JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE MRIP FISHING EFFORT SURVEY OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0652

The MRIP Fishing Effort Survey (FES) was designed to be a more accurate and cost effective alternative to the Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS, OMB Control No. 0648-0652), the methodology historically used to collect recreational fishing effort data.  We have completed a series of pilot studies testing design alternatives and examining potential sources of error in the
FES design.  Specifically, we have examined the impact of cash incentives and different versions of the survey instrument on survey response and survey measures and assessed the potential for bias resulting from nonresponse and under-coverage.  These studies have resulted in improvements to the FES design and will help explain any observed differences between CHTS and FES estimates as we transition to the new design.  

In December 2013 we proposed a supplemental information collection, the Validation Follow-Up Study, to be administered to respondents who had previously responded to the FES. This study will further assess sources of error, specifically measurement error, in the FES design.  The information collection will result in further improvements to the FES design and is critical for anticipating and explaining the impacts of transitioning from the CHTS to the FES. OMB approved the change request for this study on December 6, 2013, with a second change request to be submitted when the instrument became final. The final instrument is included with this request. There is no change to burden or cost from the original change request.