Recreational Anglers - Feasibility of the Ban of Fishing in Port Phillip and Corio Bays - Research Proposal Example

Word Count: 1874 Recreational Anglers Introduction The Government of Victoria, announced its decision to ban net fishing by commercial fishers in Port Phillip and Corio Bays. A state government agency was asked to collect data of recreational anglers engaging in fishing at Port Phillip and Corio Bays and the number of fish being caught by them per year. In this research work, appropriate sampling methods for collecting data will be suggested. In this regard, issues relating to the data collection will be discussed. As such, techniques of sample selection such as surveys and interviews will be discussed. In addition, other issues such as ethical concerns and designing of an appropriate plan for data collection will be examined. Moreover, issues such as participant’s right to privacy will be examined. Thus, selection of participants for a research purpose is the most important aspect of a successful research programme. Furthermore, issues relating to confidentiality will be scrutinised. In addition to this, for gathering data with respect to recreational anglers, sampling methods, such as clustered stratified random survey method has been described. In relation to this, survey questions have been framed. These survey questions will be used to discuss the views of recreational fishing license holders with respect to the ban on fishing. Question One a. Advice Regarding Sampling For collecting the data with respect to the number of people in recreational fishing in the areas of Port Phillip and Corio, we will follow the following survey method. For instance, a good design for collecting information entails consideration of the theoretical framework, goals and research questions of the entire study. It is essential for these components to be coherent and correlated. Moreover, the report should enable its readers to comprehend the reasons behind the options selected by the researcher. The nature of the information varies with the method of the interview, such as, via computer or telephone, by the use of focus groups or one subject at a time[Cre09]. The selection of samples from populations should ensure the maximisation of the possibility that these samples represent the population to the greatest extent possible. Indeed, the aim should be to achieve a close resemblance between the sample and the population from which it is drawn. Upon ensuring such similarity, it becomes possible to generalise the results, arrived at on the basis of the sample, to the population in question. Under these circumstances, the results of the study are termed generalizable[Agu08]. It is necessary, whilst conducting research in the field or in the laboratory, to exercise the utmost care to safeguard the right of the participants to be protected from psycho-somatic harm. Despite the fact that organisational research does not entail such harm in the usual course, it is possible for such harm to transpire. Consequently, it is incumbent upon researchers to take the necessary precautions to prevent harm befalling participants. In addition, researchers have to determine whether the harm invoked deliberately is justified by the benefits provided by the research or whether other research methods could have been employed for procuring the information without any resulting harm[Agu08]. Furthermore, researchers are obliged to safeguard the other rights of the participants, such as those of informed consent, privacy, debriefing, protection from deception and confidentiality. With regard to the above survey, we will obtain the addresses of the participants from the state recreational records; and questionnaires will be posted to the participants. As such, we will conduct a survey to assess the number of recreational fishers through posting survey questionnaires to the concerned people with an assurance regarding maintenance of their privacy and confidentiality. b. Criteria Considered in addition to Information Accuracy Some of the criteria to be considered, with respect to sampling decisions, are enumerated below. First, whilst planning research, the researchers concerned have to arrive at an evaluation regarding their competence and knowledge regarding ethical guidelines, use of sound designs, and establish their work’s ethical acceptability. Second, during the selection and recruitment of participants, it is necessary for researchers to take into account the different issues that could emerge from the use of volunteers and subject pools. These could include, subtle coercion and the exercising of extra care to prevent harm to members of groups that had been exploited or discriminated against in the past[Agu08]. Third, at the time of conducting research, it should be borne in mind that the participants’ rights to informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, protection for deception and harm are respected. Fourth, researchers have to resolve the dilemmas arising from conflicting functions, prior to undertaking research. Fifth, whilst reporting results, researchers should avoid censoring of data, misrepresentation of results, plagiarism and other forms of unethical behaviours. Sixth, it is necessary for researchers to remain cognisant of developing ethical concerns that have not been dealt with by the extant ethical codes[Agu08]. As such, while conducting surveys, other aspects such as informed consent, and safeguarding confidentiality and privacy will be taken in to consideration. Question Two a. Suggested Research Methods For collecting data with respect to the number of recreational anglers and the number of fish they catch per year, the following research method will be adopted. As such, the method of clustered stratified random survey is recommended for undertaking this investigation. This method has been described in the sequel. For instance, this survey employed remote methods as the principal means of collecting information from the recreational fishers. This involved the extraction of a clustered stratified random sample of residential telephone numbers from the appropriate electronic telephone directories. Accordingly, researchers contacted each household over the phone and carried out an interview with respondents. This was aimed at obtaining information regarding their fishing and boating activities, as well as their demographic profile[New02]. We will follow the research method of clustered stratified random survey to collect data of recreational anglers in the areas of Port Phillip and Corio. In addition, respondents who stated that a member of their household was expected to undertake fishing, within the year, were requested to take part in a diary survey. Thereafter, these households were provided with survey kits, which contained a diary, fish identification booklet and letter of confirmation from the concerned fishery management agency. Moreover, fishing households were contacted every month, in order to collect information regarding fishing activity and the expenditure incurred on fishing related items. Moreover, several validation and calibration surveys were conducted during the final stages of the diary survey, in order to correct the sources of bias, such as non-response. These surveys included refusals, on-site creel, non-contact, and intending non-fisher. This survey was conducted at the national level and a project team was formed for each Australian State and Territory, in order to implement it[New02]. We adopt these validation and calibration surveys in the final stages, in order to correct the sources of bias and fill the gaps in the survey. b. Appropriateness of this Method This method was the most appropriate, under the circumstances. It involved the polling of a significant proportion of the population of the targeted areas, which in turn resulted in the identification of a large number of fishers. In a similar case in New South Wales, a very large number of these fishers participated in the survey and accepted a diary. The representative nature of the initial screening was ratified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data relating to recreational fishing was expanded to the estimation of the government regarding participation and rectified for latent biases. In this manner, a comprehensive collection of data was obtained, vis-à-vis the recreational fishing sector of New South Wales (NSW)[New02]. This study had employed a telephone survey to conduct interviews with recreational fishers (RF) regarding their activity and costs. In one method of survey, traditional screening was used to identify and interview RFs. In the other method, a selection of such fishers was made from the records and these individuals were interviewed[Pep13]. As such, a significantly less expensive recall survey method was utilised in this exercise. Hence, this method is the most appropriate in our present case, for collecting data relating to recreational anglers. Question Three a. Impact upon Commercial Fishing License Holders For collecting the opinion of the commercial fishing license holders, regarding the effects of ban on their fishing, the following survey methods will be employed. For example, the proposed survey comprises of the following methods, namely interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. It is the aim of this survey to make fishers the respondents in the above survey methods. The information so obtained is to be maintained in a confidential manner, and personal information will not be conveyed to the Ministry of Fisheries[Pen07]. The latter will be provided with merely summarised anonymous information. It was the intention of the agency to evaluate the impact upon a group consisting of 43 fishing license holders in the area. As a consequence, a brief survey was to be carried out, utilising a randomly selected sample from that area. The aim of this survey was to obtain the opinions of these commercial fishing license holders. During this survey, the participants would be invited to share their views regarding the prohibition of commercial net fishing’s outcomes upon them. In this endeavour, the confidentiality and privacy of the participants would be ensured by providing nothing more than anonymous information to the agency. Moreover, it had been decided to post printed survey question forms to the participants. Thereafter, these participants would be requested to transmit the completed forms via the enclosed self-addressed envelopes. The envisaged survey questions were; what is your present income; how are your fishing efforts; how much is the cost of fishing; what do you perceive will emerge from the ban, with respect to your fishing operations; what is your health condition; other than fishing do you engage in community and social activities; do you have any future and retirement plans; from how many years have you been a commercial fisher; in the absence of fishing what would you have done; do you hire a fishing crew or other workers; if so how many, when and what work do you allot to them? b. Relevance of Survey Items or Interview Questions towards the Capture of Data Pertaining to the Influence of this Ban upon Commercial Fishing Licence Holders It is evident that these survey items disclose data relating to the effect of the prohibition on fishing license holders. As such, the health condition and income of the participants is disclosed by these questions. In addition, there is disclosure regarding the expenditure involved in fishing and employment of other staff. Moreover, this data reveals the experience and standing of the survey participants in the field of fishing. Furthermore, this data discloses the future plans of the participants, in the aftermath of the implementation of the prohibition. As such, it reveals the assumptions and expectations of these individuals with respect to the ban on net fishing. References Aguinis, H. & Henle, C. A., 2008. Ethics in Research. In: S. G. Rogelberg, ed. Handbook of Research Methods in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Malden, MA, USA: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 34-56. Crescentini, A. & Mainardi, G., 2009. Qualitative research articles: guidelines, suggestions and needs. Journal of Workplace Learning, 21(5), pp. 431-439. New South Wales Government. Department of Primary Industries, 2002. Survey of Recreational Fishing in New South Wales. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 March 2016]. Penny, G., Dumbell, G., Vincent, P. & McEntee, S., 2007. A Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Fishers: Proposed Options to Mitigate Fishing Threats to Hector's and Maui's Dolphins. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 March 2016]. Pepperell, J. & McIlgorm, A., 2013. Project: Developing a cost effective state wide expenditure survey method to measure the economic contribution of the recreational fishing sector in NSW. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 March 2016]. Read More