The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center are seeking commercial scallop fishermen to test a sea scallop data collection app. This app aims to collect data on the distribution and prevalence of scallop diseases and assess reproductive condition year-round. This data will help fishermen inform management in a changing environment. Click HERE to apply.
Apply By: January 25, 2023
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is seeking applications for mobile gear fishing vessels to participate in a new research project to test an electronic gear location marking application. This project will provide much needed information on how accurately the application marks the location of fixed gear, as well as how helpful the application is to mobile fishermen to help plan the location of their tows.
Each selected vessel will be provided with a cellular signal booster and a tablet with a gear location marking application installed. Participants will be compensated to use the application on up to 10 regular fishing days and provide feedback on the accuracy, helpfulness, and feasibility of using this application. You can learn more about the project on the webpage.
Interested? For more information on how to participate click here and to download the application form click here. If you are interested in applying, please complete and submit the application form by May 1, 2022.
Questions? Please contact
Katie Viducic, Research Biologist, CFRF
Email: kviducic@cfrfoundation.org
Phone: (401) 515-4892
David Bethoney, Executive Director, CFRF
Email: dbethoney@cfrfoundation.org
Phone: (401) 515-4662
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography are jointly proposing to Orsted to undertake a ventless trap survey to monitor lobster and crab species in the Revolution Wind Farm Area off southern New England. We are seeking commercial fishermen to join us in the proposal process and, if funded, to undertake the proposed ventless trap survey. A document outlining the proposed survey, and associated work, is linked below. If you are interested in applying, please complete and submit the application below by January 21, 2022.
Please click the links below to view and download the documents:
Revolution Wind Farm Ventless Trap Survey Vessel Briefing Document
Revolution Wind Farm Ventless Trap Survey Vessel Application
Questions? Please contact:
Michael Long, Research Biologist, CFRF
Email: mlong@cfrfoundation.org
Phone: (401)-515-4892
David Bethoney, Executive Director, CFRF
Email: dbethoney@cfrfoundation.org
Phone: (401)-515-4662
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is seeking eight commercial whelk F/Vs, from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, to pilot a Whelk Research Fleet. Participating vessels will work with the CFRF and its collaborators to collect data during commercial whelk trips to fill fishery dependent data gaps and provide critically important data for whelk management. If you are interested in applying, please complete and submit the application by December 17th.
Interested? Questions? Please contact
Thomas Heimann, Research Biologist, CFRF
Email: theimann@cfrfoundation.org, Phone: (401) 515-4892
More information about this project is available on the project webpage.
Different seasons, different yields. Managers know this too, but don't have the data needed to incorporate it into quota allocations. Work with us to change this.
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is seeking 4 LAGC and 2 LA scallop vessels to join the pilot Sea Scallop Research Fleet. The data will help inform fisheries management on the changes in scallop meat weight, quality and reproductive potential by area and season. Applications are due by May 21st. If you would like to submit an application for consideration please fill out the application and forward either via email, fax or mail to CFRF. For more information about the project and to download the vessel application form visit the project webpage.
The CFRF is currently seeking applications from fishing vessels interested in participating in the ghost gear mapping and removal trials! The at-sea trials will test underwater video technology for locating and removing ghost gear in Narragansett Bay starting late spring and running through summer of 2021. The deadline to apply to participate is March 31, 2021. If you would like to submit an application for consideration please fill out the application and forward either via email, fax or mail to CFRF. For more information about the project and to download the vessel application form visit the project webpage.
If you have any questions about the project prior to applying, please reach out directly to CFRF Research Associate, Susan Inglis, singlis@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4892
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is currently seeking applications for two commercial fishing vessels to participate in a new research project piloting automatic squid jigging gear in the southern New England inshore longfin squid fishery!
The two selected vessels will work with CFRF and The Town Dock Project Team to install and conduct at-sea trials of automatic squid jigs in the summer of 2021 inshore longfin squid fishery. The vessels will undertake chartered trips, with CFRF Research Biologists onboard to collect data, beginning in June and running through August of 2021.
For more information about the project and to download the vessel application form visit the project webpage HERE. If you have questions please contact CFRF Research Biologist, Thomas Heimann at theimann@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4892.
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) is soliciting applications from fishermen interested in joining the Black Sea Bass Research Fleet. We are looking to bring onboard three vessels from Rhode Island and the New Jersey fish pot fishery. Monthly Research Fleet responsibilities include sampling 150 black sea bass (size/sex) at sea using the On Deck Data application and collecting 50 black sea bass (from Rhode Island state water only) for diet and age/growth analysis at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM).
To apply, fill out an application (available HERE) and submit it to CFRF either via email, fax, or mail. There is no deadline to apply however the CFRF will fill the three slots in the Research Fleet as qualified applications are received so get applications in as soon as possible!
The CFRF and RI DEM launched the Black Sea Bass Research Fleet in December 2016. The Black Sea Bass Research Fleet currently employs fourteen Rhode Island commercial fishermen, from a variety of gear types, to collect biological and fishery data on black sea bass throughout the year. Fishermen collect data during routine fishing practices using a specialized tablet application. Data includes fishing effort metrics and size and sex of individual black sea bass. The data is used to create catch and discard characterizations of the black sea bass fishery to help reduce uncertainty within the stock assessment. For more information about the project visit the project webpage (HERE) or to learn about Research Fleet responsibilities download the project briefing document (HERE).
If you have questions please contact Thomas Heimann at theimann@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4892.
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is engaging Orsted to participate in their fisheries monitoring surveys of the South Fork Wind Offshore Wind Farm near Cox's Ledge. We are seeking commercial fishermen to join us in the proposals for this work which includes four different surveys: beam trawl, fish pot, gillnet, and ventless trap. A document for each survey with details about the scope of work are provided via link below. If you are interested please complete an application provided below and return by May 19th. We understand this is a short turnaround, but the full proposals are due shortly after.
Please click on the documents below to view and download:
CFRF Survey Vessel Application
CFRF Beam Trawl Briefing Document
CFRF Fish Pot Briefing Document
CFRF Gillnet Briefing Document
CFRF Ventless Trap Survey
Questions? Please contact
Gillnet: Aubrey Ellertson, CFRF Research Biologist at (401)515-4892, aellertson@cfrfoundation.org
Beam Trawl: Dave Bethoney, CFRF Executive Director at (401) 515-4662, dbethoney@cfrfoundation.org
Fish pot: Thomas Heimann, CFRF Research Biologist at (401)515-4892, theimann@cfrfoundation.org
Ventless Trap Survey: Mike Long, CFRF Research Biologist at (401) 515-4892, mlong@cfrfoundation.org
