The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) staff conducted shore-based creel surveys which have 2 major sub-surveys; one to estimate participation (fishing effort), and one to provide catch-rate (CPUE), species composition data, and size of fishes. As is the case for all of these shore-based surveys, shore-based means fishing without a powered boat and can include effort such as spearfishing. DFW made early attempts at shore-based creel surveying back in the early years, but many problems existed and there were limited resources available. It is not likely that the older data was converted from the Apple to the PC environment, but this needs to be checked. A new survey design was created and implemented in about 2005 and is continuing. It has mostly focused on the west coast lagoon side of Saipan but recently has been extended to the south and part of the west coast where some shoreline areas are accessible as well. These data are considered confidential.

This inport record serves as a repository for two PIFSC Human Dimensions projects that examined the role of compliance in Western Pacific Fisheries. The first project examined the 'seascape' of compliance or the scope of compliance issues in the Western Pacific Region. For this project, we conducted 29 unstructured interviews with compliance experts across the region and conducted a detailed literature review on scientific studies published on compliance in this geography. The second project used qualitative research methods (38 unstructured interviews with Hawaii longline captains, owner-operators, and crew) to better understand the role that Hawaii longline fishers play in further reducing protected species bycatch in the Hawaii longline fishery.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Creel surveys are operated by the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and are only on the island of Saipan. Creel surveys consist of 2 major sub-surveys, one to identify the level of fishing participation for each fishing method used in the Territory, and one to determine the catch rate, species composition, and sizes of fish (and invertebrates) for each fishing method and fishing sector. Boat-based surveys are access-point surveys and include all major and some minor ports and marinas where fishing boats launch or are berthed. Although some data may exist from versions of the surveys done back in the 1980s-1990s, due to data quality issues and lack of resources, the surveys were terminated for a number of years and the earlier data may not be very useful if it exists in computerized form. It is uncertain if the earlier data was converted to newer data systems or not. Due to limited resources, it was re-initiated for day-time only sampling in 2001 and then expanded to cover the full day in about 2005. It includes specialized participation and interview surveys as with other surveys and collects all the similar effort and catch parameters as other surveys. All fishing is done from relatively small boats and occurs relatively close to the islands. This is true for all fishing in all 4 of the island areas with the exception of the longline fisheries. These data are considered confidential.

Interview guides solicited fishers' experiences and perceptions of fishing practice, marine resource use, and marine ecosystems through time, as well as local resource management. Fishers across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota were selected based on their age and willingness to participate, with preferences for fishers over the age of 50, with at least 20 years of fishing experience in the Marianas, and who had sustained at least a weekly fishing practice at some point in their life. Between December 2009 and May 2010, 78 interviews were conducted in paired interviewer-notetaker teams consisting of DEQ, DCRM, and JIMAR staff. Discussions were conducted in English and Chamorro.

This dataset contains demographic, fishing practices, crew information about Crucian fishermen as well as their perceptions about the performance of local MPAs and seasonal closures.

The DMWR staff has also conducted shore-based creel surveys which also have 2 major sub-surveys; one to estimate participation (fishing effort), and one to provide catch-rate, species composition, and size frequency data. The amount of area covered by the surveys has varied over the years from just a central part of Tutuila to 3 separate routes on Tutuila plus sampling on the Manu'a Islands of Ofu-Olesega and Ta'u. There was a break in survey coverage for a number of years due to resource limitations, but surveys on Tutuila have been conducted again since about 2001. There has been some break in coverage over the years due to various hurricanes and a major tsunami, but generally speaking the surveys have been conducted routinely and in a fairly standardized manner. Not all areas of the islands are covered due to resource limitations. These data are considered confidential.

Data Contains info on Fishing Communities

This dataset includes qualitative interview data aggregated and entered into an excel csv file. We collected data by observing virtual Council-hosted meetings and conducting virtual unstructured interviews from September 2020 to July 2021. Interviewees were selected either for A) their participation in the 2015-16 Hawaiʻi bottomfish commercial fishery data workshops, or B) their knowledge of, contribution to, or direct participation in Guam’s bottomfish fisheries, fishery operations and data collection, stock assessment science, and subsequent management. Participants were identified through the 2015-16 workshop attendee list (Yau 2018) and the lead author’s points of contact within the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), the Guam Division of Aquatics and Wildlife Resources (DAWR), and Guam and Hawaiʻi fishing communities. Additional participants were identified through participant referral. A total of 42 stakeholders were interviewed. Data from interviews and participant observations were coded to track themes that emerged from the data. Data were coded to capture and organize themes relevant to multi-stakeholder engagement processes and the relationship between bottomfish fisheries, science, and management.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducted a survey of fisheries stakeholders on the Gulf and East Coasts of the United States seeking their views on ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) of fisheries resources. The survey asked a series of attitude and opinion questions along with general environmental literacy and demographic questions to a sample of 7,850 fisheries stakeholders, stratified by region. Results indicate that respondents’ knowledge of the status of fisheries resources is qualitatively similar to NMFS ratings, though generally respondents were less than satisfied with current fisheries management. Results also suggest that, despite concerns over several specific measures, respondents generally see potential in an EBFM approach to management.

This dataset includes qualitative interview data aggregated and entered into an excel csv file. Data were collected between September 2017 and June 2018. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 male West Hawaiʻi small boat fishers, ranging in age from 19-75 years. The interview guide addressed four broad themes: participant relationship to fishing and fishing history; information sharing in the fisheries of Hawaiʻi Island; shark interactions and handling practices; and fisher perceptions of local fisheries management and science. More specific questions elicited data around the kinds of fishing circumstances and habitats associated with fisher-shark interactions, what experiences and values might influence fisher perceptions and behavior, and the kinds of sharks fishers encounter.