Oregon State Marine Board release – The Oregon State Marine Board is seeking participants for its Boater Survey, formerly known as the “Triennial Survey of Boat Use.” Did you go fishing, crabbing, hunting, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, drift boating, stand-up paddleboarding, cruising, sailing, or enjoy towed watersports, or any other activity from July through December? Then you’re a boater and the agency would like to hear what you did, and where. The agency would especially like to hear from respondents from the last survey round from October 2023 to complete a full year of data. In years past, the Triennial Survey was mailed to a group of registered motorboat owners every three years. As recreational boating use and agency programs have changed and nonmotorized use has drastically expanded, the agency has changed its survey design. This survey solicitation will be biannual and will capture boat use data every six months. This first iteration gathered data from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023. The current survey captures activities from July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. Survey data will be used to help the agency prioritize resources based on the needs of the boating public. The Boater Survey is open now through February 29, 2024. The survey is designed to allow you to provide details for as many boating experiences you enjoyed each month by waterway, boat type, and activity from July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. If you didn’t go boating, there’s also an opportunity to explain your reasons. Identifying any barriers is also key data the agency wants to capture. The Marine Board is directly funded by boaters through fees for motorboat registration, titling, and waterway access permits, as well as through marine fuel taxes. No lottery, general fund tax dollars or local facility parking fees support the agency or its programs. Boater-paid fees go back to boaters for on-water marine law enforcement services, boating safety education, aquatic invasive species inspection stations, hands-on opportunities in underserved communities and boating facility grants to develop, maintain, or improve accessibility and access to the water. Learn more about the Marine Board and its diverse programs to serve all recreational boaters at Boat.Oregon.gov.
