fishing communities.
- Increases the amount of social information available about fishing communities and industry members.
- Improves the accuracy of information available about fishing communities and industry members.
- Increases the amount of information available for use by interested parties such as local community organizations and fishery managers.
How to participate.
The best way to participate in this research is to complete the survey and participate in a short interview. Researchers are available in many geographic locations to try and meet, in person, with as many people as possible.
Feel free to contact us via email at NWFSC.study@noaa.gov or phone Suzanne Russell for additional information. We would be more than happy to setup an appointment with you to meet you in person if possible, set up a phone call, provide you the survey, answer any questions, and further discuss the research. Please email us at NWFSC.study@noaa.gov and we’ll make the appropriate arrangements. The survey is also available to download electronically. Please follow the links provided on this page to download, complete, and return the survey tool.
If you would like to participate, but do not wish to complete the survey in person or electronically that is fine. Please phone or email us a request for the survey and we’ll be more than happy to mail you a hardcopy of the survey for completion and the necessary supplies to return the survey to us.
Your participation is critical to the success of our research and our ability to increase the information available about fishing communities to all interested parties.
Please click here to access the survey tool.
Contact Information
Study Email address: NWFSC.Study@noaa.gov
Please send general information inquires, and completed surveys to this email address.
Principal Investigator
Suzanne Russell
NWFSC Social Scientist
Suzanne.russell@noaa.gov
(206) 860-3274
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Additional Researchers:
Anna Varney
FOA Social Scientist
Anna.varney@noaa.gov
206-302-2486
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Albert Arias-Arthur
FOA Social Scientist
Albert.arias-arther@noaa.gov
(206) 860-3353
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Kim Sparks
PSMFC Social Scientist
Kimberly.Sparks@noaa.gov
(206) 302-2400
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Keeley Kent
PSMFC Social Scientist
Keeley.Kent@noaa.gov
(206) 302-1746
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Sarah Wise
PSMFC Social Scientist
Sarah.Wise@noaa.gov
(206) 302-1757
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Ruby Moon – Oregon
PSMFC Social Scientist
Ruby.Moon@noaa.gov
(503) 468-8749
Brian Carter – California (Crescent City to Fort Bragg)
PSMFC Social Scientist
Brian.Carter@noaa.gov
(707) 273-2439
Melissa Stevens – California (Bodega Bay to San Francisco)
PSMFC Social Scientist
Melissa.Stevens@noaa.gov
(415) 537-3414
Monica Galligan – California
PSMFC Social Scientist
Monica.Galligan@noaa.gov
(831) 233-0111
Other Links
Survey Instrument
NWFSC Human Dimensions Program
NOAA Fisheries Catch Shares Website
Northwest Regional Office Trawl Catch Share Program Website