New UMass harbor survey seeks data on boaters

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August 23, 2010

By Andrea Holbrook Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Mon Aug 23, 2010, 10:41 PM EDT

Where do you boat and what do you spend?

Those are just two of the questions on a survey being distributed by the University of Massachusetts Boston's Urban Harbors Institute and the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership, together with Marine Consulting Services and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.

The survey is gathering detailed information on the recreational uses of coastal waters and boaters' spending habits.

Boaters will be asked where they go; how often they go out; what they do while boating (i.e. fishing, sightseeing, etc.); and how much they spend on boating. The information gathered will serve a number of purposes, including ensuring that boaters' favorite routes and destinations receive appropriate attention when management decisions are made about Massachusetts' ocean waters.

The survey is running through September, but it may be extended through October, said Dan Hellin, a research associate with Urban Harbors, the consultant group which wrote the state-financed Gloucster Harbor plan.

Additionally, a small paper-based pilot study is being conducted to gather spatial and spending information from out-of-state boaters who visit certain boating facilities in Massachusetts.

Early this summer, letters went out to 10,000 recreational boaters in Massachusetts inviting them to participate in the Massachusetts Recreational Boater Survey 2010. Now, even those who did not receive a letter about the survey can participate either online at www.maboatersurvey.com or by accessing the survey at select gateway locations, including Gloucester's Cape Ann's Marina resort.

"So far all we've really looked at the routes people are taking. We haven't done deep analysis, but they're about what you would expect, from Cape Ann, Marblehead, Boston Harbor, Cape Cod," Hellin said. "Offshore activities seem so far to be where recreation boaters and those in the marine trade are expected. It will be interested to see if that changes later in the season."

Any boater volunteer can complete the survey, when he or she goes on a trip. "It's all going to be helpful," Hellin said.

The team conducting the survey is working in partnership with the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, the Massachusetts Boating and Yacht Clubs Association, the Massachusetts Harbormasters Association and Sailors for the Sea.

Funding for this study is being provided by the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership, an independent public-private partnership, which aims to promote healthy, resilient ocean ecosystems and thriving, sustainable marine dependent communities, industries and businesses.

Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at 978-283-7000 x3456 or aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.