Table 1. Descriptive statistics and reliability analysis for the response of the sample of commercial fishers to each survey item; α is Chronbach's α. Survey items Mean† Standard deviation Item-total correlation α if item deleted I am confident that I could get work elsewhere if I needed to. 1.98 1.06 .46 .653 I would be nervous trying something else.‡ 1.89 .97 .45 .656 I am more likely to adapt to change compared to other fishers I know. 2.68 .90 .47 .656 I am confident things will turn out well regardless of changes. 2.09 1.08 .43 .656 I have many career options available to me if I decide to no longer be a fisher. 1.66 .91 .41 .662 Every time there is a new change I plan a way to make it work for me. 2.86 .94 .68 .666 If there are any more changes I will not survive much longer.‡ 2.18 1.00 .32 .670 I can cope with small changes in industry. 3.01 .85 -.05 .676 I am too young to retire and too old to find work elsewhere.‡ 1.66 .88 .23 .680 I have planned for my financial security. 3.06 .98 .20 .684 I am not competitive enough to survive much longer.‡ 2.86 1.15 .13 .684 I am interested in learning new skills outside of the industry. 2.32 1.1 .17 .685 I would find it very difficult working for someone else.§ 1.89 1.02 .56 .685 Change is normal part of our everyday life.§ 2.85 .84 .28 .686 I would like to start up a business one day doing something other than fishing.§ 1.97 .95 .30 .693 I believe that the future will look after itself.§ 1.64 .85 .02 .700 I am always thinking of new and better ways to improve my fishing business.§ 2.97 .94 .27 .706 †Statements were measured on a 4-point scale: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree. ‡The data for negatively worded statements were reversed prior to analysis. §The five statements that were removed from the scale were those with the largest Cronbach's α if deleted.