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Observed Effects of Seismic Surveying on Commerical Fishing

Purpose:
This interview seeks to document fish harvesters’ observations regarding seismic surveying activity and any perceived or experienced impacts on commercial fishing operations, catch rates, species distribution, safety, or access to fishing grounds.
1.How many years have you fished commercially?
2.Which fisheries do you currently participate in? (select all that apply)
3.What is your main fishing area? Select all that apply.
4.What type of gear do you typically use in these fisheries?
5.During a typical fishing season, how would you describe the predictability of catch rates? Select all that apply
6.In your experience, what factors most influence good or poor fishing? (Check all that apply)
Underwater Noise:
7.When you hear the term underwater noise, what activities or sources come to mind in relation to offshore?
8.Have you personally fished in areas or periods when seismic surveys were taking place?
9.If yes, how did you become aware of those activities (e.g., radio notices, direct observation, company communication)?
Observed Changes in Catch or Fishing Conditions:
10.Based on your own experience, have you noticed changes in catch rates?
11.Based on your own experience, have you noticed changes in catch composition (what your catches are made up of)?
12.Based on your own experience, have you noticed changes in fish or crab behaviour that you associate with the presence of seismic surveying or other loud offshore activities?
13.Which species were affected?
14.Was the change:
Gear-Specific Observations
15.Have you noticed any differences in how noise affects fishing when using (select all that apply):
16.If yes, what have you noticed? Select all that apply
17.Do you think noise affects (check all that apply):
Species-specific Perceptions
18.Based on your experience, are some species more sensitive to noise than others? Please specify (Snow crab, northern shrimp, turbot, redfish, etc.)
19.For the species you think are affected, what signs have you observed? Select all that apply.
20.How far away from seismic do these affects occur?
Duration and Recovery
21.After noise activity ended, did fishing conditions:
22.Have you noticed any longer-term changes in fishing grounds that you think may be linked to repeated noise exposure over years?
Cumulative and Interactive Effects
23.In you view, how does noise compare to other pressures on the fishery, such as fishing activity, environmental change (wind, storms effect on catch rates before and after, vessel traffic, or temperature changes or ice?
24.Do you think noise interacts with these factors in a way that increases impacts on the fishery?
Econmic and Operational Implications
25.Have you experienced any operational impacts related to noise such as (select all that apply):
26.How significant would you say these impacts are relative to an average fishing season?
Knowledge Sharing and Trust
27.Do you feel that fishers’ observations and knowledge are adequately considered in assessments of noise impacts?
28.What would improve communication or trust between fishers, scientists, and regulators on this issue?
29.Are you interested in completing a more detailed follow-up questionnaire on species specific issues? (This means one focused on crab impacts or cod impacts., or something else)
Closing Reflection
30.From your perspective, what is the most important thing scientists should understand about how underwater noise affects your fishery?
31.Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t discussed?