Four undergraduate students from Brown University worked with CFRF staff and Board of Directors member Norbert Stamps to produce a video in conjunction with a bill moving through the Rhode Island state legislature. The bill would ban the release of bulk balloons in the state. In January, Representative Susan Donovan first introduced the bill to the RI House Judiciary to ban bulk balloon release. The bill (2020-H 7261), which is modeled after legislation proposed in New Jersey, would prohibit the mass release without recovery of plastic and Mylar balloons, other than for scientific or meteorological purposes with government permission. Each violation would be punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense. Photos and videos provided by fishermen who found balloons floating at sea were used along with an interview of Norbert to spread awareness about this issue. Check out CFRF’s Facebook page to see the video, and share with your friends to spread awareness to the issue of mass balloon release!
Call for Applications: Lobster and Jonah Crab F/Vs
The CFRF is currently seeking two commercial fishing vessels to join the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet to help fill offshore data gaps (areas in red below). Do you fish in these areas? Do you know someone who does? Apply today!
Responsibilities:
· F/Vs sample a minimum of 300 lobsters or 60 commercial traps per month.
· F/Vs sample a minimum of 150 Jonah crabs or 60 commercial traps per month.
· F/Vs sample lobster and Jonah crab from ventless traps provided by CFRF.
Compensation:
· The total stipend amount for the tasks listed above = $600 per month.
· Stipend is broken down in the following manner: $300/month for 3 commercial lobster sampling sessions, and $300/month for 3 commercial Jonah crab sampling sessions
Timeline:
· The timeline for this project is from July 2018 through June 2020.
For more information about the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet please visit our project website (CLICK HERE).
For more information about participant responsibilities and sampling protocols CLICK HERE.
If you would like to apply to participate in the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet, please fill out the application and submit to CFRF either via email, fax or mail. To download the vessel application, CLICK HERE.
Interested? Please contact Aubrey Ellertson, Research Associate, CFRF
Email: aellertson@cfrfoundation.org, Phone: (401) 515-4892
Applications are due to the CFRF by Monday, October 15th.
Thursday, August 30th: CFRF Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Session
Please join the CFRF and its collaborators for a Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Session on Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 4-6 PM in the conference room of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island. The Research Session will include:
- Discussion of the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet, including reflections from participant fishermen, data summaries, plans for the future, and viewing of the project documentary video.
- Presentations from collaborators at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries on research surrounding Jonah crab size at sexual maturity and the sustainability of the Jonah crab fishery
- Presentation from lobster and Jonah crab stock assessment scientist at the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, focusing on the use of the Research Fleet’s data in the lobster stock assessment and Jonah crab management plan.
- Presentation from the University of Rhode Island involving collecting fishermen's knowledge to inform management of Jonah crab in Southern New England
- And more!
Please RSVP to Aubrey at aellertson@cfrfoundation.org or (401) 515-4892.
Directions to the CFC of RI can be found here: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/contact-us/
For more information please visit our project webpage: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/jonah-crab-lobster-research-fleet/
Can not attend in person? Please attend meeting via conference call: http://global.gotomeeting.com/join/251547325 . You can also dial in using your phone (571) 317-3122. Conference passcode: 251-547-325
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation
Join CFRF at the 148th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society!
The CFRF staff are excited to be heading down to Atlantic City, NJ for the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting from August 19th-23rd! (https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/)
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 is Stakeholder Engagement Day! Stakeholders will have the opportunity to learn about the latest research and issues impacting their industries, and discuss collaborative opportunities with scientists and fishery managers.
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation will be hosting and presenting at three symposiums on Tuesday, August 21st that go from 9:00am-5pm. They are the following:
1) American Lobster and Jonah Crabs: Assessing Biological and Fishery Impacts, and Stock Status in a Rapidly Changing Ecosystem (Full day symposium. CFRF presentation at 3:00pm)
2) Latest Advances in Black Sea Bass Research and Management (Full day symposium. CFRF presentation at 4:40pm)
3) Bringing in the Experts: Collaborative Research Partnerships with Fishing Industry Stakeholders (Full day symposium. CFRF presentation at 11:20am)
We are excited to share information about CFRF’s Research Fleets and our project results. We hope to see you there!
You're Invited: Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Session
Please join the CFRF and its collaborators for a Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Session on Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 4-6 PM in the conference room of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island. The Research Session will include:
- Discussion of the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet, including reflections from participant fishermen, data summaries, plans for the future, and viewing of the project documentary video.
- The CFRF Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet was developed in 2013 and has involved over 20 F/Vs in collecting biological and environmental data using digital calipers and specialized tablet apps. To date, the Research Fleet has sampled over 112,000 lobsters and 54,000 Jonah crabs. This June marked 5 years of data collection!
- Presentations from collaborators at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries on research surrounding Jonah crab size at sexual maturity and the sustainability of the Jonah crab fishery
- Presentations from lobster and Jonah crab stock assessment scientists at the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, focusing on the use of the Research Fleet’s data in the lobster stock assessment and Jonah crab management plan.
- And more!
Please RSVP to Aubrey at aellertson@cfrfoundation.org or (401) 515-4892.
Directions to the CFC of RI can be found here: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/contact-us/
For more information please visit our project webpage: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/jonah-crab-lobster-research-fleet/
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation
Invitation to Stakeholder Engagement Day, American Fisheries Society (AFS) 2018 Annual Meeting
Dear Fishing Industry,
We're excited to announce Stakeholder Engagement Day on Tuesday, August 21 as a part of this year's annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Atlantic City, NJ (full meeting runs from August 19-23):
Meeting website: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/
Stakeholder Engagement Day is intended to increase the participation of industry stakeholders at the annual meeting to provide the opportunity to learn about the science and management impacting their industries, to stimulate collaborative industry-scientist partnerships, and provide greater opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to events at the meeting.
The schedule has been set so that many topics of greatest interest to industry stakeholders will occur on Stakeholder Engagement Day. There will be numerous presentations and discussion panels on topics related to collaborative research, fisheries management, offshore energy development, stakeholder engagement, resource surveys, electronic monitoring, summer flounder, black sea bass, sturgeon, lobster, Jonah crab, and much more!
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation will be hosting and presenting at three symposiums on Tuesday, August 21st, 2018 that go from 9:00am-5pm. They are the following:
-American Lobster and Jonah Crabs: Assessing Biological and Fishery Impacts, and Stock Status in a Rapidly Changing Ecosystem (Full day symposium. CFRF presentation at 3:00pm)
-Latest Advances in Black Sea Bass Research and Management (Full day symposium. CFRF presentation at 4:40pm)
-Bringing in the Experts: Collaborative Research Partnerships with Fishing Industry Stakeholders (Full day symposium. CFRF presentation at 11:20am)
We are excited to share information about CFRF’s Research Fleets and our project results!
Full schedule for the meeting: https://afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org/preliminary-schedule/
List of symposium sessions by day: https://afs.confex.com/afs/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Program/1086
A reduced daily registration rate of $50 per person (full price is normally $330) is available for qualifying industry stakeholders who wish to attend on Stakeholder Engagement Day on Tuesday, August 21. Please complete the short application at the link below by August 15 to apply for reduced registration. But, be sure to apply early to guarantee a ticket to the evening networking event with food and a cash bar at the Bass Pro Shops of Atlantic City from 5:00-7:30 PM! Applicants will be notified within two weeks whether or not their application has been approved, at which time they will be provided with additional information related to the meeting. The target audience for this reduced registration, and part of the criteria considered while reviewing applications, includes people who earn their primary living from fishing or aquaculture related businesses, or representatives of related businesses or associations.
Application for reduced registration: https://goo.gl/forms/F6uHHN8VmoouIq6I2
If you have any questions, or would like more information, including opportunities to participate in discussion panels, present about your fishery, or potential sources for additional financial assistance to attend, then please contact one of the members of our Program Sub-Committee on Stakeholder Engagement (names and contact info below).
We're looking forward to seeing many of you in Atlantic City in August!
Sincerely,
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation
Program Sub-Committee on Stakeholder Engagement
Chair – Dr. Douglas Zemeckis (Rutgers University): zemeckis@njaes.rutgers.edu
Dr. Eleanor Bochenek (Rutgers University): eboch@hsrl.rutgers.edu
Bill Duffy (NOAA): william.duffy@noaa.gov
Christopher McGuire (The Nature Conservancy): cmcguire@tnc.org
Dr. Jason Morson (Rutgers University): jmorson@hsrl.rutgers.edu
Kenneth Keene (NOAA): kenneth.keene@noaa.gov
George Maynard (Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance): george@capecodfishermen.org
Dr. Anna Malek Mercer (Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation): amalek@cfrfoundation.org
CFRF's Jonah Crab and Lobster Research Fleet Video Released!
The CFRF is proud to release a short film about Jonah crab, an emerging species of importance and value. The Jonah crab fishery has become increasingly important to the Southern New England industry as the lobster resource has declined. As of 2016, Jonah crab was ranked the 8th most valuable fishery in Rhode Island and the 7th most valuable fishery in Massachusetts!
The CFRF staff would like to convey our appreciation to our Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet participants, and scientific partners for their contributions to this video.
To read more about the project and for project updates visit the project web page here.
Unusual Ocean Conditions in Southern New England: Insights from the Pioneer Array and Shelf Research Fleet
On April 18th, Dr. Glen Gawarkiewicz and Dr. Al Plueddemann from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution shared a summary of the oceanographic data collected by the CFRF/WHOI Shelf Research Fleet and provided an update on the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Pioneer Array.
The data collected by CFRF's Shelf Research Fleet has been used by oceanographers at WHOI to better understand how the ocean is changing and what that means for the resource species that commercial fishermen harvest. To date, CFRF's Shelf Research Fleet has collected over 442 profiles.
For those of you who were unable to attend the Oceanographic Conditions meeting on April 18th, please check out the attached presentation HERE!
Image from April 14, 2018 of Shelf conditions south of New England. Shelf is cool and free of Gulf Stream/Warm Core Ring influences.
YOU’RE INVITED! Discussing Unusual Ocean Conditions with WHOI Scientists 4/18 2PM
Unusual Ocean Conditions in Southern New England: Insights from the Pioneer Array and Shelf Research Fleet
What: Hurricanes, nor’easters, warm core rings, reverse flow, cold water intrusions … the ocean was especially dynamic in 2017 and 2018 and there are many questions about how the fisheries resources off the Southern New England coast have responded. CFRF staff, together with our partners at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), will be hosting an interactive workshop for the fishing industry to learn about the historic and current oceanographic conditions in Southern New England, discuss how fisheries resources are responding, and develop predictions for the summer months to come. Dr. Glen Gawarkiewicz and Dr. Al Plueddemann from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will share a summary of the oceanographic data collected by the CFRF/WHOI Shelf Research Fleet and provide an update on the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Pioneer Array.
The Pioneer Array is operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and includes a network of moorings and autonomous robotic vehicles that are programmed to monitor waters off the continental shelf and slope south of New England. It provides information on the structure of the shelf break front, nutrient exchange between shelf and slope, continental shelf ecosystems, and carbon dioxide flux and ocean acidification. Join us to learn more!
When: Wednesday, April 18th, 2-4pm
Where: The conference room of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island (#61 B on the East Farm Campus of the University of Rhode Island)
RSVP: to Aubrey Ellertson (aellertson@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4892) so we can make sure we have enough seats. Space at the CFC conference room is limited.
Call-in Instructions: United States: +1 (872) 240-3212 . Access Code: 571-692-085
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/571692085
First GoToMeeting? Let's do a quick system check: https://link.gotomeeting.com/system-check
Note: This workshop is intended for members of the fishing community whose contributions are critical to connecting the dots between the environmental conditions across Southern New England and key fisheries resources. We hope that you all will share your observations about the distribution of fish, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish that you have encountered over the past year. Your contributions are critical to this discussion, so we hope you can make it!
Thank you from CFRF!
From all of us here at the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, THANK YOU for your generous donations throughout the Annual Giving Campaign and ongoing support of our mission. We can’t do what we do without the partnership and dedication of members of the fishing industry, science community, and food system. YOU make our work truly impactful. The CFRF has some exciting new initiatives on the horizon and we can’t wait to share them with all of you!
Sincerely,
The CFRF Team
Anna, Terry, Thomas, Aubrey, Mike, Fred, David, Jeff, Mark, John, Jon, Donald, Jim, and Chris
Maine Fishermen's Forum: March 1-3rd, Rockport, Maine
We are excited to be traveling to Maine for the Maine Fishermen's Forum (March 1-3rd)!
CFRF will be hosting a seminar on Saturday, March 3rd @ 9am. We hope many industry members will be in attendance! If you can not make it for our seminar, be sure to stop by our booth and say hi.
Title of seminar: Embracing Ecosystem Change: Can Jonah Crab, Black Sea Bass and Fishing Communities Get Along?
Description:
The ocean is an interconnected ecosystem and things are changing fast. More southern species are appearing off the coast of New England, new species and markets are emerging, and the fishing community must adapt. This seminar will explore how recent changes in Southern New England may be applicable to the Gulf of Maine and what fishermen can do to maximize resiliency. The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) and a panel of fishermen will present recent research on species of emerging importance (Jonah crab and black sea bass), and hear from fishermen in Southern New England about how they have adapted their businesses to changes in species availability, market opportunities, and fisheries management. There will be ample opportunity for discussion and input from the audience.
Look forward to seeing you there!
You're Invited: Oceanographic Anomalies in Southern New England
What: An interactive workshop for the fishing industry to learn about the historic and current oceanographic conditions in Southern New England, discuss how fisheries species are responding, and develop predictions for the months to come. Dr. Glen Gawarkiewicz from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Dr. Anna Mercer from the CFRF will present new oceanographic research and will facilitate a discussion with the fishing industry about patterns in ocean conditions, species distributions and abundances, and catch characteristics.
When: Thursday, November 2nd, 5-7pm
Where: Meeting Room above Superior Trawl in Point Judith (55 State Street, Narragansett, RI)
RSVP: To Aubrey Ellertson (aellertson@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4892)
This workshop is intended for members of the fishing community whose contributions are critical to connecting the dots between the environmental conditions across Southern New England and key fisheries resources.
We hope to see you there!
- CFRF
100,000 Lobsters Sampled!
As of today, September 5th, the CFRF's Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet has sampled over 100,000 lobsters since June 2013. This is an important milestone!!
2017 marks an important year for the CFRF's Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet: 4 years of data collection!
Huge thank you to all of our fleet participants for their hard work and dedication!
For more information about CFRF's Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet please visit our project page: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/jonah-crab-lobster-research-fleet/
Squid Research Discussion, July 12th 1PM
Please join the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation at 1PM on Wednesday, July 12th for a discussion about the past, present, and future of squid along the East Coast. Dr. David Richardson and Dr. John Manderson from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center will present recent research on squid population dynamics, with an open discussion session to follow. This event is for members of the fishing industry only and will be held at the Commercial Fisheries Center, East Farm Campus, URI, Building 61B, Kingston, RI.
As a teaser, below is a map of Longfin Squid distribution in the 1970s (blue area) and 2010s (red area). We will talk about what this means for the squid population and fishery now and for the years to come.
We hope you can join us! Please RSVP to Teresa Winneg at twinneg@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4890.
The CFRF Welcomes the Quahog Research Fleet!
The CFRF, in partnership with RWU and RI DEM, is launching a Quahog Research Fleet in Narragansett Bay. The project involves commercial shellfishermen in collecting biological quahog data via bullraking sampling as part of routine fishing practices. Project data will be used to supplement the RI DEM hydraulic dredge survey, ultimately providing more robust data for the quahog stock assessment.
On August 10th, the CFRF held the first training session for the Quahog Research Fleet. We are proud to welcome Bo Christensen, David Ghigliotty, Gerry Schey, Jarrod Goulart, and Ernest Wilcox to our fleet!
At the training session, fleet participants had a a chance to practice using the specialized tablet app (On Deck Data) and to get comfortable with the equipment and work flow. Everyone was very engaged and had great suggestions. We look forward to working with our fleet as they get up and running on September 1st! A huge thank you to our collaborators Dale Leavitt at Roger Williams University, and Conor McManus at RI DEM for their contributions to this project.
For more information about the Quahog Research Fleet, please visit: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/quahog-research-fleet/ .
CFRF- WHOI Shelf Research Fleet Collected 200+ Profiles
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) launched the Shelf Research Project in October 2014. A fleet of nine fishing vessels have been collecting oceanographic data from across the continental shelf, using Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth instruments (CTDs) to conduct water column profiles.
Today we are pleased to announce that our fleet has collected over 200 profiles! We at CFRF and our partners at WHOI appreciate the hard work of our fleet to collect this data.
For more information please check out our project page: http://www.cfrfoundation.org/shelf-research-fleet/
Chef's Table: Rhode Island Seafood hosted by CFRF and JWU
On July 21, 2016 some of Rhode Island’s finest chefs, including JWU alumni Derek Wagner of Nick’s on Broadway and Matt Varga of Gracie’s, Providence, participated in “Chef’s Table: Rhode Island Seafood,” hosted by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) and Johnson and Wales University (JWU) at Hope & Main in Warren, R.I. The event provided a venue for fishermen and chefs to explore ways to maintain a healthy seafood industry in the state, increase Rhode Islander’s awareness about their own natural resources, and enhance the use of local seafood on the menus of some of the state’s finest restaurants. On the menu was Spiny Dogfish, Conger Eel, Scup, Winter Skate, Butterfish, Striped Sea Robin, Jonah Crab, Whelk, Quahog, and Squid.
Rhode Island Public Radio's report on the event is available at http://ripr.org/post/sea-robin-anyone-chefs-get-acquainted-local-seafood . Happy eating!
Quahog Research Fleet Now Accepting Applications
The CFRF, in partnership with RWU and RI DEM, is launching a Quahog Research Fleet in Narragansett Bay. The survey will involve commercial shellfishermen collecting biological quahog data via bullraking sampling and recording information using Android tablets. Biological data will be used to compare densities to other collection techniques and provide additional information for the quahog stock assessment.
CFRF is currently soliciting Narragansett Bay shellfishermen to join a quahog research fleet. To review the project CLICK HERE.
If you would like to apply to participate in the RI Quahog Research Fleet, please fill out the application and forward either via email, fax or mail to CFRF. To download the vessel application, CLICK HERE. To download the vessel briefing document, CLICK HERE.
Deadline for applications is: June 10, 2016.