NEFSC: Greater Atlantic Region Commercial Fisheries Economic Data Collection

January 17, 2023

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John Smith
980 Beaver Creek Drive
Martinsville, VA 24112

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Dear John Smith,
Commercial fishing cost data play an important role in informing
fisheries regulations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Cost data
can help economists at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center analyze
the impacts of various alternatives in Fishery Management Plan
frameworks and amendments. Without this information, economists are
limited in their ability to inform management decisions or fully
evaluate economic impacts.

To access the cost survey using
the QR code:
1. Open the camera function of your
smart phone device.
2. Point the camera at the QR code
until the camera focuses on the code
(do not take a picture).
3. By hovering over the QR code in
your camera app, a link will appear
in your smart phone’s web browser.
Follow the link to the mobile version
of the cost survey.

We are asking you to help us improve the region’s economic data by
completing the Greater Atlantic Region Commercial Fishing Business
Cost Survey for 2022. This voluntary survey asks for costs you have incurred on your vessel, [Vessel Name],
such as repair and maintenance, trip expenditures, overhead costs, and crew/captain payments in calendar year
2022.
You can access and respond to the survey by typing the following link into your web browser:
www.fishingcostsurvey.com and entering access code: 12345678A or by using the unique QR code provided
in this letter.
The survey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete and your individual responses and participation
will be kept confidential.
If you prefer to take the survey through a phone or virtual interview with a Science Center staff member, or if
you have any questions regarding this letter, the survey, or the survey questions, please call 508-495-2015 so
we may assist you.
For additional information on the data collected in this survey or to view data summaries from previous years,
please visit our cost data visualization tool at: https://apps-nefsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/socialsci/cost-data
Your participation is crucial for incorporating accurate cost information into our economic analyses which
inform management decisions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Samantha Werner

Gregory Ardini

Elizabeth Conley

Economist, Social Sciences Branch
NEFSC | NOAA Fisheries
Office: (508) 495-4733
Samantha.Werner@noaa.gov

Economist, Social Sciences Branch
NEFSC | NOAA Fisheries
Office: (508) 495-4710
Gregory.Ardini@noaa.gov

Research Technician, Contractor with
Ocean Associates, Inc. in support of
Social Sciences Branch | NEFSC
Office: (508) 645-6753
Elizabeth.Conley@noaa.gov

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

166 Water Street Woods Hole

MA 02543-1026

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is collecting this economic
information to improve its ability to conduct analyses required by the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other applicable law. The
NEFSC, the New England Fishery Management Council, and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council will use this information to monitor, explain and predict changes in
the economic performance and impacts of regional fisheries. Among other things, this
will enable fisheries managers and the public to more fully consider the economic
effects of proposed and existing regulations for regional fisheries. A Federal agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject
to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information
collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control
Number for this information collection is 0648-0773 and its expiration date is
XX/XX/20XX. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information
collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be
approximately 45 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information
collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
suggestions for reducing this burden to Gregory Ardini, NMFS NEFSC, 166 Water
Street MB19, Woods Hole, MA 02543, Gregory.Ardini@noaa.gov.

Confidentiality Statement
We appreciate the confidential nature of the data being collected by this survey. The
NEFSC will handle individual survey data as confidential business information and a
form of protected personal information and will maintain the confidentiality of the
information consistent with legal authorities available to it, including but not limited to the
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) and the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. Section
1905). The NEFSC will protect individual survey data from public disclosure to the
extent permitted by law and it has instituted procedures to provide that protection.