NOAA Expands Survey of Sportfishing Expenditures; Hawaii to be Included in 2006

December 6, 2005

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries Service is preparing to launch its nationwide Sport Fishing Expenditure Survey. While anglers in all coastal states will be asked about their spending habits, 2006 marks the first time the survey will be conducted in Hawaii. Performed in partnership with State of Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources, the survey will help estimate the contributions of Hawaii's recreational fishermen to the economy.

Beginning in January, every fisherman who is interviewed dockside by the Hawaii Marine Recreational Fisheries Survey will receive a series of questions about their current fishing trip and the money they spent on that trip. They will also be asked to participate in a longer follow-up mail survey that collects information on annual expenditures and durable goods, like boats, trailers, rods and reels. These data will allow NOAA Fisheries Service to estimate daily expenditures by fishing mode (i.e. private boat, charter, shore) and resident type (resident and non-resident). There will also be detailed estimates of average expenditures per trip, average annual expenses per fisherman on durable goods (boat, cars) and economic impacts for the State of Hawaii, including how many jobs are supported by recreational fishing and the contribution of Hawaii's recreational fishing to the nation's gross domestic product.

NOAA staff held meetings in Kona over the weekend to introduce the survey to Hawaiian fishermen. The next meeting will take place on December 6, at the McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Park, Honolulu from 6-8pm. Additional meeting dates and locations will be published in a future issue of FishNews.

For more information on recreational data collection in Hawaii, contact Nicole.Bartlett@noaa.gov, or call (808) 944-2151.