A survey was conducted and implemented in Hawaii in 2010 to investigate consumer perceptions and preferences including consumer awareness concerning production methods (farm-raised vs. wild-caught), seafood labeling, and environmental issues. The survey also addresses food safety and nutrition, cultural traditions, consumption patterns, and taste and product form preferences. The data was collected through surveys online, at Times Supermarket locations and farmers' markets. 523 responses were collected: 183 online and 340 in-person. A conjoint analysis estimated willingness to pay across four different fish species, tuna, salmon, tilapia and moi (Pacific threadfin). This data can be used to determine species-specific attributes that affect consumers' willingness to pay and purchasing decisions.

Marine fisheries provide food, employment opportunities, and income for millions of people who live near the coast. Unprecedented levels of catch threaten fisheries across the globe, while demand for seafood continues to climb. Effective fisheries management could ensure reliable food supplies and mitigate adverse socio-economic impacts on regulated fishing communities. Specifying management actions – particularly the resource extraction activities (dis-)allowed – can be highly contentious, in part because biological, economic, social, and political objectives of stakeholders are often in direct conflict. Disputes over conflicting objectives are typically central to disagreements about the right way to manage the fishery, but often more complex social conflicts can also fuel disagreements. The Conflict Intervention Triangle is a framework that can be used for understanding and addressing three types of conflicts: substance, relationships, and process, where the last two are social conflicts. All three types of conflict were present in open-ended responses on a recurring National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey of small boat fishers. To better understand the relationship between these types of conflict, we developed a fishery-specific dictionary that can automate categorization of fishers’ responses by topic and type of conflict. The use of the automated content analysis approach provided a nuanced snapshot of the major conflicts in the Hawaiʻi small boat fishery and revealed concealed conflicts that are often ambiguous and less easy to express. We discuss the performance of the methodology used in creating and applying the dictionary to fishery datasets as well as advantages and disadvantages compared to manual content analysis.

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.

Data from 234 interviews of longline owners, captains, and crew collected during 2003-2004. Topics include personal history and demographic variables, involvement with the fishing industry, experience with and attitudes toward management and regulations, social networks, job satisfaction, and others.

To enable fisheries managers to comply with National Standard 8 (NS8), NMFS social scientists around the nation are preparing fishing community profiles that present the features and characteristics of such communities. PIFSC has published or is developing four such profiles: one each for Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

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.

This research employs a stated preference choice experiment survey of households in California, Oregon, and Washington to quantify public preferences and simulate a suite of different marine protected areas (MPA) designs and their associated values. The research pertains specifically to MPAs in U.S. federal waters (waters 3 to 200 miles from shore) off the coasts of California, Washington, and Oregon West Coast, hereafter referred to as west coast federal waters.

These data represent a cost-earnings study of the main Hawaiian Island Charter fishing fleet in 2012. Data collected include fisher classification, vessel characteristics, levels of investment, trip-level expenditures, fishing behavior, market participation, social aspects of the fishery, and demographics.

These data represent a cost-earnings study of the Main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery for the 2010 operating year. Data collected include fisher classification, vessel characteristics, levels of investment, trip-level expenditures, fishing behavior, market participation, social aspects of the fishery, and demographics. Additionally, attitudes and perceptions towards fisheries management agencies and current and future management tools are described.

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.