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Seafood Marketing Workgroup Survey
1.
Name of Business (
Optional
)
2.
In which Maryland County is this Business' operation based?
Allegany County
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore County
Baltimore City
Calvert County
Caroline County
Carroll County
Cecil County
Charles County
Dorchester County
Frederick County
Garrett County
Harford County
Howard County
Kent County
Montgomery County
Prince George's County
Queen Anne's County
Somerset County
St. Mary's County
Talbot County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worcester County
3.
Does this business operate under one or multiple State-issued licenses to catch seafood in Maryland?
One license
More than one license
This business does not catch seafood.
4.
What is the Business’ role in the seafood supply system? (Check all that apply)
Commercial Waterman
Grower/Aquaculturist (Submerged Land Lease)
Grower/Aquaculturist (Water Column Lease)
Grower/Aquaculturist (Both)
Processor
Wholesaler
Distributor
Retailer (direct-to-consumer)
5.
What types of seafood product(s) does this business
harvest
? Check all (if any) that apply:
Finfish (Chesapeake Bay watershed) (excluding Blue Catfish)
Finfish (Coastal Bays/Ocean)(excluding Blue Catfish)
Blue Catfish
Maryland Blue Crabs
Clams, Bay Scallops, other Shellfish
Oysters, Wild Caught
Oysters, Aquaculture
Other Seafood Products
I do not harvest seafood.
6.
Do you harvest
AND
resell the catch of others?
Yes
No
7.
What types of seafood product(s) does this business
sell
? Check all (if any) that apply:
Finfish (Chesapeake Bay Watershed) (excluding Blue Catfish)
Finfish (Coastal Bays/Ocean) (excluding Blue Catfish)
Blue Catfish
Maryland Blue Crabs
Clams, Bay Scallops, other Shellfish
Oysters, Wild-caught
Oysters, Aquaculture
Other Seafood Products
I do not sell seafood.
8.
Does this business have a State-issued Processing License and/or a USDA Grant of Inspection for seafood processing? (Wholesaler ONLY)
Yes
No
9.
Which sales channels does this business currently utilize for seafood sales? (Check all that apply)
Wholesale (to distributors, restaurants, grocery stores or processors)
Government Contracts (Excluding Certified Local Farm Fish)
Certified Local Farm & Fish Program (Maryland State Institutional Sales)
Retail/Marketplace (e.g., farmers markets, roadside stands)
Online/E-commerce platform
10.
What are the current marketing strategies for this business? (Check all that apply)
Social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
Business website/Online storefront
Email newsletters
Word of mouth/Physical signage
Events/Expos
Print Advertisement
Digital Advertisement
Influencer
Other
11.
In the past 5 years, has this business recognized notable shifts in market demand?
Unsure
Varies substantially by product
Decreased substantially
Decreased somewhat
Stayed about the same
Increased somewhat
Increased substantially
Unsure
Varies substantially by product
Decreased substantially
Decreased somewhat
Stayed about the same
Increased somewhat
Increased substantially
12.
If you answered "yes" to question 11 please explain.
13.
Which factors are currently the greatest threats to successfully marketing Maryland seafood?
14.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Marketing and Agricultural Development (MAD) Program oversees the promotion of locally grown and sourced products, while supporting Maryland farmers and watermen, through a variety of initiatives and activities. Please rate your familiarity with the following activities
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
“Maryland’s Best” Branding for Maryland Agricultural Products and Seafood (MDA)
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annual Buyer/Grower Expo
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
“True Blue” Branding for Blue Crab Authenticity and Quality Assurance (MDA)
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
“AgriTrails”, featuring “Sip & Shuck”- a “trail” to get consumers to visit restaurants and breweries featuring oysters
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
“Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail” (Maryland Department of Commerce)
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
Certified Local Farm & Fish Program (Maryland State Institutional Sales)
1 = Never Heard of this Initiative
2 = I am aware of this Initiative, but have not participated
3 = I am aware of this initiative, and have participated in the past
4 = I am aware of and actively engaged with this initiative
15.
In Maryland, the Seafood Marketing Program is a State-led initiative through the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Please rate the level of importance for each prospective role of a successful statewide seafood marketing program:
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
General Advertising
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
Consumer Education
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
Business Guidance and Training (Marketing)
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
Market Development
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
Statewide Branding
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
Data and Studies
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
Trade Show/Expo Participation
Not at all important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
Unsure
16.
Of the roles listed above, which THREE should be the highest priorities for Maryland's Seafood Marketing Program?
First
Second
Third
General Advertising
Consumer Education
Business Guidance and Training (Marketing)
Market Development
Statewide Branding
Data and Studies
Trade Show/Expo Participation
17.
Please rate the level of importance for each prospective statewide seafood marketing activity as it relates to this business:
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Social Media
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Print Advertising
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Digital Advertising
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
TV Commercials
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Billboards
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Public Engagement (sampling/events)
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
Earned Media/ PR
Not important
Somewhat important
Important
Moderately Important
Extremely Important
N/A
18.
Where do you sell your products? Check all that apply:
Within the State of Maryland
Mid-Atlantic Region
Throughout the United States
Internationally
19.
Are you interested in international export opportunities?
Yes
No
20.
If you answered "yes" to question 18, what international markets are you interested in exploring?
21.
If interested in international export opportunities, for which products?
Finfish (Chesapeake Bay Watershed) (excluding Blue Catfish)
Finfish (Coastal Bays/Ocean) (excluding Blue Catfish)
Blue Catfish
Maryland Blue Crabs
Shellfish, Wild-caught (Excluding Oysters)
Shellfish, Aquaculture (Excluding Oysters)
Oysters, Wild-caught
Oysters, Aquaculture
Other Seafood Options (please specify)
22.
What would your business need in order to pursue international markets?
Identification of buyers
Export market research
Regulatory guidance
Certifications/inspection
Packaging and labeling assistance
Transportation/cold-chain assistance
Increased processing capacity
Increased product volume
Financing
Trade-show/trade-mission assistance
Unsure
Other (please specify)
23.
What are currently the greatest opportunities for expanding Maryland’s seafood industries?
24.
What are currently the biggest needs for supporting Maryland’s seafood industries?
25.
Please provide any other feedback or concerns that may not have been addressed in previous questions.
Current Progress,
0 of 25 answered
