NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-116

West Coast Open Access 

Groundfish and Salmon 

Troller Survey

Protocol and Results for 2005 and 2006

March 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Northwest Fisheries Science Center
NOAA Technical Memorandum

NMFS-NWFSC Series

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center of the National 

Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, uses the NOAA Technical 

Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC series to issue scientific and 

technical publications. Manuscripts have been peer reviewed 

and edited. Documents published in this series may be cited 

in the scientific and technical literature.

The NMFS-NWFSC Technical Memorandum series of the 

Northwest Fisheries Science Center continues the NMFSF/NWC series established in 1970 by the Northwest & 

Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which has since been split 

into the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska 

Fisheries Science Center. The NMFS-AFSC Technical 

Memorandum series is now used by the Alaska Fisheries 

Science Center.

Reference throughout this document to trade names does not 

imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, 

NOAA.

This document should be referenced as follows:

Lian, C.E. 2012. West Coast open access groundfish and 

salmon troller survey: Protocol and results for 2005 and 

2006. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFSNWFSC-116, 52 p.
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-116

West Coast Open Access 

Groundfish and Salmon 

Troller Survey

Protocol and Results for 2005 and 2006

Carl E. Lian

Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division

2725 Montlake Boulevard East

Seattle, Washington 98112

March 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service
Most NOAA Technical Memorandums

NMFS-NWFSC are available at the 

Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Web site, http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov

Copies are also available from the

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Phone orders: 1-800-553-6847

E-mail orders: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

ii
iii

Table of Contents

List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ v

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... vii

Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................ ix

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1

2. Survey Design .......................................................................................................................................... 2

2.1. Survey Population and Sample ......................................................................................................... 2

2.2. Questionnaire Development ............................................................................................................. 3

3. Survey Fielding Protocol ......................................................................................................................... 5

3.1. Fielding Schedule ............................................................................................................................. 5

3.2. Maximizing Response Rates ............................................................................................................ 5

4. Survey Response Rates ............................................................................................................................ 7

5. Comparing Respondents and Nonrespondents ........................................................................................ 8

5.1. Data Used to Test for Nonresponse Bias .......................................................................................... 8

5.2. Comparison Results .......................................................................................................................... 8

5.3. Statistical Tests for Nonresponse Bias ............................................................................................. 9

5.4. Correcting for Nonresponse Bias.................................................................................................... 10

6. Empirical Results ................................................................................................................................... 12

6.1. Costs and Earnings during 2005 ..................................................................................................... 13

6.2. Costs and Earnings during 2006 ..................................................................................................... 14

6.3. Calculating Economic Net Revenue and Quasi-rents from Survey Data ....................................... 15

6.4. Costs, Earnings, Quasi-rents, and Economic Net Revenue ............................................................ 16

6.5. Crew Size, Fuel Use, and Speed ..................................................................................................... 17

6.6. Owner as Captain ............................................................................................................................ 17

7. Concluding Comments ........................................................................................................................... 18

Tables 1–38 ................................................................................................................................................. 19

References ................................................................................................................................................... 43

Appendix A: Open Access Groundfish Survey Questionnaire ................................................................... 45

Appendix B: Salmon Troller Survey Questionnaire ................................................................................... 49
iv
v 

List of Tables

Table 1. Survey population and survey sample vessel physical characteristics and revenue from 

landings in Washington, Oregon, and California ........................................................................................ 19

Table 2. Survey response by vessel type, state, and revenue ..................................................................... 20

Table 3. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for open access 

groundfish and salmon troller 2005 survey (all vessel types) respondents and nonrespondents ................ 21

Table 4. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

crabber respondents and nonrespondents .................................................................................................... 21

Table 5. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

groundfish fixed gear respondents and nonrespondents ............................................................................. 22

Table 6. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

“other greater than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents .................................................................. 22

Table 7. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

“other less than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents ....................................................................... 23

Table 8. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

sablefish fixed gear respondents and nonrespondents ................................................................................ 23

Table 9. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

salmon troller respondents and nonrespondents ......................................................................................... 24

Table 10. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for open access 

groundfish and salmon troller 2006 survey (all vessel types) respondents and nonrespondents ................ 24

Table 11. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

crabber respondents and nonrespondents .................................................................................................... 25

Table 12. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

groundfish fixed gear respondents and nonrespondents ............................................................................. 25

Table 13. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

“other greater than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents .................................................................. 26

Table 14. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

“other less than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents ....................................................................... 26

Table 15. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

sablefish fixed gear $15,000 respondents and nonrespondents .................................................................. 27

Table 16. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

salmon troller respondents and nonrespondents ......................................................................................... 27

Table 17. Two sample t-tests of statistical significance for differences between respondents and 

nonrespondents in the 2005 survey ............................................................................................................. 28

Table 18. Two sample t-tests of statistical significance for differences between respondents and 

nonrespondents in the 2006 survey ............................................................................................................. 29
vi

Table 19. Cost and earnings by category for all vessel types in the 2005 survey, based on 168 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 30

Table 20. Cost and earnings by category for crabber in the 2005 survey, based on 18 observations ....... 30

Table 21. Cost and earnings by category for groundfish fixed gear in the 2005 survey, based on 13 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 31

Table 22. Cost and earnings by category for “other greater than $15,000” in the 2005 survey, based 

on two observations .................................................................................................................................... 31

Table 23. Cost and earnings by category for “other less than $15,000” in the 2005 survey, based on 

51 observations ........................................................................................................................................... 32

Table 24. Cost and earnings by category for sablefish fixed gear in the 2005 survey, based on five 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 32

Table 25. Cost and earnings by category for salmon troller in the 2005 survey, based on 76 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 33

Table 26. Cost and earnings by category for all vessel types in the 2006 survey, based on 168 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 33

Table 27. Cost and earnings by category for crabber in the 2006 survey, based on 32 observations ....... 34

Table 28. Cost and earnings by category for groundfish fixed gear in the 2006 survey, based on 10 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 34

Table 29. Cost and earnings by category for “other greater than $15,000” in the 2006 survey, based 

on five observations .................................................................................................................................... 35

Table 30. Cost and earnings by category for “other less than $15,000” in the 2006 survey, based on 

77 observations ........................................................................................................................................... 35

Table 31. Cost and earnings by category for sablefish fixed gear in the 2006 survey, based on six 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 36

Table 32. Cost and earnings by category for salmon troller in the 2006 survey, based on 27 

observations ................................................................................................................................................ 36

Table 33. Revenue, costs, quasi-rents, and net revenue per vessel in the 2005 survey ............................. 37

Table 34. Revenue, costs, quasi-rents, and net revenue per vessel in the 2006 survey ............................. 37

Table 35. Crew size, fuel use, and speed in the 2005 survey ..................................................................... 38

Table 36. Crew size, fuel use, and speed in the 2006 survey ..................................................................... 40

Table 37. Share for captain, crew, and vessel for the percent of trips where owner serves as captain 

in the 2005 survey ....................................................................................................................................... 42

Table 38. Share for captain, crew, and vessel for the percent of trips where owner serves as captain 

in the 2006 survey ....................................................................................................................................... 42
vii

Executive Summary

This technical memorandum describes the fielding protocols and empirical results from 

an economic cost earnings survey of the West Coast open access groundfish and salmon troller 

fleets. The survey was conducted by the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division of 

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in cooperation with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries 

Commission (PSMFC). The population of interest for this survey was all active commercial 

fishing vessels that 1) landed at least $2,500 of salmon and groundfish combined at West Coast 

ports during 2005 and 2006, 2) had at least one trip on which groundfish and salmon accounted 

for a majority of landings revenue, and 3) did not hold a limited entry groundfish permit. Due to 

the large size of the non-tribal commercial fleet and the difficulty of obtaining contact 

information for tribal vessel owners, the survey only covered non-tribal commercial fishing 

vessels. There were 1,152 vessels that met these requirements and were included in the survey 

population. Vessels with less than $2,500 of combined groundfish and salmon revenue during 

the 2 years were considered too small to justify the expense of including them in the survey 

population. 

The survey sample consisted of the 532 vessels for which sufficient contact information 

(name, address, and telephone number) was available for the vessel owner. Each of the 532 

vessels in the survey sample was assigned to either the in-person survey sample or the telephone 

survey sample. Vessels with more than $25,000 of combined groundfish and salmon landings 

during 2005 and 2006 were assigned to the in-person survey sample. Vessels with less than 

$25,000 of combined groundfish and salmon landings during 2005 and 2006 were sorted in order 

of total groundfish and salmon landings during 2005 and 2006. Every third vessel owner was 

assigned to the in-person survey sample while the remaining two-thirds of vessels owners were

assigned to the telephone survey. The in-person survey sample included 349 vessel owners; the 

telephone survey sample included 133 vessel owners. 

The survey was fielded by the PSMFC and its subcontractors, ORC Macro and Gilmore 

Research. In-person and telephone interviews were completed with the owners of 168 of the 532 

vessels in the survey sample, a 32% response rate. The response rate was higher for the inperson interview sample (39%) than the telephone interview sample (25%). 

The 168 responses were used for statistical inference of operating costs, revenue from 

sources other than West Coast landings, and vessel operating characteristics (such as crew size 

and fuel consumption). Data collected from the survey were combined with economic data 

available from other sources, such as the Pacific Fisheries Information Network, to provide 

harvester revenues and costs at the vessel level. This document presents the results of this 

statistical inference for the entire open access groundfish and salmon troll fleet as well as the

primary vessel types within the fleet. Primary vessel types within the survey population include 

crabbers, other (non-sablefish) groundfish fixed gear vessels, other greater than $15,000 vessels, 

other less than $15,000 vessels, sablefish fixed gear vessels, and salmon trollers. 
viii

Tests for nonresponse bias indicated that differences between survey respondents and 

nonrespondents did not justify weighting survey responses to correct for nonresponse bias. 

During 2005 the average survey respondent had West Coast landings revenue of $42,151 and the 

average nonrespondent had West Coast landings revenue of $38,523. During 2006, the average 

survey respondent had West Coast landings revenue of $41,074 and the average nonrespondent 

had West Coast landings revenue of $43,885. 

Changes in revenue earned and costs incurred by respondents reflect both the Klamath 

River salmon disaster that reduced salmon trolling off the California and Oregon coasts and the 

unusually large West Coast crab harvest during 2006. Over half the vessels that earned a 

majority of their revenue from salmon trolling during 2005 changed their fishing behavior during 

2006 and earned a majority of their revenue from crab, groundfish, or highly migratory species. 

Data collected by this survey show that the 2006 Klamath River salmon disaster not only 

affected the economic performance of vessels in the salmon troll fishery, but also had an adverse 

impact on other fisheries. While all vessel types operating in the crab, groundfish, and salmon 

fishery earned positive economic net revenue during 2005, only vessels operating primarily in 

the crab fishery earned a positive economic net revenue during 2006. During 2005 the average 

crabber earned economic net revenue of $33,471. Within the open access groundfish fishery, 

economic net revenues were lower, with sablefish vessels earning an average economic net 

revenue of $14,476 while other groundfish fixed gear vessels earned an average economic net 

revenue of $1,506. The average salmon troller earned a small positive economic net revenue of 

$457. 

Economic net revenue declined for every vessel type in the survey population during 

2006. The economic net revenue for the average crabber remained positive, but declined from 

$33,471 in 2005 to $26,240 in 2006. Economic net revenue for sablefish vessels declined from 

$14,476 in 2005 to –$5,217 in 2006. Economic net revenue for other groundfish fixed gear 

vessels declined from $1,506 in 2005 to –$3,243 in 2006. For those vessels that continued to 

operate as salmon trollers during 2006, average economic net revenue declined to –$3,449. The 

reduced harvest in the salmon fishery during 2006 not only decreased the profitability and 

number of vessels operating in the salmon fishery, but also adversely affected the economic 

performance of vessels in other fisheries (such as crab, groundfish, and tuna) to which vessels 

exiting the salmon fishery entered. 
ix

Acknowledgments

The cost earnings survey described in this document was developed through 

collaboration and consultation with numerous individuals. The following individuals made 

important contributions to the survey design, fielding protocol, analysis of data, or reporting of 

data: Leif Anderson, Isaac Kaplan, Todd Lee, Jerry Leonard, and Mark Plummer, Northwest 

Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC); Dave Colpo, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission 

(PSMFC); and Stephen Freese, NMFS Northwest Regional Office. NWFSC and PSMFC also 

thank all of the vessel owners who volunteered their time and data for the survey. 
x 
1. Introduction

This technical memorandum describes the survey design and fielding protocol for the 

cost earnings survey of the West Coast open access groundfish and salmon troller fleets, which 

was conducted by the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division of the Northwest 

Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) in cooperation with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries 

Commission (PSMFC). Summary statistics computed with data collected through the survey are 

provided with accompanying discussion. The survey was fielded between October 2007 and 

December 2007 and collected data for the 2005 and 2006 fiscal years.

Section 2 discusses survey design and questionnaire development. Section 3 discusses 

survey fielding, focusing on the development of contact information, methods used to contact 

survey participants, and techniques used to collect information from survey respondents. Section 

4 discusses response rates. Section 5 compares respondents and nonrespondents and summarizes 

the results of tests for nonresponse bias. Section 6 discusses the issue of correcting for 

nonresponse bias. Section 7 presents empirical results obtained from analysis of the survey data. 

Section 8 provides concluding remarks.
2 

2. Survey Design

This survey was designed to provide economic data on vessels that participate in the 

West Coast open access groundfish and salmon troll fisheries and do not hold limited entry 

groundfish permits. Vessels holding a limited entry groundfish permit were covered by a 

separate survey. The objective of this survey was to obtain vessel level information on earnings 

and expenditures needed to support the calculation of economic performance measures (such as 

net earnings and efficiency) as well as economics.

2.1. Survey Population and Sample

The population of interest for this survey was all non-tribal commercial fishing vessels 

that 1) landed at least $2,500 of salmon and groundfish at West Coast ports during 2005 and 

2006, 2) had at least one trip on which groundfish and salmon accounted for a majority of 

revenue from landings, and 3) did not hold a limited entry groundfish permit. There were 1,152 

vessels that met these requirements and were included in the survey population. Vessels with 

less than $2,500 combined landings of groundfish and salmon during the 2 years were 

considered too small to justify the expense of including them in the survey population. Vessels 

were required to have at least one trip where groundfish and salmon account for a majority of 

revenue in order to avoid surveying vessels that only caught groundfish and salmon as bycatch. 

Fielding a survey requires contact information on each vessel owner, the members of the 

survey population. Because completing the survey requires knowledge of financial and physical 

operating characteristics of the vessel, the vessel owner may in some cases direct questions to his 

or her accountant or a hired captain. While data were collected in some instances from hired 

captains or an accountant, the vast majority of interviews were conducted with the vessel owner. 

This survey did not collect data from crew members.

Vessel registration data provided the name and address of each vessel owner in the 

survey population. However, vessel registration information did not provide telephone numbers 

for each owner. As a result, a search of public records was undertaken to obtain telephone 

numbers for as many members of the survey population as possible. Telephone numbers were 

obtained for 532 of the 1,152 members of the survey population. The survey population did not 

include tribal fishing vessels due to difficulties in creating a contact list.

Since West Coast landings data and vessel physical characteristics are available for all 

1,152 vessels in the survey population, it was possible to test for differences between the 532 

vessels in the survey sample and the 620 vessels not in the survey sample (but in the survey 

population). These tests were performed using a two sample t-test. As shown in Table 1, the 

difference between vessels in the survey sample and vessels omitted from the survey sample (due 

to lack of a telephone number) was statistically significant at the 95% confidence level for vessel 

length and net tonnage. In both cases, vessels included in the survey sample were smaller than 
3 

those not included in the survey sample. While statistically significant, the difference in length 

was small; vessels in the survey sample had a mean length of 33.4 feet and vessels not in the 

survey sample had a mean length of 35.4 feet. Vessels included in the survey sample and 

members of the survey population excluded from the survey sample did not exhibit statistically 

significant differences in engine horsepower.

Comparison of revenue from West Coast landings during 2005 indicates that vessels 

included in the sample had significantly higher (at the 95% confidence level) groundfish 

landings than vessels not included in the sample, but that revenue from landings of crab and 

salmon were not significantly different. While the difference in revenue from groundfish 

landings for vessels in the survey sample and vessels excluded from the survey sample was 

statistically significant, it was only $1,250. Vessels included in the survey sample averaged 

$5,557 from groundfish landings during 2005 while vessels excluded from the survey sample 

averaged $4,307 from groundfish landings. 

Each of the 532 vessels in the survey sample was assigned to either the in-person survey 

sample or the telephone survey sample. Vessels with more than $25,000 of combined groundfish 

and salmon landings during 2005 and 2006 were assigned to the in-person survey population. 

Vessels with less than $25,000 of combined groundfish and salmon landings during 2005 and 

2006 were sorted in order of total groundfish and salmon landings during 2005 and 2006. Every 

third vessel was assigned to the in-person survey, while the remaining two-thirds were assigned 

to the telephone survey. 

The in-person survey sample included 349 vessels owners; the telephone survey sample 

included 132 vessel owners. By using both in-person interviews and telephone interviews to 

collect data, an attempt was made to balance the higher response rate expected from in-person 

interviews and the lower cost of telephone interviews. Since the previous limited entry survey 

had achieved satisfactory response rates with in-person interviews and this was the first survey to 

attempt collecting cost earnings data via telephone interviews, the size of the telephone interview 

sample was limited in order to increase the likelihood of a satisfactory response rate.1

2.2. Questionnaire Development 

The final questionnaire used for this survey is very similar in format and content to the 

questionnaire used for the previously conducted limited entry trawl and fixed gear survey. 

Because some vessel types which operate in the limited entry fishery (such as sablefish fixed 

gear and crabbers) also operate in the open access groundfish and salmon troller survey 

population, it is often necessary to use data from both surveys to perform analytical studies. In 

order to combine data from multiple surveys for analytical studies, it is important to keep the 

questionnaire as similar as possible across surveys. Some small changes were made to account 

for known differences in the survey populations. For example, it is known that among the open 

access groundfish and salmon troller survey population (in contrast to the limited entry survey 

population) there will be no vessels targeting groundfish with trawl gear and there will be many 

vessels that do not target groundfish at all.

 

1 For a discussion of survey methodology and response rates in the limited entry survey see Lian (2010).
4 

Two versions of the questionnaire were used for this survey. The versions differed in 

whether they asked about the crew compensation method used when the vessel was operating in 

the groundfish or the salmon fishery. Vessels with more revenue during 2005 and 2006 from 

groundfish than salmon landings received a version of the questionnaire asking about crew 

compensation when the vessel operated in the groundfish fishery. This version of the 

questionnaire is presented in Appendix A. Vessels with more revenue during 2005 and 2006 

from salmon than groundfish landings received a version of the questionnaire asking about crew 

compensation when the vessel operated in the salmon fishery. This version of the questionnaire 

is presented in Appendix B. 
5 

3. Survey Fielding Protocol

This section describes the protocol used to field the survey and collect data from 

respondents. Particular emphasis was placed on implementing protocol that would maximize 

response rates. Steps taken to maximize response rates are discussed in subsection 3.2. 

3.1. Fielding Schedule

Fielding began with each member of the survey sample receiving a package by mail 

containing an introductory letter describing the survey, a one-page description of reasons for 

conducting the survey, and a copy of the questionnaire (Appendix A). For members of the inperson sample, enclosing the questionnaire gave recipients an opportunity to see firsthand the 

data being collected by the survey and collect it prior to the in-person interview. Members of the 

in-person and telephone samples were told that they could call a provided phone number to 

schedule an interview, or that they would be contacted to schedule the interview. 

About 2 weeks after the letter and questionnaire mailing, attempts began to contact each 

survey recipient by telephone to schedule an in-person or telephone interview. During the 

following 3 weeks, up to 6 additional attempts were made to contact each member of the survey 

population until an interview date was scheduled. Interviews moved across geographic areas 

over time, so as to reduce travel costs involved in conducting in-person interviews. Interviews 

were conducted at a location chosen by the respondent; the most frequent interview locations 

were the respondent’s residence, vessel, or a restaurant.

Interviewers used the questionnaire during the in-person interviews, asking some 

additional follow-up questions when appropriate. For example, interviewers were prompted to 

ask questions about the nature of repair and maintenance expenses when survey respondents 

reported large repair and maintenance expenditures.

The survey was fielded by PSMFC and its subcontractors, ORC Macro and Gilmore 

Research. Survey fielding began in October 2007 and was completed in December 2007. Data 

were collected through both in-person interviews and telephone interviews. Gilmore Research 

provided the two interviewers who conducted all in-person interviews and assisted with day-today management of field activities by the in-person interviewers. ORC Macro conducted 

telephone interviews, developed the computer assisted telephone interview document used 

during the telephone interviews, provided software and hardware for data entry during survey 

fielding, and constructed the SAS database in which survey data were delivered to PSMFC and 

NMFS.

3.2. Maximizing Response Rates

A number of methods were used to maximize survey response rates. First, the survey 

was short, consisting of only four pages in written form. Data collection through the in-person 
6 

and telephone interview usually took less than 1 hour. Second, respondents were asked only to 

provide information about major cost and earnings categories, thus avoiding what may seem to 

survey respondents like unnecessary detail. Third, most of the data were collected through inperson interviews, which typically have higher response rates than mail or telephone surveys. 

Fourth, there were extensive follow-up telephone calls and mailings after the initial 

letter/questionnaire mailing in order to schedule in-person interviews and obtain responses. 

These follow-up telephone calls were distributed among weekend/weekday and day/evening time 

periods to maximize the likelihood of reaching the contact person. 
7 

4. Survey Response Rates

Table 2 presents a summary of survey response rates. Survey responses were received 

from 135 of the 349 vessel owners in the in-person survey sample (a 39% response rate) and 33 

of the 133 vessel owners in the telephone survey sample (a 25% response rate). In total 168 

responses were received from the 532 vessel owners in the survey sample (a 32% response rate). 

Since the survey population consisted of 1,152 vessels, survey responses were received from 

15% of the survey population. 

Table 2 also presents response rates by vessel type, geographic location, and revenue 

from 2005 West Coast landings. The vessel type definitions follow those of Radtke and Davis.2 

Vessels were assigned to categories based on 2005 landings data and 2006 landings data from 

the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN). Because of the 2006 salmon disaster,3

many vessels classified as salmon trollers in 2005 were classified as crabbers, other less than

$15,000, or highly migratory species vessels in 2006 as they moved out of the salmon fishery. 

Response rates show some variation across vessel types. Among the vessel types with at 

least 50 vessels in the survey population, survey response rates ranged between 25% for other 

less than $15,000 and 41% for salmon trollers. Salmon trollers exhibit the highest response rates 

among vessel types, with a response rate of 41% in 2005 and 39% in 2006. 

Response rates rise as revenue from 2005 West Coast landings rises. The higher 

response rate observed in Washington relative to Oregon and California also reflects higher 

average 2005 West Coast landings of Washington vessels in the survey sample. Response rates 

rose from 27% for vessels with less than $25,000 of revenue from 2005 West Coast landings to 

43% for vessels with more than $100,000 from 2005 West Coast landings. The positive 

correlation between West Coast landings revenue and response rates is much weaker during 

2006.4

 

2 See Radtke and Davis (2000), p.55. Within the population of vessels covered by this survey, the primary vessel 

types are crabbers, groundfish fixed gear, other less than $15,000, sablefish, and salmon trollers. All vessels landing 

less than $15,000 of fish on the West Coast during a calendar year are classified as other less than $15,000 vessels, 

regardless of the species composition of their landings.

3 Salmon harvesting off the Oregon and northern California coast was severely restricted during 2006 due to poor 

returns of spawning Klamath River salmon. Because salmon fishermen could not harvest salmon from the more 

plentiful Columbia River and Sacramento River stocks without also harvesting some of the Klamath River stocks in 

this area, ocean salmon harvesting with troll gear was much lower in 2006 than 2005. For vessels in the survey 

population, salmon landings decreased from $18.8 million in 2005 to $8.2 million in 2006. This reduction in 2006 

landings of troll caught salmon is referred to as the 2006 salmon disaster. 4 Two events had a major effect on revenue from West Coast landings for many vessels. First, salmon troll landings 

decreased sharply during 2006 due to the salmon disaster. Second, 2006 was a year of unusually high revenue from 

crab landings on the West Coast. As a result, many vessels in the $25,000 to $100,000 West Coast landings revenue 

category during 2005 moved into either the less than $25,000 revenue category during 2006 (due to the reduction in 

salmon troll landings) or into the more than $100,000 category (due to the increase in crab landings).
8 

5. Comparing Respondents and 

Nonrespondents 

A considerable amount of information about vessel characteristics and landings for each 

member of the survey population is available from federal and state vessel registration records 

and PacFIN landings data. This information can be used to compare respondents and 

nonrespondents and perform tests to determine whether differences between them are 

statistically significant. This section compares vessel physical characteristics and revenue from 

landings for respondents and nonrespondents. 

5.1. Data Used to Test for Nonresponse Bias

Data on vessel physical characteristics, West Coast landings (by species, gear type, and 

port), and revenue from West Coast landings (also by species, gear type, and port) are available 

for all survey population members. Available information on vessel characteristics includes 

vessel length and horsepower. PacFIN provides vessel-level information on West Coast 

(Washington, Oregon, and California) landings by date, species, gear type, and port for all 

vessels in the survey population. As a result, it is possible to compare respondents and 

nonrespondents with regard to seasonal patterns, species landed, and location of landings. 

5.2. Comparison Results

Vessel physical characteristics and landings revenue for survey respondents and 

nonrespondents are compared in Table 3 through Table 16. In these tables, survey 

nonrespondents include both those vessels included in the survey sample that did not respond to 

the survey and those vessels that were omitted from the survey sample due to lack of a phone 

number. The survey respondents and survey nonrespondents contain every vessel in the survey 

population, whether or not the vessel was in the survey sample. As a result, these tables compare 

those vessels that did respond to the survey with all vessels that did not respond to the survey. 

Table 3 through Table 9 compare survey respondents and nonrespondents during 2005. Table 10 

through Table 16 compare survey respondents and nonrespondents during 2006. 

Because many vessels changed vessel classification between 2005 and 2006, results for 

the 2 years are discussed separately. While Table 3 through Table 16 provide a comparison of 

respondents during 2005 and 2006, they do not provide tests of the statistical significance of 

differences between respondents and nonrespondents. Such tests are provided in Table 17 and 

Table 18 and discussed in subsection 5.3. 

Table 3 provides a comparison of respondents and nonrespondents for the entire survey 

population during 2005. Respondents had higher levels of groundfish, crab, and salmon landings 

than nonrespondents. As a result, the mean value of West Coast landings of all species was 

$42,151 for survey respondents and $36,623 for nonrespondents during 2005. Survey 

respondents had slightly larger engines (189 horsepower vs. 184 horsepower) than 

nonrespondents. Table 10 shows that respondents had lower levels of groundfish and crab 

landings than nonrespondents during 2006, and as a result the value of all West Coast landings 
9 

was lower for survey respondents than nonrespondents during 2006 ($41,074 for respondents vs.

$43,885 for nonrespondents). 

For certain vessel types, survey respondents had higher revenue from West Coast 

landings than nonrespondents. This was true for crabbers ($116,479 for respondents vs.

$102,703 for nonrespondents), other groundfish fixed gear ($49,694 vs. $39,079), and other 

vessels with less than $15,000 ($7,958 vs. $6,598) during 2005. Respondents had lower revenue 

from all West Coast landings than nonrespondents for sablefish fixed gear ($38,850 vs. $39,382, 

respectively) and salmon trollers ($43,903 vs. $50,558, respectively) during 2005. 

During 2006 respondents exhibited lower revenue from West Coast landings than 

nonrespondents for crabbers ($112,931 vs. $128,604, respectively), other less than $15,000 

vessels ($6,452 vs. $6,549), and salmon trollers ($35,262 vs. $37,726). Groundfish fixed gear 

($54,489 for respondents vs. $40,241 for nonrespondents), other greater than $15,000 ($83,464 

vs. $79,431, respectively), and sablefish fixed gear ($40,462 vs. $31,704) exhibited higher 

revenue from West Coast landings among respondents than nonrespondents during 2006 as well 

as 2005. 

When comparing survey respondents and nonrespondents during 2005 and 2006, it is 

important to remember that there were two major changes in the fisheries in which the survey 

population vessels participate. First, West Coast salmon troll landings declined by more than

50% between 2005 and 2006 due to a decline in Klamath River salmon returns. Second, the 

quantity and market value of West Coast crab landings were at unusually high levels during 

2006. Many vessels that earned a substantial share of their revenue from salmon troll landings 

during 2005 either experienced a substantial reduction in landings revenue during 2006 or shifted 

their operations into the crab fishery. 

5.3. Statistical Tests for Nonresponse Bias

A two sample t-test was used to determine whether the differences observed between 

survey respondents and nonrespondents were statistically significant. The two sample t-test is 

based on a null hypothesis that the mean value of the variable being tested is the same for 

respondents and nonrespondents.5

Two sample t-tests based on 2005 data are reported in Table 17 and two sample t-tests 

based on 2006 data are reported in Table 18. Test results are reported for the entire survey 

population as well as the major vessel types within the survey population (crabber, groundfish 

fixed gear, other < $15,000, other > $15,000, sablefish fixed gear, and salmon troller). Two 

sample t-tests for each vessel type are performed using data on vessel length, vessel engine 

horsepower, value of West Coast crab landings, value of West Coast groundfish landings, value 

of West Coast salmon landings, and value of all West Coast landings. For each year, a total of 6 

 

5 In addition to testing for statistically significant differences between survey respondents and nonrespondents using 

a two sample t-test, survey respondents and nonrespondents were compared using permutation tests, which do not 

require any assumption about the distribution of the variable being used to compare respondents and 

nonrespondents. Since the outcome of the permutation tests was similar to the outcome of the t-tests and the intent 

of this document is to summarize survey responses, results from the permutation tests are not provided. For an 

outline of the permutation testing methodology see Goode (2006).
10 

two sample t-tests were performed for the entire survey population and 36 two sample t-tests 

were performed at the vessel type level. In some cases, a limited number of observations 

prevents reporting results due to confidentiality considerations.6

Table 17 shows that for all vessels in the survey population during 2005, none of the 6 

two sample t-tests based on physical characteristics of vessels and West Coast landings revenue 

demonstrated a statistically significant difference between survey respondents and 

nonrespondents at the 95% confidence level. At the 90% confidence level, survey respondents 

had revenue from salmon landings that was significantly greater than nonrespondents. While 

this difference was statistically significant at the 90% confidence level, the magnitude of the 

difference was relatively small (Table 3 shows that the mean revenue from salmon landings was 

$18,747 for respondents and $15,923 for nonrespondents). Table 18 shows that for the entire 

survey population during 2006, the two sample t-tests did not show statistically significant 

differences between survey respondents and nonrespondents for vessel physical characteristics 

and revenue from West Coast landings. 

When the two sample t-tests are examined by vessel type, there are 36 tests for a given 

year (6 tests for each of the 6 vessel types). The tests for 2005 in Table 17 reveal that 6 indicated 

a statistically significant difference between respondents and nonrespondents at the 95% 

confidence level, and an additional 3 showed a statistically significant difference at the 90% 

confidence level (but failed to show a statistically significant difference at the 95% level). Table 

17 shows that the difference in revenue from all 2005 West Coast landings for respondents and 

nonrespondents was statistically significant at the 95% level for other less than $15,000 vessels 

(due to differences in revenue from salmon landings). However, the difference in revenue from 

West Coast landings for respondents and nonrespondents was only $1,360 during 2005. At the 

90% confidence level, respondent salmon trollers had revenue from all West Coast landings 

which was significantly less than nonrespondent salmon trollers (due to differences in revenue 

from both crab and salmon landings). Respondent salmon troller revenue fell below 

nonrespondent salmon troller revenue during 2005 by $3,667 for crab and $3,390 for salmon. 

For all species, respondent salmon troller landings revenue fell short of nonrespondent salmon 

troller landings revenue by $6,655 in 2005. 

The individual vessel type two sample t-tests for 2006 in Table 18 indicate that 2 out of 

36 tests showed a statistically significant difference between respondents and nonrespondents at 

the 95% level and 3 tests showed a difference which was significant at the 90% confidence level 

(but not the 95% confidence level). The difference in revenue from all landings by other less 

than $15,000 vessel respondents and nonrespondents was significant at the 95% level but only 

$903 in magnitude. 

5.4. Correcting for Nonresponse Bias

The comparison of survey respondents and nonrespondents in subsection 5.2 and the 

corresponding two sample t-tests in subsection 5.3 do not show a consistent pattern of 

differences between respondents and nonrespondents that are statistically significant and of large 

 

6 In order to protect the confidentiality of survey respondents, responses from at least three separate business entities 

were required in order to report values for survey means and standard deviations. 
11 

magnitude. As a result, the data collected in this survey are not weighted to adjust for 

nonresponse bias. The survey results presented in the following sections are unweighted, with 

no adjustment for any differences between survey respondents and nonrespondents. 
12 

6. Empirical Results

Before examining cost and earnings data from 2005 and 2006, it is worthwhile to 

consider the health of the West Coast groundfish, salmon, and crab fisheries during 2005 and 

2006.7 Total commercial non-whiting groundfish landings for all gear types on the West Coast 

were 27,091 metric tons (mt) during 2005 and 24,615 mt during 2006.8 The average ex vessel 

price of non-whiting groundfish rose from $0.73 per pound in 2005 to $0.83 per pound in 2006. 

As a result of the increase in ex vessel prices, revenue from non-whiting groundfish landings on 

the West Coast increased from $43.3 million in 2005 to $45.2 million in 2006. These groundfish 

landings figures are for not only the open access fleet covered in this survey, but also the limited 

entry (trawl and fixed gear) fleet. Overall, 2005 and 2006 represent fairly typical years in the 

non-whiting groundfish fishery during the 2001–2010 period. 

Total commercial crab landings for all gear types on the West Coast were 28,089 mt 

during 2005 and 38,761.4 mt during 2006. Despite the increased harvest during 2006, the 

average ex vessel price paid for crab increased from $1.57 per pound in 2005 to $1.69 per pound 

in 2006. With both landed weight and price increasing between 2005 and 2006, revenue from 

West Coast crab landings increased from $97,092,991 during 2005 to $144,047,576 during 2006. 

Commercial crab landings during 2006 reached their highest level of landed weight and revenue 

during the 2001–2010 year period. 

In contrast to groundfish and crab landings, the salmon fishery experienced a sharp 

downturn during 2006. Landings of troll caught salmon decreased from 4,276 mt in 2005 to 

1,184 mt in 2006.9

 Since the average price for troll caught salmon rose from $2.55 a pound in 

2005 to $3.88 a pound in 2006, the revenue from troll caught salmon showed a smaller 

percentage decrease (from $24,054,315 to $10,139,813) than the round weight of salmon troll 

landings. Since 2007 annual West Coast landings of troll caught salmon have ranged between 

250 mt and 1,435 mt. 

In summary, 2005 represents a year in which West Coast landings and revenue from 

landings of groundfish, salmon, and crab were typical of those observed over the 2001 to 2010 

period. In contrast, 2006 was a year in which West Coast salmon troll landings and revenue 

showed a steep decline from the previous year and crab landings and revenue were at their 

highest levels during the 2001 to 2010 period. 

 

7 All figures in this section are taken from the commercial landed catch tables available on the PacFIN Web site at 

http://pacfin.psmfc.org/pacfin_pub/all_species_pub/woc_r307.php. 8 Because whiting are targeted only with trawl gear and a limited entry permit is required in order to target 

groundfish with trawl gear, the open access groundfish fishery does not land whiting. As a result, conditions in the 

non-whiting component of the groundfish fishery are most relevant to the activity of the open access groundfish 

fleet.

9 Since the survey population included salmon trollers but not salmon netters, the figures in this paragraph only 

cover troll caught salmon. 
13 

6.1. Costs and Earnings during 2005

Table 19 provides average expenditures and revenues for all survey respondents. Some 

respondents did not answer all questions, so the number of observations varies across variables. 

Cost categories covered by the survey include payments to captain, payments to crew, fuel, food, 

ice, bait, RMI (repair, maintenance, and improvements), insurance, interest, permit purchases, 

and permit leases. Sources of earnings covered by the survey include landings in Alaska, 

landings in Hawaii, other landings (such as landings in British Columbia), at sea deliveries, sales 

and leasing of permits, and other. Table 20 through Table 25 provide the same information for 

the primary individual vessel types (crabbers, fixed gear groundfish, other < $15,000, other > 

$15,000, sablefish fixed gear, and salmon trollers) during 2005. 

When the survey respondents are examined across all vessel types, the mean survey 

respondent earned $42,151 from West Coast landings during 2005. The largest sources of 

revenue were salmon ($18,757), crab ($12,532), groundfish ($5,639), and highly migratory 

species ($3,121). Mean revenues from sources other than West Coast landings included $8,496 

from other sources (positive values were reported by 30 out of 168 survey respondents), $3,980 

from at sea deliveries (positive values were reported by 6 out of 168 survey respondents), and 

$2,024 from Alaska landings (positive values were reported by 3 out of 168 survey respondents. 

The largest cost categories reported by survey respondents were captain expenses 

($12,802), RMI ($8,874), crew ($7,471), and fuel ($6,081). As discussed in subsection 6.3, 

Table 19 (as well as Table 20 through Table 32) reports not only the cost data as collected on the 

survey, but two cost figures calculated from the survey data. The adjusted cost of captain is 

calculated by imposing a minimum captain cost of 15% of revenue for each vessel. This 

adjustment is designed to adjust for vessel owners who do not pay themselves an explicit salary

for captain services. The imputed cost of capital is a measure of the opportunity cost of using the 

capital tied in the fishing vessel, and is calculated as 5% of the estimated market value of the 

vessel reported on the survey. More detailed explanations of the calculation of adjusted captain 

cost and imputed capital cost are provided in subsection 6.3. 

In an effort to keep the questionnaire length short and boost response rates for this 

voluntary survey, data were collected on all expenditures for RMI. No distinction is made in 

Table 19 through Table 25 between purchases that are expensed and purchases that are 

capitalized and depreciated in future years. As a result, costs at the individual vessel level show 

considerable variation due to changes in purchases of capital goods that provide services over 

many years.

A more theoretically desirable way to have collected data on purchases of capital goods 

would have been to collect information on 1) purchases expensed during 2005 and 2006, 2) 

purchases capitalized during 2005 and 2006, and 3) depreciation taken during 2005 and 2006 for 

capital goods purchased in previous years. However, this approach increases questionnaire 

length and complexity, and was rejected for use in this voluntary survey. 

Table 20 through Table 25 provide data on costs and earnings for each of the primary 

vessel types in the survey population (crabbers, groundfish fixed gear, other > $15,000, other < 

$15,000, sablefish fixed gear, and salmon trollers). Because only 2 vessels in the other greater 
14 

than $15,000 vessel type during 2005 responded to the survey, confidentiality considerations 

prevent disclosure of the response means and standard deviations. 

6.2. Costs and Earnings during 2006

Table 26 provides average expenditures and revenues for all survey respondents. Some 

respondents did not respond to all questions, so the number of observations varies across 

variables. When survey respondents are examined across all vessel types, the mean survey 

respondent earned $41,074 from West Coast landings during 2006. This slight decrease from the 

mean West Coast landings revenue of $42,151 during 2005 reflects the combined effect of a 

sharp decline in salmon revenue and an increase in crab revenue.

The largest sources of revenue were crab ($19,682), salmon ($8,159), groundfish 

($5,140), and highly migratory species ($4,909). Per vessel revenue from salmon landings 

declined from $18,747 in 2005 to $8,159 in 2006. At the same time, per vessel revenue from 

crab landings increased from $12,532 in 2005 to $19,582 in 2006. Per vessel revenues from 

HMS landings increased from $3,121 in 2005 to $4,909 in 2006. Per vessel revenue from 

groundfish landings declined from $5,639 in 2005 to $5,140 in 2006. Mean revenues from 

sources other than West Coast landings included $8,496 from other sources (positive values were 

reported by 30 out of 168 survey respondents), $3,974 from at sea deliveries (positive values 

were reported by 5 out of 168 survey respondents), and $1,726 from Alaska landings (positive 

values were reported by 2 out of 168 survey respondents). 

As during 2005, the largest cost categories reported by survey respondents in Table 26 

were captain expenses ($11,896), RMI ($9,134), crew expenses ($6,858), and fuel expenses 

($5,831). Because some vessel owners serve as captain and do not pay themselves a wage, the 

reported expenses for captain do not always provide a measure of the opportunity cost of captain 

services. Imposing a minimum captain cost of 15% of revenue for each vessel raises captain 

expenses to $15,303.10 The cost of capital was not reported directly by survey respondents, but 

rather is calculated as 5% of the value of the fishing vessel reported by survey respondents. 

Table 27 through Table 32 provide data on costs and earnings for each of the primary 

vessel types in the survey population (crabbers, groundfish fixed gear, other > $15,000, other < 

$15,000, sablefish fixed gear, and salmon netters). While confidentiality considerations prevent 

reporting the costs and earnings for the 2 greater than $15,000 vessels responding to the survey 

in 2005, there were 6 respondents in the greater than $15,000 vessel type during 2006 (due to the 

movement of vessels from the salmon netter vessel type to the other > $15,000 vessel type), and 

costs and earnings for other greater than $15,000 vessels are reported for 2006. 

 

10 Because examination of survey responses indicated that some vessel owners who served as captain were not 

paying themselves a salary, the reported payments to captain do not always reflect the opportunity cost to the vessel 

owner of obtaining captain services. In the case of a vessel owner who serves as the captain of the vessel but does 

not pay himself a market salary, the opportunity cost of providing captain services is the forgone earnings from the 

labor he could have provided had he not been serving as the vessel captain. Examination of survey responses from 

vessel owners who did not serve as captain indicated that vessel captains are typically paid at least 15% of landings 

revenue for vessels with the scale of operation encountered in this survey population.
15 

6.3. Calculating Economic Net Revenue and Quasi-rents 

from Survey Data

Prior to discussing estimates of profitability, it is important to clearly define the measure 

of profit being calculated. Accounting profit measures the difference in a given time period 

between revenue and cost, where cost includes items that are being expensed in the current 

period as well as depreciation from capital goods purchased in previous time periods. Because 

the survey data 1) did not collect information on depreciation taken during 2005 and 2006 on 

capital goods purchased during previous years and 2) did not collect information on which 

expenditures during 2005 and 2006 were expensed and which were capitalized, it is not possible 

to calculate accounting profit from the survey data. Obtaining the information required to 

calculate accounting profit would require a considerably longer and more detailed questionnaire 

than was deemed feasible for use with a voluntary economic cost earnings survey. 

The data collected by this survey do support the calculation of accounting net revenue 

and economic net revenue. Accounting net revenue equals revenues minus costs reported on the 

survey plus landings taxes and buyback fees. Because the survey did not collect information on 

some minor cost categories, accounting net revenue overstates accounting profit. Economic net 

revenue is equal to the difference between the total revenue earned by operating a commercial 

fishing vessel and the opportunity cost of operating that vessel. In order to calculate economic 

net revenue from the data collected by the survey, three calculations are necessary. First, the 

survey does not cover all costs incurred by vessel owners. In an effort to limit survey length and 

boost response rates, the questionnaires (Appendix A and Appendix B) did not collect data on 

costs such as moorage, unloading fish, and transporting fish to the buyer. Conversations with 

industry participants suggest these costs are in the range of 5% to 10% of total costs. For 

purposes of calculating economic net revenue and quasi-rents, a 5% adjustment to costs is used 

to account for those minor cost categories that are not covered by the questionnaire.11 That is, 

estimates of adjusted total cost and adjusted variable cost include a 5% upward adjustment 

relative to the costs reported on the questionnaire. 

Second, calculating economic net revenue requires adjustment for the vessel owners who 

serve as captain and do not always pay themselves a salary as captain. Even though these vessel 

owners do not receive a wage, they are forgoing other employment opportunities to serve as 

captain. These vessel owners derive their compensation for service as captain through their 

earnings as the recipient of vessel profits. Since actual expenditures differ greatly from 

opportunity costs in such cases, it is necessary to estimate the opportunity cost of serving as the 

vessel captain based on the earnings of captains on vessels where the captain is hired on all trips. 

Examination of survey responses from this survey and the limited entry survey indicated that for 

vessels of the scale of operation in this survey population, captains are typically paid at least 

15% of landings revenue as compensation on vessels where the captain is hired by the owner. 

The third issue that must be addressed when using these survey data to derive a measure 

of economic net revenue is the opportunity cost of the money tied up in marketable capital goods 

such as the fishing vessel and equipment. The fishing vessel and onboard equipment represent 

 

11 Quasi-rent equals total revenue from all sources minus variable operating costs (payments for captain, crew, fuel, 

food, ice, and bait).
16 

an opportunity cost for the vessel owner. Were the vessel and equipment to be sold, the money 

received for the vessel could be placed into an interest bearing account. The implicit cost of 

capital is the rate of return that capital could be expected to earn in an alternative investment of 

equivalent risk multiplied by the market value of the capital. Calculations of the implicit cost of

capital assume that the forgone interest rate is 5%, and as a result the implicit cost of capital is 

equal to 5% of the market value of the fishing vessel reported on the survey. The survey did not 

collect information on the value of permits held by each vessel (only the cost of permits 

purchased during 2005 and 2006), so no attempt was made to incorporate the value of permits 

into the estimate of capital cost.

Table 33 and Table 34 report the total costs, variable costs, quasi-rents, and net revenue

by vessel type for 2005 and 2006. The first three columns in each table show total revenue, total 

reported cost, and accounting net revenue. Quasi-rent is calculated as total revenue (the sum of 

landings revenues reported in PacFIN and other revenue sources reported on the survey) minus 

variable costs (captain, crew, fuel, food, ice, and bait expenditures as reported on the survey). 

The last three columns of each table provide economic cost (reported costs adjusted for unpaid 

captain services, the opportunity cost of capital, and unreported costs), quasi-rent (total revenue 

minus variable economic costs), and economic net revenue. 

6.4. Costs, Earnings, Quasi-rents, and Economic Net Revenue

Table 33 reports the revenues, costs, net revenue, and quasi-rents for both the entire 

survey population and primary vessel types during 2005. For all survey respondents, the mean 

revenue earned by a vessel was $57,157 and the mean reported cost was $40,378. When the 

three adjustments described in subsection 6.3 are made to the cost data, the mean economic cost 

equals $48,273. Crabbers have much higher revenues and costs than members of other vessel 

types. Results are not shown for the other greater than $15,000 vessel type because of 

confidentiality issues with only two observations. The average per vessel quasi-rent is $24,334 

and the average per vessel economic net revenue is $8,884. Results differ considerably across 

vessel types. Crabbers have much higher revenues and economic net revenues than any other 

vessel type. Groundfish fixed gear and salmon trollers are the least profitable vessel types, 

barely earning a positive economic net revenue. 

Table 35 provides revenues and costs for the survey population and primary vessel types 

during 2006. Table 36 provides quasi-rents and net revenue earned by the survey population and 

primary vessel types during 2006. For the 168 survey respondents, average revenue declined 

from $57,157 in 2005 to $46,810 in 2006. While per vessel revenue declined by 10,347 from 

2005 to 2006, the average cost per vessel in the survey population declined by only $2,212 

before any adjustments were made to costs. Adjusted costs declined by $1,712 from 2005 to 

2006. As a result, quasi-rents and net revenue were much lower in 2006 than 2005. Both other 

less than $15,000 and other greater than $15,000 vessels earned negative profit before any 

adjustments to calculate economic net revenue. Groundfish fixed gear and salmon troller 

vessels, which earned a small positive adjusted economic profit during 2005, earned negative 

adjusted economic profit in 2006. Despite a sizable increase in total West Coast crab landings 

and revenue during 2006, crabbers on a per vessel basis earned less revenue and lower economic 

profits during 2006 than 2005. Many vessels which operated in the salmon troll fishery during 
17 

2005 moved into the crab fishery during 2006 as the amount of salmon available for harvest 

declined.

6.5. Crew Size, Fuel Use, and Speed

Table 37 provides fuel use in gallons per hour, vessel speed in knots per hour, and crew 

size for the survey respondents and major vessel types. Crew size (which does not include the 

captain) exhibits some variation by activity, with the largest crew size reported for crabbing (1.6) 

and the smallest crew size reported for salmon trolling (0.6). Crew size exhibited little variation 

across fisheries. Except for a few cases where the number of observations is low, crew size does 

not vary greatly across vessel types—fishing activity is a greater determinant of crew size than 

vessel type.

Fuel use (in gallons per hour) for all respondents is greater when crabbing (3.3) than 

when longlining (2.1) or trolling (2.0). Like crew size, fuel use appears more dependent on the 

activity a vessel is engaged in than the vessel type. Part of the reason for similarity in fuel use 

for a particular activity across different vessel types is that the different vessel types do not have 

vastly different physical characteristics. The average length by vessel type for survey 

respondents varies from 27 to 40 feet, and the average engine horsepower by vessel type varies 

from 151 to 254. 

Vessel speed is reported in knots per hour. For all survey respondents, average vessel 

speed ranged between 4.0 knots per hour when crabbing to 3.1 knots per hour when longlining or 

trolling.

6.6. Owner as Captain

Table 38 reports the percentage of trips on which the owner served as captain during 

2005. While the questionnaire did not ask for separate information on the percentage of trips on 

which the owner served as captain during 2005 and 2006, some vessels changed vessel types 

between 2005 and 2006 so the numbers change at the individual vessel type level. For all vessel 

types, the owner served as captain on 89.9% of trips. This figure was lowest for sablefish fixed 

gear vessels in 2005 (76.3%) and other groundfish fixed gear vessels in 2006 (64.4%). Salmon 

trollers had a very high percentage of trips with the owner serving as captain (92.3% in 2005 and 

97.2% in 2006). 
18 

7. Concluding Comments

NWFSC and PSMFC thank all of the vessel owners who participated in this voluntary 

survey. The quality of data and summary statistics provided in this report depend on the 

willingness of commercial fishermen to provide their time and confidential data.

While this report provides a considerable amount of information taken from the survey 

responses, it does not provide all possible summary statistics that could be derived from the 

survey responses. Individuals interested in further information about the survey should contact 

either NWFSC or PSMFC.

NWFSC and PSMFC intend to conduct cost earnings surveys of the open access 

groundfish and salmon troll fleets on a regular basis. In addition, NWFSC and PSMFC intend to 

begin surveying the salmon netter fleet in the future. This will allow for development of a time 

series that will support evaluation of the economic performance of the open access groundfish 

and salmon fleets.
19 

Tables 1–38

Table 1. Survey population and survey sample vessel physical characteristics and revenue from landings 

in Washington, Oregon, and California. 

Na

Length 

(feet)

Net 

tonnage

Horsepower Groundfish Crab Salmon Totalb

Survey population

Mean 1,152 34.3 12.2 184.5 $4,884 $12,009 $16,863 $39,777

SD 12.7 11.9 113.9 $10,271 $30,847 $20,722 $46,673

Survey sample

Mean 532 33.2 11.2 182.1 $5,557 $11,064 $16,696 $38,913

SD 14.9 11.1 109.6 $11,434 $29,725 $20,612 $46,720

Not in sample

Mean 620 35.4 13.0 186.7 $4,307 $12,820 $17,007 $40,518

SD 10.5 12.5 117.5 $9,126 $31,779 $20,832 $46,658

T statistic –2.79 –2.51 –0.69 2.03 –0.97 –0.25 –0.58

Degrees of freedom 936 1,149 1,142 1,011 1,141 1,127 1,123

95% critical value 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96

Test statistics 0.01 0.01 0.49 0.04 0.33 0.80 0.56 a N = number of observations.

b

 Total = revenue from landings of all species in Washington, Oregon, and California. 
20 

Table 2. Survey response by vessel type, state, and revenue.

Survey 

population

Survey 

sample

Complete 

responses

Response 

rate (%)

Open access groundfish and salmon

Total survey 1,152 532 168 32

In-person interview sample 349 135 39

Telephone interview sample 133 33 25

By vessel type, 2005

Crabber 122 53 18 34

Groundfish fixed gear 86 49 13 27

Highly migratory species 27 12 3 25

Other less than $15,000 436 206 51 25

Other greater than $15,000 15 8 2 25

Pelagic netter 1 1 0 0

Sablefish 56 22 6 27

Salmon 409 181 75 41

By vessel type, 2006

Crabber 242 95 32 34

Groundfish fixed gear 80 48 10 21

Highly migratory species 49 20 11 55

Other less than $15,000 543 269 77 29

Other greater than $15,000 15 11 5 46

Pelagic netter 1 1 0 0

Sablefish 48 16 6 37

Salmon 170 70 27 39

Shrimper 4 2 0 0

By state

California 602 297 70 24

Oregon 398 170 66 39

Washington 152 65 32 50

By annual WOC revenue, 2005

Less than $25,000 596 275 74 27

$25,000 to $100,000 445 205 74 36

Greater than $100,000 111 52 20 43

By annual WOC revenue, 2006

Less than $25,000 674 322 97 30

$25,000 to $100,000 317 140 47 34

Greater than $100,000 161 70 24 34
21 

Table 3. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for open access groundfish 

and salmon troller 2005 survey (all vessel types) respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 1,117 185 3

Respondents 167 189 7

Nonrespondents 950 184 4

Vessel length (feet) All 1,152 34 0

Respondents 167 34 1

Nonrespondents 985 34 0

Revenue from crab (US$) All 1,152 11,855 904

Respondents 168 12,532 2,563

Nonrespondents 985 11,740 964

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 1,152 4,880 302

Respondents 168 5,639 950

Nonrespondents 985 4,750 315

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 1,152 16,335 584

Respondents 168 18,747 1,374

Nonrespondents 985 15,923 642

Revenue from all species (US$) All 1,152 39,052 1,359

Respondents 168 42,151 3,420

Nonrespondents 985 38,523 1,480

Table 4. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey crabber 

respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 122 233 11

Respondents 18 231 20

Nonrespondents 104 233 12

Vessel length (feet) All 122 40 1

Respondents 18 39 1

Nonrespondents 104 40 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 122 76,834 4,890

Respondents 18 83,092 14,860

Nonrespondents 104 75,751 5,154

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 122 5,485 805

Respondents 18 7,136 2,426

Nonrespondents 104 5,200 848

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 122 13,736 1,327

Respondents 18 16,344 2,450

Nonrespondents 104 13,284 1,497

Revenue from all species (US$) All 122 104,736 6,566

Respondents 18 116,479 16,917

Nonrespondents 104 102,703 7,139
22 

Table 5. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey 

groundfish fixed gear respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 79 185 13

Respondents 13 254 29

Nonrespondents 66 172 14

Vessel length (feet) All 86 27 1

Respondents 13 26 1

Nonrespondents 73 27 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 86 4,478 1,460

Respondents 13 10,601 4,318

Nonrespondents 73 3,388 1,517

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 86 22,795 1,748

Respondents 13 33,633 5,274

Nonrespondents 73 20,865 1,756

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 86 1,939 635

Respondents 13 2,188 1,313

Nonrespondents 73 1,895 714

Revenue from all species (US$) All 86 40,684 3,499

Respondents 13 49,694 8,368

Nonrespondents 73 39,079 3,836

Table 6. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey “other 

greater than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 11 265 23

Respondents 2 * *

Nonrespondents 9 254 28

Vessel length (feet) All 11 37 4

Respondents 2 * *

Nonrespondents 9 38 5

Revenue from crab (US$) All 11 4 2

Respondents 2 * *

Nonrespondents 9 5 3

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 11 7,047 2,285

Respondents 2 * *

Nonrespondents 9 5,615 2,097

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 11 7,004 2,983

Respondents 2 * *

Nonrespondents 9 8,561 3,454

Revenue from all species (US$) All 11 99,672 22,236

Respondents 2 * *

Nonrespondents 9 101,070 27,081
23 

Table 7. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey “other 

less than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 411 162 5

Respondents 51 162 12

Nonrespondents 360 162 6

Vessel length (feet) All 437 29 1

Respondents 51 29 1

Nonrespondents 386 29 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 437 225 55

Respondents 51 205 189

Nonrespondents 386 227 57

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 437 2,008 166

Respondents 51 1,818 461

Nonrespondents 386 2,034 178

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 437 4,179 218

Respondents 51 5,752 704

Nonrespondents 386 3,971 227

Revenue from all species (US$) All 437 6,756 203

Respondents 51 7,958 611

Nonrespondents 386 6,598 214

Table 8. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey sablefish 

fixed gear respondents and nonrespondents.

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 54 226 21

Respondents 4 151 39

Nonrespondents 50 232 23

Vessel length (feet) All 56 37 1

Respondents 5 33 3

Nonrespondents 51 38 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 56 4,395 1,397

Respondents 5 1,798 1,505

Nonrespondents 51 4,650 1,525

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 56 29,151 1,693

Respondents 5 34,481 6,991

Nonrespondents 51 28,629 1,738

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 56 3,659 1,015

Respondents 5 2,558 1,351

Nonrespondents 51 3,767 1,108

Revenue from all species (US$) All 56 38,334 3,058

Respondents 5 38,850 6,551

Nonrespondents 51 39,382 3,310
24 

Table 9. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2005 survey salmon 

troller respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 408 178 5

Respondents 76 184 11

Nonrespondents 332 177 5

Vessel length (feet) All 408 39 0

Respondents 75 37 1

Nonrespondents 333 39 0

Revenue from crab (US$) All 409 8,637 839

Respondents 76 5,651 1,414

Nonrespondents 333 9,318 976

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 409 813 134

Respondents 76 1,179 337

Nonrespondents 333 729 146

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 409 35,359 994

Respondents 76 32,599 1,899

Nonrespondents 333 35,989 1,140

Revenue from all species (US$) All 409 49,321 1,663

Respondents 76 43,903 3,199

Nonrespondents 333 50,558 1,904

Table 10. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for open access groundfish 

and salmon troller 2006 survey (all vessel types) respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 1,117 185 3

Respondents 167 189 7

Nonrespondents 950 184 4

Vessel length (feet) All 1,152 34 0

Respondents 167 34 1

Nonrespondents 985 34 0

Revenue from crab (US$) All 1,152 24,326 1,780

Respondents 168 19,682 3,279

Nonrespondents 985 25,119 2,006

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 1,152 4,497 267

Respondents 168 5,140 855

Nonrespondents 985 4,388 277

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 1,152 7,144 312

Respondents 168 8,159 825

Nonrespondents 985 6,971 337

Revenue from all species (US$) All 1,152 43,476 1,982

Respondents 168 41,074 3,898

Nonrespondents 985 43,885 2,224
25 

Table 11. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey crabber 

respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 240 223 8

Respondents 32 221 14

Nonrespondents 208 224 9

Vessel length (feet) All 242 41 1

Respondents 32 40 1

Nonrespondents 210 41 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 242 107,386 5,878

Respondents 32 89,726 9,383

Nonrespondents 210 110,077 6,608

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 242 3,602 444

Respondents 32 5,423 1,332

Nonrespondents 210 3,324 468

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 242 6,856 578

Respondents 32 7,474 1,614

Nonrespondents 210 6,762 620

Revenue from all species (US$) All 242 126,531 6,325

Respondents 32 112,931 10,125

Nonrespondents 210 128,604 7,120

Table 12. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

groundfish fixed gear respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 73 205 18

Respondents 10 247 30

Nonrespondents 63 198 20

Vessel length (feet) All 81 27 1

Respondents 10 26 2

Nonrespondents 71 28 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 81 5,777 1,704

Respondents 10 19,073 7,789

Nonrespondents 71 3,904 1,511

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 81 23,201 1,645

Respondents 10 34,399 4,862

Nonrespondents 71 21,624 1,677

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 81 2,560 891

Respondents 10 779 779

Nonrespondents 71 2,811 1,008

Revenue from all species (US$) All 81 42,000 3,414

Respondents 10 54,489 12,359

Nonrespondents 71 40,241 3,475
26 

Table 13. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey “other 

greater than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 14 268 18

Respondents 5 261 28

Nonrespondents 9 272 24

Vessel length (feet) All 14 36 3

Respondents 5 35 5

Nonrespondents 9 36 4

Revenue from crab (US$) All 14 1,106 914

Respondents 5 2,653 2,544

Nonrespondents 9 246 238

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 14 4,301 1,383

Respondents 5 4,272 1,715

Nonrespondents 9 4,317 2,004

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 14 319 228

Respondents 5 581 581

Nonrespondents 9 174 174

Revenue from all species (US$) All 14 80,871 12,474

Respondents 5 83,464 11,900

Nonrespondents 9 79,431 18,796

Table 14. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey “other 

less than $15,000” respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 520 165 5

Respondents 77 172 11

Nonrespondents 443 163 5

Vessel length (feet) All 542 30 1

Respondents 77 30 1

Nonrespondents 465 30 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 542 338 66

Respondents 77 332 181

Nonrespondents 465 339 71

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 542 1,766 144

Respondents 77 1,229 303

Nonrespondents 465 1,855 160

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 542 2,958 164

Respondents 77 4,524 503

Nonrespondents 465 2,699 169

Revenue from all species (US$) All 542 5,678 186

Respondents 77 6,452 454

Nonrespondents 465 5,549 203
27 

Table 15. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey 

sablefish fixed gear $15,000 respondents and nonrespondents. 

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 48 196 15

Respondents 5 162 33

Nonrespondents 43 200 16

Vessel length (feet) All 49 39 2

Respondents 6 40 6

Nonrespondents 43 39 2

Revenue from crab (US$) All 49 2,507 1,205

Respondents 6 901 901

Nonrespondents 43 2,731 1,367

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 49 22,442 1,656

Respondents 6 29,862 7,543

Nonrespondents 43 21,407 1,555

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 49 4,305 1,152

Respondents 6 9,101 4,132

Nonrespondents 43 3,635 1,165

Revenue from all species (US$) All 49 32,776 2,624

Respondents 6 40,462 8,373

Nonrespondents 43 31,704 2,753

Table 16. Comparison of vessel physical characteristics and revenue sources for the 2006 survey salmon 

troller respondents and nonrespondents.

Variable Response status

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Engine horsepower All 167 159 6

Respondents 27 183 22

Nonrespondents 140 155 6

Vessel length (feet) All 169 38 1

Respondents 26 37 1

Nonrespondents 143 39 1

Revenue from crab (US$) All 170 6,953 1,268

Respondents 27 5,807 3,839

Nonrespondents 143 7,169 1,328

Revenue from groundfish (US$) All 170 892 182

Respondents 27 895 428

Nonrespondents 143 892 201

Revenue from salmon (US$) All 170 24,779 940

Respondents 27 23,329 2,900

Nonrespondents 143 25,053 978

Revenue from all species (US$) All 170 37,334 1,958

Respondents 27 35,262 6,127

Nonrespondents 143 37,726 2,030
28 

Table 17. Two sample t-tests of statistical significance for differences between respondents and 

nonrespondents in the 2005 survey. 

Fleet Variable T statistic

Degrees of 

freedom

Probability > T

if H0 true

All Vessel length –0.68 306 0.50

Engine horsepower 0.57 261 0.57

Revenue from groundfish 0.89 205 0.38

Revenue from crab 0.29 217 0.77

Revenue from salmon 1.86 246 0.06

Revenue from all species 0.97 234 0.33

Crabber Vessel length –0.60 29 0.55

Engine horsepower –0.11 30 0.91

Revenue from groundfish 0.75 21 0.46

Revenue from crab 0.47 21 0.65

Revenue from salmon 1.07 31 0.29

Revenue from all species 0.75 23 0.46

Groundfish fixed Vessel length –0.74 39 0.47

Engine horsepower 2.57 18 0.02

Revenue from groundfish 2.30 15 0.04

Revenue from crab 1.58 15 0.14

Revenue from salmon 0.20 20 0.85

Revenue from all species 1.15 17 0.26

Other < $15,000 Vessel length 0.03 126 0.97

Engine horsepower 0.05 73 0.96

Revenue from groundfish –0.44 66 0.66

Revenue from crab –0.11 59 0.91

Revenue from salmon 2.41 61 0.02

Revenue from all species 2.10 63 0.04

Other > $15,000 Vessel length –1.77 9 0.11

Engine horsepower 1.89 9 0.09

Revenue from groundfish 0.87 1 0.53

Revenue from crab –1.73 8 0.12

Revenue from salmon –2.48 8 0.04

Revenue from all species –0.20 4 0.85

Sablefish fixed Vessel length –1.43 7 0.20

Engine horsepower –1.80 5 0.13

Revenue from groundfish 0.81 5 0.46

Revenue from crab –1.33 15 0.20

Revenue from salmon –0.69 11 0.50

Revenue from all species –0.07 6 0.94

Salmon troller Vessel length –1.85 100 0.07

Engine horsepower 0.61 113 0.54

Revenue from groundfish 1.22 105 0.22

Revenue from crab –2.14 155 0.03

Revenue from salmon –1.53 135 0.13

Revenue from all species –1.79 134 0.08
29 

Table 18. Two sample t-tests of statistical significance for differences between respondents and 

nonrespondents in the 2006 survey. 

Fleet Variable T statistic

Degrees of 

freedom

Probability > T

if H0 true

All Vessel length –0.68 306 0.50

Engine horsepower 0.57 261 0.57

Revenue from groundfish 0.84 204 0.40

Revenue from crab –1.41 308 0.16

Revenue from salmon 1.33 226 0.18

Revenue from all species –0.63 288 0.53

Crabber Vessel length –1.05 45 0.30

Engine horsepower –0.16 57 0.87

Revenue from groundfish 1.49 39 0.15

Revenue from crab –1.77 67 0.08

Revenue from salmon 0.41 41 0.68

Revenue from all species –1.27 67 0.21

Groundfish fixed Vessel length –0.84 28 0.41

Engine horsepower 1.35 19 0.19

Revenue from groundfish 2.48 11 0.03

Revenue from crab 1.91 10 0.09

Revenue from salmon –1.60 47 0.12

Revenue from all species 1.11 10 0.29

Other < $15,000 Vessel length 0.12 186 0.90

Engine horsepower 0.74 113 0.46

Revenue from groundfish –1.83 123 0.07

Revenue from crab –0.03 101 0.97

Revenue from salmon 3.44 94 0.00

Revenue from all species 1.82 109 0.07

Other > $15,000 Vessel length –0.17 9 0.87

Engine horsepower –0.29 9 0.78

Revenue from groundfish –0.02 12 0.99

Revenue from crab 0.94 4 0.40

Revenue from salmon 0.67 5 0.53

Revenue from all species 0.18 12 0.86

Sablefish fixed Vessel length 0.10 6 0.93

Engine horsepower –1.03 6 0.34

Revenue from groundfish 1.10 5 0.32

Revenue from crab –1.12 33 0.27

Revenue from salmon 1.27 6 0.25

Revenue from all species 0.99 6 0.36

Salmon troller Vessel length –1.33 36 0.19

Engine horsepower 1.24 30 0.22

Revenue from groundfish 0.01 38 0.99

Revenue from crab –0.34 33 0.74

Revenue from salmon –0.56 32 0.58

Revenue from all species –0.38 32 0.71
30 

Table 19. Cost and earnings by category for all vessel types 

in the 2005 survey, based on 168 observations.

Table 20. Cost and earnings by category for crabber in the 

2005 survey, based on 18 observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 12,802 1,095 Captain 25,578 4,783

Captain (adjusted) 15,303 1,243 Captain (adjusted) 31,397 4,484

Crew 7,571 950 Crew 30,113 4,521

Food and crew provisions 1,719 203 Food and crew provisions 2,413 462

Fuel 6,081 741 Fuel 8,742 1,437

Bait 1,303 194 Bait 5,415 829

Ice 586 74 Ice 792 237

Insurance 1,537 238 Insurance 6,869 1,242

Interest payments 582 172 Interest payments 1,258 487

Leasing permits 19 15 Leasing permits 122 122

Purchasing permits 608 202 Purchasing permits 844 777

RMIa 8,874 885 RMIa 14,240 2,591

Capital (imputed) 3,095 298 Capital (imputed) 4,750 636

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 2,024 1,262 Alaska 0 0

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 8,496 3,749 Other sources 23,611 20,356

At sea deliveries 3,980 3,668 At sea deliveries 0 0

Permit sale and leasing 506 370 Permit sale and leasing 0 0

All species 42,151 3,420 All species 116,479 16,917

Groundfish 5,639 950 Groundfish 7,136 2,426

Crab 12,532 2,563 Crab 83,092 14,860

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 18,747 1,374 Salmon 16,344 2,450

Pelagic 0 0 Pelagic 0 0

HMSb 3,121 802 HMSb 8,773 3,359

Halibut 358 101 Halibut 1,130 677 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. 
31 

Table 21. Cost and earnings by category for groundfish 

fixed gear in the 2005 survey, based on 13 

observations.

Table 22. Cost and earnings by category for “other greater 

than $15,000” in the 2005 survey, based on two 

observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 14,308 4,350 Captain *c *

Captain(adjusted) 14,559 4,323 Captain (adjusted) * *

Crew 9,246 2,735 Crew * *

Food and crew provisions 1,146 405 Food and crew provisions * *

Fuel 9,138 2,103 Fuel * *

Bait 2,304 612 Bait * *

Ice 212 81 Ice 500 500

Insurance 208 142 Insurance * *

Interest payments 821 766 Interest payments * *

Leasing permits 0 0 Leasing permits 0 0

Purchasing permits 38 38 Purchasing permits 7,000 5,000

RMIa 9,592 3,268 RMIa 43,825 36,175

Capital (imputed) 1,775 353 Capital (imputed) 7,500 0

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 0 0 Alaska 0 0

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 885 768 Other sources 60,000 10,000

At sea deliveries 0 0 At sea deliveries 0 0

Permit sale and leasing 0 0 Permit sale and leasing 0 0

All species 49,694 8,368 All species 93,382 27,292

Groundfish 33,633 5,274 Groundfish 13,492 8,828

Crab 10,601 4,318 Crab 0 0

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 2,188 1,313 Salmon 0 0

Pelagic 0 0 Pelagic 0 0

HMSb 30 30 HMSb 0 0

Halibut 0 0 Halibut 1,942 1,716 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. c The asterisk (*) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than three respondents.
32 

Table 23. Cost and earnings by category for “other less 

than $15,000” in the 2005 survey, based on 51 

observations.

Table 24. Cost and earnings by category for sablefish 

fixed gear in the 2005 survey, based on five 

observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 4,014 1,381 Captain 8,547 1,927

Captain (adjusted) 8,727 2,546 Captain (adjusted) 9,435 1,711

Crew 700 229 Crew 10,101 2,371

Food and crew provisions 766 189 Food and crew provisions 784 229

Fuel 4,124 2,108 Fuel 5,439 1,328

Bait 123 28 Bait 1,724 361

Ice 262 84 Ice 115 59

Insurance 448 97 Insurance 0 0

Interest payments 187 81 Interest payments 200 200

Leasing permits 0 0 Leasing permits 0 0

Purchasing permits 314 108 Purchasing permits 77 69

RMIa 3,548 646 RMIa 2,560 905

Capital (imputed) 1,907 340 Capital (imputed) 1,550 496

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 980 980 Alaska 0 0

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 15,105 9,852 Other sources 7,400 7,400

At sea deliveries 13,110 12,067 At sea deliveries 0 0

Permit sale and leasing 0 0 Permit sale and leasing 0 0

All species 7,958 611 All species 38,850 6,551

Groundfish 1,818 461 Groundfish 34,481 6,991

Crab 205 189 Crab 1,798 1,505

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 5,752 704 Salmon 2,558 1,351

Pelagic 0 0 Pelagic 0 0

HMSb 56 41 HMSb 0 0

Halibut 127 53 Halibut 14 14 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. 
33 

Table 25. Cost and earnings by category for salmon troller 

in the 2005 survey, based on 76 observations.

Table 26. Cost and earnings by category for all vessel types 

in the 2006 survey, based on 168 observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 15,117 1,285 Captain 11,896 1,444

Captain (adjusted) 15,562 1,268 Captain (adjusted) 14,979 1,473

Crew 6,011 954 Crew 6,858 1,029

Food and crew provisions 2,009 249 Food and crew provisions 1,547 206

Fuel 5,797 537 Fuel 5,831 626

Bait 760 177 Bait 1,359 207

Ice 871 133 Ice 497 72

Insurance 1,366 287 Insurance 1,385 228

Interest payments 695 333 Interest payments 572 171

Leasing permits 14 14 Leasing permits 72 55

Purchasing permits 737 371 Purchasing permits 373 218

RMIa 10,116 1,275 RMIa 9,134 1,262

Capital (imputed) 3,693 565 Capital (imputed) 3,095 298

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 3,816 2,706 Alaska 1,726 1,229

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 835 515 Other sources 0 0

At sea deliveries 0 0 At sea deliveries 3,974 3,668

Permit sale and leasing 1,118 815 Permit sale and leasing 36 36

All species 43,903 3,199 All species 41,074 3,898

Groundfish 1,179 337 Groundfish 5,140 855

Crab 5,651 1,414 Crab 19,682 3,279

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 32,599 1,899 Salmon 8,159 825

Pelagic 0 0 Pelagic 1 1

HMSb 2,826 1,067 HMSb 4,909 895

Halibut 376 140 Halibut 489 128 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. 
34 

Table 27. Cost and earnings by category for 

crabber in the 2006 survey, based on 32 

observations.

Table 28. Cost and earnings by category for groundfish 

fixed gear in the 2006 survey, based on 10 

observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 21,498 3,470 Captain 26,500 8,778

Captain(adjusted) 28,753 2,569 Captain (adjusted) 28,473 8,152

Crew 21,365 3,587 Crew 11,050 5,196

Food and crew provisions 2,738 580 Food and crew provisions 940 501

Fuel 9,353 1,136 Fuel 5,960 1,358

Bait 4,073 645 Bait 1,805 694

Ice 944 229 Ice 320 195

Insurance 4,743 870 Insurance 80 80

Interest payments 688 264 Interest payments 300 300

Leasing permits 31 31 Leasing permits 0 0

Purchasing permits 63 44 Purchasing permits 0 0

RMIa 12,225 1,618 RMIa 6,250 2,048

Capital (imputed) 5,559 1,164 Capital (imputed) 1,610 254

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 3,906 3,906 Alaska 0 0

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 0 0 Other sources 0 0

At sea deliveries 0 0 At sea deliveries 0 0

Permit sale and leasing 188 188 Permit sale and leasing 0 0

All species 112,931 10,125 All species 54,489 12,359

Groundfish 5,423 1,332 Groundfish 34,399 4,862

Crab 89,726 9,383 Crab 19,073 7,789

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 7,474 1,614 Salmon 779 779

Pelagic 3 3 Pelagic 0 0

HMSb 7,973 2,126 HMSb 189 127

Halibut 1,460 523 Halibut 28 28 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. 
35 

Table 29. Cost and earnings by category for “other greater 

than $15,000” in the 2006 survey, based on five 

observations.

Table 30. Cost and earnings by category for “other less 

than $15,000” in the 2006 survey, based on 77 

observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 22,600 15,025 Captain 3,454 1,072

Captain (adjusted) 29,318 12,569 Captain (adjusted) 5,322 1,558

Crew 9,784 4,658 Crew 836 479

Food and crew provisions 7,312 4,461 Food and crew provisions 713 116

Fuel 19,857 6,463 Fuel 3,431 997

Bait 4,652 2,715 Bait 341 147

Ice 500 316 Ice 265 70

Insurance 570 570 Insurance 510 166

Interest payments 2,133 1,971 Interest payments 202 73

Leasing permits 0 0 Leasing permits 14 14

Purchasing permits 440 440 Purchasing permits 157 36

RMIa 25,939 13,964 RMIa 5,851 2,015

Capital (imputed) 7,100 1,592 Capital (imputed) 1,887 219

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 0 0 Alaska 0 0

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 0 0 Other sources 0 0

At sea deliveries 0 0 At sea deliveries 8,670 7,997

Permit sale and leasing 0 0 Permit sale and leasing 0 0

All species 83,464 11,900 All species 6,452 454

Groundfish 4,272 1,715 Groundfish 1,229 303

Crab 2,653 2,544 Crab 332 181

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 581 581 Salmon 4,524 503

Pelagic 0 0 Pelagic 1 1

HMSb 0 0 HMSb 213 75

Halibut 259 170 Halibut 150 55 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. 
36 

Table 31. Cost and earnings by category for sablefish fixed 

gear in the 2006 survey, based on six observations.

Table 32. Cost and earnings by category for salmon troller 

in the 2006 survey, based on 27 observations.

Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$) Variable

Mean 

(US$)

Standard 

error (US$)

Cost of: Cost of:

Captain 8,667 4,807 Captain 18,002 4,524

Captain (adjusted) 12,316 3,751 Captain (adjusted) 19,155 4,354

Crew 10,167 4,285 Crew 3,835 1,446

Food and crew provisions 853 278 Food and crew provisions 1,417 255

Fuel 7,775 3,617 Fuel 4,228 629

Bait 2,700 1,053 Bait 242 116

Ice 432 319 Ice 699 244

Insurance 0 0 Insurance 973 287

Interest payments 167 167 Interest payments 535 243

Leasing permits 1,500 1,500 Leasing permits 39 39

Purchasing permits 63 63 Purchasing permits 407 407

RMIa 8,783 5,427 RMIa 8,112 942

Capital (imputed) 1,458 410 Capital (imputed) 3,287 623

Revenue from: Revenue from:

Alaska 0 0 Alaska 6,111 6,111

Hawaii 0 0 Hawaii 0 0

Other sources 0 0 Other sources 0 0

At sea deliveries 0 0 At sea deliveries 0 0

Permit sale and leasing 0 0 Permit sale and leasing 0 0

All species 40,462 8,373 All species 35,262 6,127

Groundfish 29,862 7,543 Groundfish 895 428

Crab 901 901 Crab 5,807 3,839

Shrimp 0 0 Shrimp 0 0

Salmon 9,101 4,132 Salmon 23,329 2,900

Pelagic 0 0 Pelagic 0 0

HMSb 597 597 HMSb 4,462 1,225

Halibut 0 0 Halibut 765 417 a RMI = repair, maintenance, and improvements. b HMS = highly migratory species. 
37

Table 33. Revenue, costs, quasi-rents, and net revenue (in US$) per vessel in the 2005 survey.*

Fleet

Revenue 

all sources

Reported 

cost

Accounting

net revenue

Economic 

cost

QuasirentEconomic 

net revenue

All 57,157 40,378 16,779 47,315 25,293 9,842

Crabber 140,090 90,972 49,118 106,619 62,960 33,471

Groundfish fixed 50,579 44,710 5,869 49,073 14,562 1,506

Other < $15,000 37,153 14,363 22,790 22,032 21,846 15,121

Other > $15,000 153,382 111,480 41,902 138,370 77,886 15,012

Sablefish fixed 46,250 27,824 18,427 31,774 19,083 14,476

Salmon troller 49,673 42,734 6,939 49,216 17,910 457

Table 34. Revenue, costs, quasi-rents, and net revenue (in US$) per vessel in the 2006 survey.*

Fleet

Revenue 

all sources

Reported 

cost

Accounting 

net revenue

Economic 

cost

QuasirentEconomic 

net revenue

All 46,810 38,166 8,645 46,561 15,612 249

Crabber 117,024 73,648 43,377 90,784 50,713 26,240

Groundfish fixed 54,489 51,400 3,089 57,732 5,409 –3,243

Other < $15,000 15,123 15,434 –311 20,149 4,027 –5,026

Other > $15,000 83,464 89,135 –5,671 108,100 13,355 –24,636

Sablefish fixed 40,462 38,397 2,065 45,679 7,352 –5,217

Salmon troller 41,373 38,247 3,126 44,822 10,572 –3,449

* In Table 33 and Table 34, values are rounded to the nearest dollar. Revenue all sources includes landings, at sea 

deliveries, sale and leasing of permits, salmon disaster payments, and any other sources. Reported cost provides the 

total of all cost categories as collected by the survey. Accounting net revenue is the difference between Revenue all 

sources and Reported cost. Economic cost makes three adjustments to the Reported cost figure to get closer to a 

measure of economic opportunity cost: 1) a minimum captain payment equal to 15% of revenue from landings and 

at sea deliveries is imposed to compensate for some vessels not making an explicit salary payment to the ownercaptain for his or her provision of captains services, 2) capital costs are estimated to equal 5% of the reported market 

value of the vessel, and 3) costs are increased by 5% to account for those costs that were not included in the cost 

categories collected by the survey instrument. Quasi-rent equals Revenue all sources minus adjusted variable costs. 

Economic net revenue equals Revenue all sources minus Economic cost.
38

Table 35. Crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour) in the 2005 survey. The 

asterisk (*) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than 

three respondents.

Fleet Variable

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

All Crew size for crabbing 50 1.6 0.1

Crew size for groundfish longlining 33 1.3 0.1

Crew size for salmon trolling 121 0.6 0.1

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 51 2.1 0.2

Fuel use for crabbing 53 3.3 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 148 2.0 0.1

Speed when groundfish longlining 51 3.1 0.4

Speed when crabbing 53 4.0 0.3

Speed when salmon trolling 147 3.1 0.1

Crabber Crew size for crabbing 18 1.8 0.1

Crew size for groundfish longlining 4 1.5 0.3

Crew size for salmon trolling 17 0.8 0.1

Fuel use for crabbing 18 3.3 0.8

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 9 2.9 0.7

Fuel use for salmon trolling 18 2.3 0.7

Speed when crabbing 18 3.9 0.4

Speed when groundfish longlining 9 3.6 1.1

Speed when salmon trolling 18 3.3 0.3

Groundfish fixed Crew size for crabbing 7 1.4 0.2

Crew size for groundfish longlining 10 1.5 0.2

Crew size for salmon trolling 5 1.2 0.2

Fuel use for crabbing 7 3.4 0.8

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 11 2.0 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 6 2.0 0.4

Speed when crabbing 7 5.4 1.1

Speed when groundfish longlining 11 3.8 0.9

Speed when salmon trolling 6 2.8 0.2

Other < $15,000 Crew size for crabbing 2 * *

Crew size for groundfish longlining 7 1.3 0.2

Crew size for salmon trolling 31 0.5 0.1

Fuel use for crabbing 4 3.3 0.6

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 7 2.1 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 42 1.6 0.1

Speed when crabbing 4 3.0 0.4

Speed when groundfish longlining 7 2.0 0.3

Speed when salmon trolling 42 2.8 0.2

Other > $15,000 Crew size for crabbing 0 — —

Crew size for groundfish longlining 0 — —

Crew size for salmon trolling 0 — —

Fuel use for crabbing 0 — —

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 1 * —

Fuel use for salmon trolling 1 * —

Speed when crabbing 0 — —

Speed when groundfish longlining 1 * —

Speed when salmon trolling 1 * —
39

Table 35 continued. Crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour) in the 2005 

survey. The asterisk (*) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when 

fewer than three respondents.

Fleet Variable

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Sablefish fixed Crew size for crabbing 2 * *

Crew size for groundfish longlining 5 1.2 0.2

Crew size for salmon trolling 3 1.3 0.3

Fuel use for crabbing 2 * *

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 4 2.4 0.4

Fuel use for salmon trolling 3 2.0 0.0

Speed when crabbing 2 * *

Speed when groundfish longlining 4 4.8 1.9

Speed when salmon trolling 2 * *

Salmon troller Crew size for crabbing 20 1.6 0.2

Crew size for groundfish longlining 7 0.9 0.3

Crew size for salmon trolling 62 0.5 0.1

Fuel use for crabbing 21 3.0 0.2

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 18 1.8 0.2

Fuel use for salmon trolling 75 2.0 0.1

Speed when crabbing 21 3.6 0.4

Speed when groundfish longlining 18 2.6 0.5

Speed when salmon trolling 75 3.2 0.2
40

Table 36. Crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour) in the 2006 survey. The 

asterisk (*) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when fewer than 

three respondents.

Fleet Variable

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

All Crew size for crabbing 50 1.6 0.1

Crew size for groundfish longlining 33 1.3 0.1

Crew size for salmon trolling 121 0.6 0.1

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 51 2.1 0.2

Fuel use for crabbing 53 3.3 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 148 2.0 0.1

Speed when groundfish longlining 51 3.1 0.4

Speed when crabbing 53 4.0 0.3

Speed when salmon trolling 147 3.1 0.1

Crabber Crew size for crabbing 31 1.7 0.1

Crew size for groundfish longlining 7 1.4 0.2

Crew size for salmon trolling 28 0.8 0.1

Fuel use for crabbing 32 3.2 0.5

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 16 2.6 0.4

Fuel use for salmon trolling 31 2.2 0.4

Speed when crabbing 32 3.9 0.3

Speed when groundfish longlining 16 3.1 0.6

Speed when salmon trolling 31 3.3 0.3

Groundfish fixed Crew size for crabbing 5 1.4 0.2

Crew size for groundfish longlining 9 1.6 0.2

Crew size for salmon trolling 5 1.2 0.2

Fuel use for crabbing 5 2.8 0.5

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 9 1.7 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 5 1.3 0.2

Speed when crabbing 5 3.9 0.8

Speed when groundfish longlining 9 3.9 1.1

Speed when salmon trolling 5 2.2 0.4

Other < $15,000 Crew size for crabbing 5 1.6 0.2

Crew size for groundfish longlining 9 1.1 0.1

Crew size for salmon trolling 49 0.4 0.1

Fuel use for crabbing 7 2.9 0.5

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 12 2.1 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 67 1.8 0.1

Speed when crabbing 7 4.0 0.6

Speed when groundfish longlining 12 2.3 0.5

Speed when salmon trolling 66 3.1 0.2

Other > $15,000 Crew size for crabbing 1 * —

Crew size for groundfish longlining 0 — —

Crew size for salmon trolling 1 * —

Fuel use for crabbing 1 * —

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 1 * —

Fuel use for salmon trolling 3 2.0 0.6

Speed when crabbing 1 * —

Speed when groundfish longlining 1 * —

Speed when salmon trolling 3 2.6 0.3
41

Table 36 continued. Crew size, fuel use (gallons per hour), and speed (knots per hour) in the 2006 

survey. The asterisk (*) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions when 

fewer than three respondents.

Fleet Variable

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

Sablefish fixed Crew size for crabbing 1 * —

Crew size for groundfish longlining 5 1.4 0.2

Crew size for salmon trolling 4 1.3 0.3

Fuel use for crabbing 1 * —

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 5 1.9 0.3

Fuel use for salmon trolling 4 1.8 0.4

Speed when crabbing 1 * —

Speed when groundfish longlining 5 4.7 1.4

Speed when salmon trolling 4 4.1 1.3

Salmon troller Crew size for crabbing 4 1.0 0.4

Crew size for groundfish longlining 2 * *

Crew size for salmon trolling 24 0.4 0.1

Fuel use for crabbing 4 3.0 0.7

Fuel use for groundfish longlining 5 1.8 0.4

Fuel use for salmon trolling 27 1.8 0.2

Speed when crabbing 4 3.8 1.1

Speed when groundfish longlining 5 3.1 1.3

Speed when salmon trolling 27 2.9 0.1
42

Table 37. Share for captain, crew, and vessel for the percent of trips where owner serves as captain in the 

2005 survey. The asterisk (*) indicates value not provided because of confidentiality restrictions 

when fewer than three respondents.

Fleet

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

All 119 89.7 2.5

Crabber 16 83.1 7.9

Groundfish fixed 12 84.6 8.8

Other < $15,000 35 93.9 4.0

Other > $15,000 2 * *

Sablefish fixed 4 76.3 23.8

Salmon troller 47 92.3 3.5

Table 38. Share for captain, crew, and vessel for the percent of trips where owner serves as captain in the 

2006 survey.

Fleet

Number of 

observations Mean

Standard 

error

All 119 89.7 2.5

Crabber 27 87.0 5.6

Groundfish fixed 8 64.4 15.2

Other < $15,000 51 94.2 3.1

Other > $15,000 5 90.0 10.0

Sablefish fixed 6 84.2 15.8

Salmon troller 18 97.2 2.8
43

References

Lian, C. E. 2010. West Coast limited entry groundfish trawl cost earnings survey protocols and results 

for 2004. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-107.

Good, P. 2006. Resampling methods: A practical guide to data analysis. Birkhauser, Boston, MA.

Radtke, H. D., and S. W. Davis. 2000. Description of the U.S. West Coast commercial fishing fleet and 

seafood processors. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Portland, OR.
44
45

Appendix A: Open Access Groundfish Survey 

Questionnaire

OMB No. 0648-0369 Expiration date: 7/31/09

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SURVEY RESPONDENT

1. Name: ________________________________ 2. E-mail: ________________________________

3. Date (month/day/year): __________________ 4. Telephone: (____)________________________

5. Mailing address (street, city, state, and zip code): 

__________________________________________________________________________________

VESSEL OWNERSHIP AND CHARACTERISTICS

6. Please verify the following information on record about your vessel’s characteristics. If the 

information on record is correct, please place a check mark in the Corrections column. If the information 

on record is incorrect or there is no information on record, please provide the correct information in the 

Corrections column.

Item Information on record Corrections

a. Owner’s name Charles Smith

b. Owner’s address 333 1st Street, Waldport, OR 

97005

c. Vessel name Sea Breeze

d. USCG vessel ID 33221843

e. State vessel ID OR33214

f. Home port Newport, OR

g. Length (feet) 75

h. Fuel capacity 300

i. Engine make and model No information on record

7. What is the approximate market value of your vessel (not including associated permits) in dollars?

$__________________
46

8. Please provide your vessel’s fuel consumption, speed, and crew size (not including captain) when 

engaged in each of the following activities. If this vessel does not engage in an activity, please write 

“NA” in the appropriate columns.

Activity

Fuel consumption 

(gallons per hour)

Speed

(knots per hour)

Crew size (not 

including captain)

a. Longlining

b. Trolling

c. Crabbing

d. Shrimping (while towing)

e. Steaming (fully loaded) Not applicable

f. Steaming (empty) Not applicable 

COSTS AND EARNINGS

Questions 9 through 12 collect information about this vessel’s costs and earnings while operating in all 

fisheries (groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, etc.). This survey’s primary objective is to collect data on 

costs and earnings for 2006. However, we recognize that conditions in the fishery change from year to 

year and that two years of data can provide a more complete picture than a one-year snapshot. If possible, 

we would appreciate receiving your cost and earnings data for both 2005 and 2006.

9. In what month does your vessel’s fiscal year begin? ___________

10. For each of the earnings (income) sources listed below, please indicate the income earned during 

your fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2006. If no income was earned from a particular source during a 

particular year, please write NA in the appropriate box.

Earnings (income) source 2005 ($) 2006 ($)

a. Landings in Alaska

b. Landings in Hawaii

c. Landings outside of the United States

d. West Coast at sea deliveries

e. Sale and leasing of permits associated with this vessel

f. Other (please specify)________________

11. Approximately what percentage of your annual household income comes from earnings associated 

with this vessel?

a. less than 20% b. 20% to 40% c. 40% to 60% d. 60% to 80% e. greater than 80%
47

12. For each cost category below, please provide total annual expenditures during your fiscal year 2005 

and fiscal year 2006. If you do not have separate data on expenditures for captain (part a) and crew (part 

b), please write combined expenditures in part a and write NA in part b. If no expenditures were incurred 

in a particular category during a particular year, please write NA in the appropriate box.

For location of expenditures, please indicate the location of expenditures in either dollars or percentages 

in the following location categories: hp = home port, hs = home state but not home port city, wc = West 

Coast (WA, OR, or CA) state but not home state, ak = Alaska, us = United States outside of West Coast 

and Alaska, ot = outside the United States. For crew expenditures, please indicate the percent of crew 

that reside in each location category.

Cost (expenditure) category 2005 ($) 2006 ($)

Location of 

expenditures

a. Captain (including share payments, 

bonuses, other forms of compensation, 

and payroll taxes)

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

b. Crew (including share payments, 

bonuses, other forms of compensation, 

and payroll taxes)

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

c. Fuel and lube

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

d. Food and crew provisions

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

e. Ice

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

f. Bait

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

g. Repair, maintenance, and 

improvements for vessel, gear, and 

equipment 

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

h. Insurance

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

i. Interest

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

j. Purchase of permits used with this 

vessel NA NA

k. Leasing of permits used with this 

vessel NA NA
48

CREW COMPENSATION

Questions 13 through 17 collect information about crew payments when this vessel is participating in the 

West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California) groundfish fisheries.

13. Does this vessel use a crew share system to pay its crew when operating in the groundfish fisheries?

a. Yes (proceed to question 14).

b. No (proceed to Survey Conclusion).

14. Which of the following expenses were deducted from total revenue before calculating the crew share 

when this vessel operated in the groundfish fisheries?

Deducted before calculating crew share?

a. Fuel and lube Yes No

b. Food and other crew provisions. Yes No

c. Landing taxes Yes No

d. Unloading expenses Yes No

e. Other. Please specify ________________ Yes No

15. On what percentage of fishing trips does the vessel owner serve as captain? _____%

16. On trips when the vessel owner serves as captain, please indicate the share of net revenue (revenue 

minus the deductions listed in question 14) going to the vessel, captain, and crew. If the vessel owner 

does not serve as captain on any trips, please circle NA.

Vessel share _____% Captain share _____% Crew share _____% NA

17. On trips when the vessel owner does not serve as captain, please indicate the share of net revenue 

(revenue minus the deductions listed in question 14) going to the vessel, captain, and crew. If the vessel 

owner always serves as captain, please circle NA.

Vessel share _____% Captain share _____% Crew share _____% NA

Survey Conclusion and Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Thank you for participating in this voluntary survey that requests information on costs and earnings from 

vessel owners participating in the West Coast groundfish fishery. This information will be used to assess 

the economic effects of fishery management regulations, such as the effect of regulations on harvesting 

costs and regional economies. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to 

respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

The information you provide will remain strictly confidential. We will combine your responses with 

information provided by other participants and report it in summary form so that responses for any 

individual vessel cannot be identified. The public reporting burden for this information collection, 

including time for gathering data needed and completing the survey, is estimated to average one hour per 

respondent. Please provide comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection 

of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Carl Lian

2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112

Telephone (206) 302-2414 and e-mail Carl.Lian@noaa.gov
49

Appendix B: Salmon Troller Survey 

Questionnaire

OMB No. 0648-0369 Expiration date: 7/31/09

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SURVEY RESPONDENT

1. Name: ________________________________ 2. E-mail: ________________________________

3. Date (month/day/year): __________________ 4. Telephone: (____)________________________

5. Mailing address (street, city, state, and zip code): 

__________________________________________________________________________________

VESSEL OWNERSHIP AND CHARACTERISTICS

6. Please verify the following information on record about your vessel’s characteristics. If the 

information on record is correct, please place a check mark in the Corrections column. If the information 

on record is incorrect or there is no information on record, please provide the correct information in the 

Corrections column.

Item Information on record Corrections

a. Owner’s name Charles Smith

b. Owner’s address 333 1st Street, Waldport, OR 

97005

c. Vessel name Sea Breeze

d. USCG vessel ID 33221843

e. State vessel ID OR33214

f. Home port Newport, OR

g. Length (feet) 75

h. Fuel capacity 300

i. Engine make and model No information on record

7. What is the approximate market value of your vessel (not including associated permits) in dollars?

$__________________
50

8. Please provide your vessel’s fuel consumption, speed, and crew size (not including captain) when 

engaged in each of the following activities. If this vessel does not engage in an activity, please write 

“NA” in the appropriate columns.

Activity

Fuel consumption 

(gallons per hour)

Speed

(knots per hour)

Crew size (not 

including captain)

a. Longlining

b. Trolling

c. Crabbing

d. Shrimping (while towing)

e. Steaming (fully loaded) Not applicable

f. Steaming (empty) Not applicable 

COSTS AND EARNINGS

Questions 9 through 12 collect information about this vessel’s costs and earnings while operating in all 

fisheries (groundfish, crab, shrimp, salmon, etc.). This survey’s primary objective is to collect data on 

costs and earnings for 2006. However, we recognize that conditions in the fishery change from year to 

year and that two years of data can provide a more complete picture than a one-year snapshot. If possible, 

we would appreciate receiving your cost and earnings data for both 2005 and 2006.

9. In what month does your vessel’s fiscal year begin? ___________

10. For each of the earnings (income) sources listed below, please indicate the income earned during 

your fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2006. If no income was earned from a particular source during a 

particular year, please write NA in the appropriate box.

Earnings (income) source 2005 ($) 2006 ($)

a. Landings in Alaska

b. Landings in Hawaii

c. Landings outside of the United States

d. West Coast at sea deliveries

e. Sale and leasing of permits associated with this vessel

f. Other (please specify)________________

11. Approximately what percentage of your annual household income comes from earnings associated 

with this vessel?

a. less than 20% b. 20% to 40% c. 40% to 60% d. 60% to 80% e. greater than 80%
51

12. For each cost category below, please provide total annual expenditures during your fiscal year 2005 

and fiscal year 2006. If you do not have separate data on expenditures for captain (part a) and crew (part 

b), please write combined expenditures in part a and write NA in part b. If no expenditures were incurred 

in a particular category during a particular year, please write NA in the appropriate box.

For location of expenditures, please indicate the location of expenditures in either dollars or percentages 

in the following location categories: hp = home port, hs = home state but not home port city, wc = West 

Coast (WA, OR, or CA) state but not home state, ak = Alaska, us = United States outside of West Coast 

and Alaska, ot = outside the United States. For crew expenditures, please indicate the percent of crew 

that reside in each location category.

Cost (expenditure) category 2005 ($) 2006 ($)

Location of 

expenditures

a. Captain (including share payments, 

bonuses, other forms of compensation, 

and payroll taxes)

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

b. Crew (including share payments, 

bonuses, other forms of compensation, 

and payroll taxes)

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

c. Fuel and lube

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

d. Food and crew provisions

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

e. Ice

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

f. Bait

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

g. Repair, maintenance, and 

improvements for vessel, gear, and 

equipment 

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

h. Insurance

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

i. Interest

hp:

hs:

wc:

ak:

us:

ot:

j. Purchase of permits used with this 

vessel NA NA

k. Leasing of permits used with this 

vessel NA NA
52

CREW COMPENSATION

Questions 13 through 17 collect information about crew payments when this vessel is participating in the 

West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California) salmon fishery.

13. Does this vessel use a crew share system to pay its crew when operating in the salmon fishery?

a. Yes (proceed to question 14).

b. No (proceed to Survey Conclusion).

14. Which of the following expenses were deducted from total revenue before calculating the crew share 

when this vessel operated in the salmon fishery?

Deducted before calculating crew share?

a. Fuel and lube Yes No

b. Food and other crew provisions. Yes No

c. Landing taxes Yes No

d. Unloading expenses Yes No

e. Other. Please specify ________________ Yes No

15. On what percentage of fishing trips does the vessel owner serve as captain? _____%

16. On trips when the vessel owner serves as captain, please indicate the share of net revenue (revenue 

minus the deductions listed in question 14) going to the vessel, captain, and crew. If the vessel owner 

does not serve as captain on any trips, please circle NA.

Vessel share _____% Captain share _____% Crew share _____% NA

17. On trips when the vessel owner does not serve as captain, please indicate the share of net revenue 

(revenue minus the deductions listed in question 14) going to the vessel, captain, and crew. If the vessel 

owner always serves as captain, please circle NA.

Vessel share _____% Captain share _____% Crew share _____% NA

Survey Conclusion and Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Thank you for participating in this voluntary survey that requests information on costs and earnings from 

vessel owners participating in the West Coast groundfish fishery. This information will be used to assess 

the economic effects of fishery management regulations, such as the effect of regulations on harvesting 

costs and regional economies. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to 

respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

The information you provide will remain strictly confidential. We will combine your responses with 

information provided by other participants and report it in summary form so that responses for any 

individual vessel cannot be identified. The public reporting burden for this information collection, 

including time for gathering data needed and completing the survey, is estimated to average one hour per 

respondent. Please provide comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection 

of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Carl Lian

2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112

Telephone (206) 302-2414 and e-mail Carl.Lian@noaa.gov
Recent NOAA Technical Memorandums

published by the

Northwest Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC115 Plummer, M.L., W. Morrison, and E. Steiner. 2012. Allocation of fishery harvests under the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: Principles and practice. U.S. Dept. 

Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-115, 84 p. NTIS number pending.

114 Bradburn, M.J., A.A. Keller, and B.H. Horness. 2011. The 2003 to 2008 U.S. West Coast bottom 

trawl surveys of groundfish resources off Washington, Oregon, and California: Estimates of distribution, 

abundance, length, and age composition. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC114, 323 p. NTIS number PB2012-105507.

113 Ford, M.J. (ed.). 2011. Status review update for Pacific salmon and steelhead listed under the 

Endangered Species Act: Pacific Northwest. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC113, 281 p. NTIS number PB2012-104687.

112 Skidmore, P.B., C.R. Thorne, B.L. Cluer, G.R. Pess, J.M. Castro, T.J. Beechie, and C.C. Shea. 

2011. Science base and tools for evaluating stream engineering, management, and restoration proposals. 

U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-112, 255 p. NTIS number PB2012-104660.

111 Leonard, J., and P. Watson. 2011. Description of the input-output model for Pacific Coast fisheries. 

U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-111, 64 p. NTIS number PB2011-113405.

110 Ainsworth, C.H., I.C. Kaplan, P.S. Levin, R. Cudney-Bueno, E.A. Fulton, M. Mangel, P. TurkBoyer, J. Torre, A. Pares-Sierra, and H.N. Morzaria Luna. 2011. Atlantis model development for the 

northern Gulf of California. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-110, 293 p. 

NTIS number PB2011-113404.

109 Levin, P.S., and F.B. Schwing (eds.). 2011. Technical background for an integrated ecosystem 

assessment of the California Current: Groundfish, salmon, green sturgeon, and ecosystem health. U.S. 

Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-109, 330 p. NTIS number PB2011-112724.

108 Drake, J.S., E.A. Berntson, J.M. Cope, R.G. Gustafson, E.E. Holmes, P.S. Levin, N. Tolimieri, 

R.S. Waples, S.M. Sogard, and G.D. Williams. 2010. Status review of five rockfish species in Puget 

Sound, Washington: Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis), canary rockfish (S. pinniger), yelloweye rockfish 

(S. ruberrimus), greenstriped rockfish (S. elongatus), and redstripe rockfish (S. proriger). U.S. Dept. 

Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-108, 234 p. NTIS number PB2011-107576.

Most NOAA Technical Memorandums NMFS-NWFSC are available at the

Northwest Fisheries Science Center Web site, http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov