Clone of Social Perception Questionnaire

About the REFEST Project

The REFEST project (Retrofitting of Fishing Fleets with Low Payback Time and Easy to Deploy Solutions for Footprint and GHG Emissions Reduction) is an EU-funded initiative under Horizon Europe, aiming to significantly reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in traditional fishing vessels. By implementing scalable, cost-effective, and easy-to-install retrofit solutions, REFEST seeks to achieve up to a 40% reduction in emissions while improving operational efficiency. The project involves 14 partners across 10 countries and demonstrates its innovations on pilot vessels in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, ensuring practical applicability and readiness for large-scale deployment. For further information please visit: REFEST Project Official Website

Technologies Developed and Tested
REFEST focuses on a set of innovative retrofit technologies designed for quick implementation and low payback time. These include:

Hull appendages, such as bulbs and spray rails to reduce drag and improve vessel stability.
Hybrid propulsion, by integrating RIM-drive systems with diesel engines.
Air lubrication system, to reduce the skin friction on the hulls.
Low-weight and flexible solar panels installed on the deck.
Lightweight Li-Ion batteries for energy storage, ensuring safety and recyclability.
AI-based eco-driving software and Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) to reduce fuel consumption.
Multi-functional optical fibre sensors for fishing ships monitoring.
Recyclable materials, such as composites and thermoplastics for structural parts and battery casings, ensuring durability and compliance with marine safety standards.

Purpose of this questionnaire

This questionnaire aims to collect perceptions on the social implications of technologies supporting the decarbonization of the fishing sector.

The social topics included in this survey have been selected based on their relevance to the transition toward low environmental impact solutions in the fishing industry. They reflect key dimensions such as affordability, safety, inclusiveness, transparency, and community engagement.

These topics are based on established methodologies for assessing social impacts, particularly Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA).

All responses are anonymous and will be analyzed in aggregated form only.

Stakeholder Categories

Before proceeding, please review the stakeholder group descriptions. According to SETAC guidelines, the categories are:

Workers: Individuals employed directly in the boatbuilding sites.
Local Communities: Populations living in geographic proximity to life cycle activities and affected by their environmental, social, or economic impacts. This includes, for example, communities dependent on fish consumption sourced from retrofitted vessels.
Consumers: End-users of the boats, meaning individuals or entities that purchase and use the vessels, primarily affected during the use phase.
Value Chain Actors (excluding consumers): Organizations and partners involved in upstream and downstream stages of the value chain, excluding final users.
Society: The broader socio-economic system affected at national or global level by the product system’s activities.

Please, select the group you belong to from the following list:

Instructions
Please review the statements listed below and indicate your level of agreement with each of them using the scale provided:

1 = Strongly disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Neither agree nor disagree
4 = Agree
5 = Strongly agree

Workers

Rows	Level of Agreement
There are internal mechanisms that allow me to report operational issues or suggest improvements to the technology without fear of negative repercussions.
My organisation provides specific training or capacity-building opportunities that contribute to my professional development and the acquisition of new technical skills in the context of decarbonization.
Fishing sector associations organize capacity-building events aimed at supporting the decarbonization of the sector.
My organisation and/or the fishing sector promotes equal access for women to training and technical and managerial roles.
I am willing to receive health and safety training related to the installation of these technologies on boats.
My organisation provides health and safety training related to these technologies.

Local Communities

Rows	Level of Agreement
I am willing to pay a premium price for a final product obtained using technologies with a lower environmental impact.
I have been actively consulted or involved in demonstrations of these technologies in my area through meetings, discussions, or feedback sessions.
I have attended or am aware of events organized by local fishing sector associations on the decarbonization of sea-related activities.
Adequate systems or infrastructure are available in my region for the responsible collection and recycling of these technologies.
I am willing to support the decarbonization of the fishing sector by welcoming the implementation of these technologies with lower environmental impact.
Supporting the decarbonization of the fishing sector is an important issue for me.
Pollution caused by ports affects me.

Consumers

Rows	Level of Agreement
What level of capital would you be willing to invest in technologies with a lower environmental impact? • 1 = < €50,000 • 2 = €50,000 – €100,000 • 3 = €100,000 – €200,000 • 4 = €200,000 – €500,000 • 5 = > €500,000
These technologies have a positive effect on the comfort of the boat space (e.g. noise reduction, space availability, vibration).
I have a good level of awareness and knowledge of the correct practices to follow at the end of life of these technologies.
The end-of-life of these technologies (e.g. recycling, reuse, or disposal) is easy to follow and safe.
I am clearly informed about what types of personal or operational data are collected and how they are securely stored.
Technology sellers will provide clear, transparent, and accurate information about these technologies and their environmental and social impacts once they reach market maturity.
Adopting these technologies in boats is as safe as standard alternatives.

Value Chain Actors

Rows	Level of Agreement
Based on my knowledge and experience, the implementation of these technologies with a lower environmental impact is as affordable as standard alternatives.
Based on my knowledge and experience, the implementation of these technologies will require excessive costs for boat owners.
These technologies have a positive effect on the comfort of the boat space (e.g. noise reduction, space availability, vibration).
The fishing sector and/or my organisation is adequately addressing potential issues related to the end-of-life of these technologies.
The fishing sector and/or my organisation follows clear policies to prevent the unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property, ensuring fair competition and promoting decarbonization within the industry.
My organisation maintains a high level of transparency in its communication with partners regarding shared technical data and operational challenges.
The fishing sector and/or my organisation provides specific training or capacity-building opportunities that contribute to professional development and the acquisition of new technical skills in the context of decarbonization.
The processes for selecting partners and suppliers within my organisation are transparent, equitable, and based on clear and objective criteria.
My organisation and/or the fishing sector promotes equal access for women to training and technical and managerial roles.
The manufacturing of these technologies with a lower environmental impact is as safe as standard alternatives.
The fishing sector and/or my organisation proactively addresses potential health and safety risks linked to these new technologies.

Which technology poses the higher threats to affordability in your opinion?

Society

Rows	Level of Agreement
I am willing to pay a premium price for a final product obtained using technologies with a lower environmental impact.
I am willing to promote the decarbonization of the fishing sector by welcoming the implementation of these technologies with a lower environmental impact.
Promoting the decarbonization of the fishing sector is an important issue for me.
Pollution caused by ports affects me.

REFERENCES:

- ORIENTING 2023 (D2.5) – Specification of social indicators for LCSA. Authors: L. Zanchi, A. Zamagni, S. Pillay, D. Mangana, R. Harmens, H. Pihkola, E. Paronen, E. Hylkilä, T. Sonderegger, E. C. Martinez, P. Saling, M. Isasa, R. Ugarte. EU Horizon 2020 project ORIENTING (GA No 958231).
- UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment (2020)

Social Perception Survey on Decarbonization Technologies in the Fishing Sector