The Mariana Archipelago Small Boat Fishery Cost-Earnings

OMB Control # 0648-0773

2025 Marianas Small Boat Survey

Expiration Date 04/30/2025

Hafa adai, help us to better understand the importance of fishing in the Mariana Archipelago. Your details of fishing experiences and expenditures are important for getting accurate results. We want to best represent the Marianas fishing community and we can only do that by hearing from as many fishers as possible. While your response is voluntary, we hope that you can help us in this research. We recognize the confidential nature of the data being collected by this survey. NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) 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 PIFSC will protect individual survey data from public disclosure to the extent permitted by law and it has instituted procedures to provide that protection.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. The PIFSC is collecting this economic information to improve its ability to conduct the analyses required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other applicable law. The PIFSC and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will use this information to monitor, explain and predict changes in the economic performance and impacts of the Mariana Archipelago small boat fishery. Among other things, this will enable fisheries managers and the public to more fully consider the economic effects of proposed and existing regulations for this important fishery. 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. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey. 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 aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NOAA Fisheries at: 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, Attn: Justin Hospital, and Justin.Hospital@noaa.gov if desired.

SECTION A. YOUR FISHING EXPERIENCES

1. Approximately how many BOAT fishing trips did you take in 2024? trips

(if not sure, please provide an answer from options below):

0 (I did not fish from a boat in 2024) Fewer than 12 trips (once every month or less) 12 – 24 trips (once every other week)

25 – 49 trips (once a week) 50 – 99 trips (once or twice a week) 100 – 200 trips (two to three times a week) or more

2. In 2024, about how many of your BOAT fishing trips were primarily: (please check one for each gear and try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost All (90%-100%)
Trolling Deepwater Bottomfish Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish Atulai Reef Fishing (Spear) Reef Fishing (Net) Other, please specify:

3. Approximately how many NON-BOAT fishing (shoreline or shore-based) trips did you take in 2024? trips

(if not sure, please provide an answer from the options below):

• 0 (I did not fish from shore in 2024)

• Fewer than 12 trips (once every month or less)

• 12 – 24 trips (once every other week)

• 25 – 49 trips (once a week)

• ₅₀ – 99 trips (once or twice a week)

• ₁₀₀ – 200 trips (two to three times a week) or more

4. In 2024, how many of your NON-BOAT fishing (shoreline) trips were: (please check one for each gear type, try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Pole
Spear
Cast net
Surround net
Gill net
Rod and reel
Gleaning Hand line Other gear, please specify:

5. In 2024, how many of your BOAT fishing trips were:(please check one for each trip type, try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Single day (or night) trips Multiday trips (more than 24 hours)

6. How many people in total, including yourself, are on board for an average BOAT fishing trip? people

7. Do you always fish out of the same boat ramp or harbor?

	YES
	NO		If NO, on average, how many different boat ramps or harbors do you use in a year? ramps

8. 

   None		1-50 pounds	51-100 pounds	101-250 pounds	251-500 pounds	500+ pounds (about how much?)
   Pelagic fish	 
   Deepwater bottomfish	 
   Nearshore/shallow bottomfish	 
   Reef fish	 

   
   

   In 2024, approximately how many total pounds of pelagic fish, deepwater bottomfish, nearshore/shallow bottomfish, and reef fish did you catch?

9. In 2024, during what percent of your fishing trips did you fish at/visit Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs):

None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)

9a. In 2024, please estimate the percentage of your total fishing time that you fished at/around Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs):

None (0%)

Very little (1%-9%)

Some (10%-39%)

About half (40%-59%)

Most (60%-89%)

Almost all (90%-100%)

     

SECTION B. MARKET PARTICIPATION

10. People have different opinions on the definition of commercial fishing. How would you define a fisher as commercial? To be considered a commercial fisher, I feel that someone must: (check all that apply)

	Sell at least one fish		Make at least 25% of personal income from fishing
	Sell 25% or more of catch		Make at least 50% of personal income from fishing
	Sell 50% or more of catch		Make all personal income from fishing
	Sell all catch		Other, please specify:
What is your primary motivation for fishing? (if you have multiple motivations, put 1 as primary, 2 as secondary, and 3 as third, etc.) Purely Recreational (I fish only for sport or pleasure) Recreational Expense (I fish primarily for sport or pleasure, but I also sell a few fish to cover trip expenses) Subsistence (I fish primarily to catch fish to feed myself/my family/my community) Cultural (I enjoy fishing, but I am even more concerned about keeping traditional practices alive, such as using traditional fishing gear) Part-time Commercial (Fishing pays some of my bills, but I still have to work at another job) Full-time Commercial (Fishing brings in most or all of the money I make in a year) Other, please specify:

12. During 2024, how many of your fishing trips did you fish for a roadside vendor?

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Roadside vendor

12. In 2024, how many of your fishing trips did you fish as a captain and/or crew? (please check one for each type, try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Captain
Crew

12. In 2024, on average, how was the catch distributed among fishers after a fishing trip?

• I kept all the fish I caught (for sale/given away/self-consumption)

• I kept/received % of total fish caught

• I kept/received % of trip revenue

• Other, please describe:

12. In 2024, on average, what percentage of your fishing trips did you sell a portion of your catch?

None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)

12. In 2024, what percentage of your catch was: (please check one for each type, try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Sold
Consumed at home
Given to family members
Given to friends/neighbors
Caught for fiestas or other community/cultural events
Traded for goods and services
Caught and released

If you did not sell any fish in 2024, please skip to Question 23

12. If you sold fish, where did you sell your catch? (please check one for each outlet type, try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Guam Fishermen's Coop Roadside Seafood Vendor Retail Markets/Stores Hotels/Restaurants Friends/Neighbors/Coworkers Direct consumer sales (roadside, farmer's market, etc.) Other, please specify:

12. During 2024, could you usually sell all of the fish that you wanted to sell? (please check one for each fish type)

12. 

    Pelagic Fish Deepwater Bottomfish				Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish
    	Yes		Yes		Yes
    	No		No		No
    	I don't sell these fish		I don't sell these fish		I don't sell these fish

    
    

    If NO in Q18 – why not? (select all that apply)

Reef Fish

_Yes

_ No

_I don't sell these fish

• The price was not good

• Market did not want to buy any fish

• Too much hassle to sell fish

• Catch of non-target species

• _Fish too small/picky buyer

• _Other, please describe:

12. In 2024, what was the approximate value of all the fish you sold?

_ $1 - $100 _ $1,001 - $5,000

_ $101 - $500 _ $5,001 - $10,000

_ ^{$501 - $1,000}  ^{More than $10,000 About how much? $}

12. In 2024, what percent of the value of fish sold (question 20) came from the sale of pelagic fish, deepwater bottomfish, nearshore/ shallow bottomfish, and reef fish? (please check one for each fish type, try to add to 100%)

	None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)
Pelagic Fish
Deepwater Bottomfish
Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish

Reef Fish _{     }

12. In 2024, after expenses, what percent of your personal income came from the sale of fish?

None (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Some (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Most (60%-89%)	Almost all (90%-100%)

12. How important is the fish you catch as a source of food for your family? (please check one for each fish type)

Pelagic Fish Deepwater Bottomfish

Nearshore/Shallow Bottomfish Reef Fish

Not at all Important



Slightly Important









Moderately Important









Very Important









Extremely Important

I don't catch these fish









SECTION C. VESSEL AND GEAR

In this section we want to better understand the vessel and gear characteristics of Marianas’ fishing

24. Do you own the boat that you fished on in 2024? (if you fish only with kayak, check this box  YES				and treat kayak as boat below)
	NO If NO, do you always fish on the same boat?
		YES	Go to Q 32
		NO	Go to Q 32

If you own the boat / kayak you fish on:

25. What is the length of your boat? feet

26. What is the horsepower? hp

27. In what year was the boat built?

28. In 2024, how often did other people fish on your boat without you on the boat?

Never (0%)	Very little (1%-9%)	Sometimes (10%-39%)	About half (40%-59%)	Usually (60%-89%)	Almost always (90%-100%)

25. In what year did you purchase the boat you fished on in 2024?

(if homebuilt – when did you complete it?)

25. How much did you pay to purchase the boat you fish on? $

(If homebuilt – how much did it cost to build it?)

25. What is the current market value, in dollars, of the electronics you currently use to fish?

$

25. What is the current market value, in dollars, of the gear you currently use to fish (not including electronics)?

$

If you own the boat you fish on:

25. What is the current market value, in dollars, (considering age and current condition)

of your boat (including motor(s) and trailer, but not including electronics or gear mentioned above)?

If you own the boat you fish on: ^$

33b. What is the most recent year in which you made a major improvement to your boat

SECTION D. YOUR FISHING TRIP COSTS

We now want to understand what it costs to fish.

Please remember that all your answers are strictly confidential.

25. In 2024, what was the primary gear usage for your most common BOAT fishing trip (please check one)?

• Trolling

• Deepwater bottomfish

• ^Atulai _Other (please describe):

• Spear fishing (boat)

• Nearshore/shallow bottomfish _ Reef fishing with nets (boat)

25. On average, how did you pay for your fishing trip costs for your most common (question 34) gear type?

    • I paid all trip costs myself

    • I paid a fixed amount of $ per trip

    • I paid % of the total trip costs per trip

    • Other, please describe:

25. On average, what were the trip costs for your most common (question 34) gear type trip?

^{Type of Expenditure} Trip Expenditure ^{What type of fuel?}

Boat fuel

Truck fuel (round trip) Ice

Bait

Food and beverage

Daily maintenance and repair Gear lost (trip-specific)

Other, please specify:

^$  gas _diesel

^$  gas _diesel

$

$

$

$

$

$

25. In 2024, what was your second most common gear usage (please check one)?

• Trolling

• Deepwater bottomfish

• _Atulai

• _Spear fishing (boat)

_Other (please describe):

 Nearshore/shallow bottomfish _ Reef fishing with nets (boat)

25. On average, how did you pay for your fishing trip costs for your second most common (question 37) gear type?

    • _I paid all trip costs myself

    • _I paid a fixed amount of $ per trip

    • _I paid % of the total trip costs per trip

    • _Other, please describe:

25. On average, what were the trip costs for your second most common (question 37) gear type trip?

Boat fuel

^{Type of Expenditure Trip Expenditure} What type of fuel?

^$ _ gas _ diesel

Truck fuel (round trip) Ice

Bait

Food and beverage

Daily maintenance and repair Gear lost (trip-specific)

Other, please specify:

^$ _ gas _ diesel

$

$

$

$

$

$

SECTION E. OTHER FISHING EXPENDITURES IN 2024

In an effort to better understand your economic contribution to the Marianas’ economy, we would like to ask about your fishing-related expenditures in 2024.

In the table below please indicate how much, if any, was spent on the following items during 2024.

Enter “0” if you did not have any expenses in a category. Please do not leave any blank.

Remember that all your answers are strictly confidential.

Cost Category	2024 Expenditure (dollars) $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Boat insurance
Loan payments
Financial services (accounting, taxes)
Moorage fees
Repair, maintenance, and improvements for vessel, engines, or trailer
Oil and lube
Gear (lines, lures, gaffs, rods, electric/hydraulic reels, spears, wetsuits, coolers, etc.)
Electronics
Fees (Registration for truck and trailer, dry dock fees, fishing club dues, coop fees, etc.)
Safety Equipment
Other, please specify:

25. Some fishers purchase fishing gear, electronics, safety equipment or other items off-island, online, or through a catalog. Approximately what percentage of your expenditures were purchased off-island? %

SECTION F. ABOUT YOU

Different people have different fishing experiences and different motivations for fishing.

The following questions help us to better understand these differences.

25. What is your sex?

26. 

    	55 to 64 years
    	more than 64 years

    
    

    What is your age?

 Less than 25 years _ 35 to 44 years

 25 to 34 years _ 45 to 54 years

25. What village do you live in?

26. How long have you lived in the Marianas? years

27. How long have you fished from a boat? years

28. Are you a member of a fishing club/association/group? (please check all that apply)

    • 

      	Guam Fishermen's Cooperative Association (GFCA)
      	Guam Organization of Saltwater Anglers (GOSA)
      	Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club (MASC)
      	Other, please specify:

      
      

      Marianas Underwater Fishing Federation (MUFF)

    • Saipan Fishermen Association (SFA)

    • Halum Mamati Fishing Club (HMFC)

    • None

25. What is your race and/or ethnicity?

Please select all that apply and circle the relevant race/ethnicity example(s), or specify the appropriate one(s).

• American Indian or Alaska Native – For example, Navajo, Aztec, Maya, Eskimo, etc. _____________________________

• Asian – For example, Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, etc. __________________

• Black or African American – For example, African American, Jamaican, Haitian, etc. _____________________

• Hispanic or Latino – For example, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, etc. ______________________

• Middle Eastern or North African – For example, Moroccan, Yemeni, Kurdish, etc. ___________________

• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander – For example, Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Chamorro, Chuukese, Palauan, etc. _______________________

• White – For example, English, German, Irish, Italian, Scottish, etc. _______________________

25. How many hours per week do you work for pay (non-fishing)? hours

25. Are you currently employed?

Employed full-time

Employed part-time

_Student (full-time) _Retired

_Student (part-time) _Unemployed

Other, please specify:

25. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

	Less than 9th grade		Associates degree or technical school
	Some high school (no diploma)		College graduate (bachelor degree)
	High school graduate (including GED)		Advanced, professional, or doctoral degree
	Some college (no degree)

25. What was your total household income, before taxes, in 2024, including fishing income?

	Less than $2,500		$15,000 to $24,999		$50,000 to $74,999
	$2,500 to $4,999		$25,000 to $29,999		$75,000 to $99,999
	$5,000 to $9,999		$30,000 to $39,999		$100,000 or more
	$10,000 to $14,999		$40,000 to $49,999

SECTION G. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

25. Given your experience, do you think in the next year more people will be going… (please check one for each)

Pelagic Fishing Deepwater Nearshore/Sh
	Yes	Bottomfi 	sh Fishing Yes	Bottomf 	ish Fi Yes
	No		No		No

allow shing

Reef Fishing

_Yes

_ No

25. Why do you feel this way?

25. What are the top three (3) species you target …

	First	Second	Third
To sell
To eat at home
To give away

25. Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following statements:

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
As someone who fishes I am respected by the community Fishing is an important part of who I am Fishing is an important part of my culture					
					
					

25. How important are the following for managing fisheries in the Marianas?

Not at all Important		Slightly Important	Moderately Important	Very Important	Extremely Important
Rules are followed and enforced My voice is included in decision making Managers know how many fish there are Managers know how healthy the reef / other habitats are Managers know about the fishing community (fishers, income, culture, etc) Managers build/maintain fisheries infrastructure (boat ramps, harbors, etc.) Other, please specify:					
					
					
					
					
	 	 	 	 	 

25. 

    Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
    				
    				
    				
    				
     	 	 	 	 
    				

    
    

    Please state how much you agree or disagree that following management is being done well:

Rules are followed and enforced

My voice is included in decision making Managers know how many fish there are

Managers know how healthy the reef / other habitats are

Managers know about the fishing community (fishers, income, culture, etc) Managers build/maintain fisheries infrastructure (boat ramps, harbors, etc.) Other, please specify:

25. Please describe any significant changes you have noticed in fishing, ocean, or ecosystem conditions in recent years

25. Please describe how any of these changes have affected your fishing activities [in 2024] and how it may affect your fishing in the future

25. Do you have any suggestions for how the Marianas' fisheries should be managed or topics that you feel need further study?

2