The cost information provided in this web tool is obtained from the Greater Atlantic
Region Commercial Fishing Business Cost Survey Administered by the Social Sciences Branch (SSB) of the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
The Greater Atlantic Region Commercial Fishing Business Cost Survey is a voluntary survey sent to federally permitted commercial fishing vessel owners.
The survey primarily collects cost information not collected anywhere else by NOAA Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic region; collecting costs such as repair and maintenance, upgrade and improvement, insurance costs, mooring fees, and crew/hired captain payments.
The survey cost data are used by NOAA Fisheries to track trends in costs over time and to understand the economic performance of fishing fleets. These costs are ultimately used to inform management decisions.
This web-based tool can be used to help inform stakeholders such as the New England Fishery Management Council, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, industry members, fishing community organizations, and academics.
The survey has been administered since the early 2000s but was most recently administered to collect costs incurred in 2022.
Low response to the survey has created challenges when conducting analyses and summarizing the survey data.
Increased response to the survey provides a more accurate representation of the costs incurred by the fishing industry over time and creates a more complete view of overall economic performance.
Fishery managers will be able to use cost information to better capture the potential impacts of management actions on commercial fishing businesses.
Aggregated data summaries can also be used by fishermen for business planning purposes.
Survey participation and responses are completely confidential.
All data appearing on the website and in reports are presented in a manner that protects individual confidentiality.
Raw survey data can only be accessed by NOAA fisheries staff and affiliates with signed non-disclosure agreements.