METHODOLOGY & SURVEY

Fuller S., and P. Cameron. (1998) Marine Benthic Seascapes: Fishermen's Perspectives, pp 3-4 and pp 58-59. Methodology At the outset, a Research Advisory Committee was established. This committee consisted of people with expertise in natural sciences, social sciences and the fishery. Meetings with the committee were held throughout the project. In this way, the study was conducted with regular input from academics and fishermen. Considerable effort went into construction of the questionnaire. Surveys conducted by the Fishermen and Scientist Research Society and another carried out by researchers in the United States looking at Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) were reviewed and provided background information for the development of this questionnaire. A preliminary questionnaire was formulated and were used to assess the type of responses fishermen gave and to ask fishermen what types of questions would be useful. The questionnaire 3 was modified and then brought to the Research Advisory Committee for final comments and approval. The questions were to serve more as a checklist of issues to be covered, rather than a strict format to be followed. Some questions were open ended, while others asked for specific information. This method encouraged respondents to relate anecdotes and personal experiences which may have been relevant to the overall objectives of the project. All participants were given a consent form' that explained the objectives of the study and briefly described the mandate of the Ecology Action Centre and Marine Issues Committee. Participants were given the option of having their names in the report and could specify their own terms before the interview process began. Those who wished to be acknowledged are listed in Appendix A. Questionnaires were numbered such that no one fisherman can be identified. Initially, a purposive sampling method' was used. In this way fishermen were specifically sought out for their knowledge of the sea floor. The only criteria used in selecting respondents was that they had at least 15 years of experience or were retired from the fishery. A snowballing sampling technique' was employed for selection of participants. Key informants were identified by contacting various fishing organizations. Names of suitable candidates were often provided by participants. We interviewed most of the fishermen in their homes. Others were interviewed at their place of work. Fishermen from the Bay of Fundy area, Yarmouth, Southwest Nova Scotia, the Halifax Areas, the Eastern Shore, Cape Breton and Southwest New Brunswick were interviewed. Interviews lasted from 1.5 hours to 4 hours. We attempted to get a representative number of fishermen from each gear sector to ensure we have representative information about habitat and the effects of human activity on the sea floor. Most respondents had fished more than one gear type during their life time and several fished more than one gear type in a year. Gear types represented defined in Appendix B. In all, 37 resource users throughout Nova Scotia and southwest New Brunswick were interviewed. In some cases, more than one person was interviewed simultaneously. Most of the respondents were interviewed by two researchers at the same time. Responses were written up as soon as possible following an interview. The responses were then compared and discussed to identify points that were noted by one interviewer' and not by the other. This was intended to eliminate interviewer bias. The interviews were semi-structured. The degree of detail obtained from the use of open-ended questions is greater than would have been obtained from a purely quantitative method. The type of data collected does not lend itself to statistical analysis. The interviews were conducted in a positive, conversational manner. Since one of the initial objectives of the project was to foster and promote discussion of habitat, especially with respect to sensitive or damaged areas, the interview process was successful in achieving this goal. Where relevant, the results of scientific studies on marine habitat and the effects of human activities have been incorporated into this report. During the interviews, a wealth of information was collected regarding current and past management problems, frustrations fishermen have had with the scientific community, progress that has been made in terms of communication between scientists and fishermen, as well as issues surrounding technology changes. Although none of these topics relate directly to habitat, they are important and are part of the discussion on how to achieve marine conservation and a sustainable fishery. These issues are discussed where appropriate.   3 The questionnaire used in this study appears as Appendix C. 4 The consent form appears as Appendix D. 5 Purposive sampling is used in social science research. Participants are intentionally chosen because of their knowledge of the subject to be researched. Further description is provided in Palys (1992). 6 Snowballing is "...particularly useful if the target population you are after is a "closet" population or is not well defined or accessible" (Palys, 192 p. 148). Fishermen often know each other and are able to provide names of additional participants who they think have valuable knowledge to contribute. 7 Interviewers were the researchers asking the questions while interviewees were the fishermen who participated in the study. Survey APPENDIX C. INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE Code Number: 1. Date: 2 .Location: County: 3. Community fished from: 4. Total number of years fishing: Age Started: 5. Did you begin fishing with your father or another family member? 6. Are you a member of a fishing organization: Organization: Current Boat 7. Length: 8. Engine: 9. Registered Tonnage- 10. Average Trip Length: 11. What areas do you currently fish? 12. What areas have you fished ? What instigated that change in area? 13. Average number of months fishing during the 1980's? 1990's? Why? 14. Since the 1980's have you fished offshore? In what capacity? owner / operator crew / mate factory other 15. Since the 1980's have you fished inshore? In what capacity? owner / operator crew / mate factory other 16. Number of years fishing various species groundfish (cod, haddock, pollock, hake): halibut: tuna: swordfish: shrimp: mackerel: herring: redfish: flatfish: crab: lobster: quahogs: other: 17. Years experience with the following gear types specific year: gillnet: longline: handline: otter trawl: danish seine: pair trawl: other: 18. Gear currently used: gillnet: longline: handline: 19.In your experience what type of bottom do the following species prefer. biogenic / corals burrows / anenomes pebble / cobble sand / mud boulders sand waves kelp beds cobble / sponge   groundfish (cod, haddock, pollock, hake): halibut: wolfish: crab: lobster: skates: flounder: scallops: quahogs: shark: swordfish: mackerel: herring: Benthic species lemon weed, hydroids, sponge, corals * Other species were added to this list as they were mentioned by respondents. 20. How does bottom type affect your fishing activities? 21. What natural changes have occurred on the sea? Are these sudden or gradual? Are they irreversible ? (effect on fishing) 22. What types of changes are various fishing sectors responsible for ? 23. What types of changes to the bottom are resulting from other human activities? 24. Are there areas where you believe irreversible changes to the bottom have occurred. (Where / why) 25. Are there types of bottom the don't seem affected by any fishing activity ? (other activities) 26. Are there any particular bottom types you. avoid? 27. Are there any other threats to the ocean floor? (oil, aggregate mining) 28. Are there any areas where you wouldn't want a pipeline laid down or mining to take place? Why? (indicate areas on a chart) Additional Comments: