A series of expenditure surveys have been done both regionally and nationally. This data pertains to the Northeast U.S. states that was collected in 1998. Expenditures on trips by mode (for-hire, private boat, and shore) were collected for both residents and non-residents of each state, and annual expenditures on durable goods were collected by resident status. Expenditures were collected both as an add-on to the intercept, and a followup phone survey with those who completed the intercept and a separate random sample of households.

Revealed preference models provide insights into recreational angler behavior and the economic value of recreational fishing trips. This data is for the Northeast and is collected as needed, at irregular intervals. Typically collected as an economic add-on to the MRIP intercept survey and follow up phone or mail survey.

Nearly 1.6 million passengers fished aboard for-hire recreational fishing vessels during 2011 in the Northeast United States (ME - NC). While the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regularly collects detailed catch, effort, and expenditure information from anglers fishing aboard for-hire vessels, no data are collected about the business structure and costs of the marine for-hire fishing industry operating in the Northeast. This study is intended to fill that gap. Survey results show that the overall financial condition of marine recreational for-hire fishing businesses in the Northeast is mixed. Assets exceed liabilities by over four times for the average charter and head boat, and over 90% of charter and head boat owners carry insurance coverage. This implies that a rather strong financial for-hire fishing fleet exists in the Northeast. The results also reveal that the average charter boat produced only a little over $5.1 thousand in net income in 2010 and that over half of the charter boats in the Northeast actually incurred higher expenses than revenues in 2010. In contrast, the average head boat generated over $95.1 thousand in net income in 2010 although median net income per head boat was lower at $50.1 thousand. In addition to providing a detailed overview of the operating structure of the "average" Northeast for-hire head boat and charter boat, we constructed an input-output model to estimate the economic activity that for-hire businesses contribute to the Northeast's economy as measured by total employment, labor income, and sales. Model results show that in 2010 the for-hire industry earned $140.3 million in revenue, generated $50.4 million in income to owners, hired captains, crew/mates, and office staff, and employed over 6,200 individuals. The multiplier effects of this activity were substantial. An additional $193.7 million in sales, $66.5 million in income, and 1,290 jobs in other businesses in the Northeast were supported by the for-hire industry through indirect and induced transactions. Service businesses (real estate, food services, marinas, repair shops, etc.), wholesale and retail trade businesses (sporting goods stores, bait shops, gas stations, etc.), and manufacturing businesses (fishing gear manufactures, fuel refineries, commercial fishermen [bait], etc.) were the enterprises most reliant on the for-hire fleet. Over 700 service sector jobs, 360 wholesale and retail trade jobs, and 63 manufacturing jobs were dependent upon the for-hire fleet in the Northeast in 2010. In total, an estimated 7,530 jobs, in the overall Northeast regional economy, were supported by the active for-hire fleet in 2010.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Social Sciences Branch (SSB) conducted a survey of vessel owners participating in commercial fisheries in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. The survey was mailed to approximately 1,400 vessel owners holding federal fishing permits in New England and the Mid-Atlantic on September 13, 2013. As of January 13, 2014, 157 surveys were returned (138 by mail and 19 online).

The data set contains trip-level and annual expense and revenue variables. The trip-level survey collects information about dockside revenues and operating costs associated with individual fishing trips. The annual survey requests information about revenues and fixed costs on an annual basis.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Social Sciences Branch (SSB) completed a survey of crew, including hired captains, participating in commercial fisheries in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. The purpose of the survey effort was to collect data that would contribute to the development of fisheries performance measures, with a emphasis on collecting data for social performance measures in the areas of governance, stewardship, and well-being. The survey began in October 2012 and concluded in 2013. Commercial fishing vessel crew were intercepted at several selected fishing ports from the region, and asked to participate in the survey. Participating crew members were interviewed orally using a standardized set of survey questions, with the interview entering the crew member's responses on a hand held tablet. By the close of the survey, 400 interviews were completed.

To assist the Caribbean Fishery Management Council in managing marine living resources in the United States Virgin Islands, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) collected economic cost data from commercial fishermen in July 2014. Surveys were administered in-person during the annual registration process. Per-trip and fixed cost estimates are included. This data set includes survey results merged with individual landings from the territorial governments logbook program. Summary results and forms can be found at http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/socialscience/CrossonUSVI2015.htm

Revealed preference models provide insights into recreational angler behavior and the economic value of recreational fishing trips. Revealed preference data is typically collected by intercept and/or phone follow up calls. Typical variables include length of the trip (day or overnight), household income, whether or not angler took time off of work, and primary purpose of overall trip. Sometimes trip expenditures are included as well.

Stated preference choice experiment data were collected in conjunction with NMFS’ Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) along the coastal states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts during 2014. All anglers intercepted in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts for NMFS' Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) intercept survey were asked to participate in a voluntary follow-up mail survey. Anglers who agreed to participate in the follow-up were sent mail questionnaires using a modified Dillman Tailored Design. The choice experiment survey asked anglers that have targeted Gulf of Maine cod, haddock, or pollock to simultaneously compare features of different hypothetical fishing trips and then to choose the trip they liked best. The features or attributes varied across trips and included bag and size limits of each species, the number of legal-sized fish caught of each species, the number of sub-legal sized fish caught of each species, the number of other types of fish that were legally kept, the trip length in hours, and the total trip cost. Respondents were also permitted to choose an opt-out option which was “Do something else: Freshwater fishing, Saltwater fishing for species other than cod, haddock and pollock, or don't go fishing.” The collection of choice responses from the various choice scenarios allows for the examination of tradeoffs and behavioral responses to various biological and regulatory changes. A total of 1,763 surveys were mailed out and 481 completed mail surveys were returned for a response rate of 27%.

To collect data on an angler's last trip for revealed preference models and economic valuation purposes. Typically done as an add-on to the MRIP intercept survey and done as needed, periodically