Commercial fishermen in eastern North Carolina may soon receive a survey from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. The information will be used in fishery management plans and to develop economic impact models. Jared Brumbaugh has more.
In late January, the division mailed 300 written surveys to commercial fishermen with mailing addresses between Core Sound and the South Carolina border who land fish from state waters.
“We’re looking for information about their fishing habits”
Patricia Smith is the Public Information Officer with the Division of Marine Fisheries.
“What their perceptions are, their income, their expenditures, demographics.”
The survey is a follow up to one previously conducted in 2010. Individual answers to questions will be kept confidential; however, aggregate results from participants will be included in a written report that will be made available to the public.
“All these things will help fisheries managers to see how when they adopt rules it will impact the fishermen.”
The division plans to mail another 300 surveys in the coming weeks.
