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The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization that relies on government and private funding, and donations to carry out its work. That work is directed towards ensuring that there continues to be a supply of fresh, locally caught seafood from sustainable fisheries to domestic markets, and that the commercial fishing sector remains a viable part of the regional economy in southern New England.

If you would like to contribute to helping the CFRF continue its mission of supporting teams of scientists and members of the commercial fishing industry working together to provide information important to attaining these goals, please consider making a tax exempt donation. Your donation will be used to assist the CFRF in conducting its daily operations.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Financial Assistance Programs



Current Location : Home/Financial Assistance Programs

Groundline/Exchange Conversion Plan: 2009

NOAA Award Number: NA09NMF450423

Amount of Federal Funding: $3,000,000

For more information visit: http://www.groundlineexchange.com

Scope of Work:

The “Groundline/Exchange Conversion Plan – 2009” is a plan to administer a financial assistance program for actively fishing lobstermen to convert to sinking groundlines as mandated in rules issued by NOAA/NMFS (Final Rule 72 FR 57104 – October 2007) in accordance with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The plan targets two users groups:

  1. Lobster fishermen residing in the state of Rhode Island fishing in Lobster Management Area 2; and
  2. Lobster fishermen actively fishing in Lobster Management Area 3.

The plan, to be administered by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, was approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service and is based on eligibility criteria developed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) for Area 2 RI, and by the Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association (AOLA) for Area 3, and from input received from members of the commercial lobster industry and rope suppliers. The intended length of the program is one year from the start date (October 2009).

 

Status: Project Completed

To view the preliminary final report click here.

To view the response letter from NMFS accepting the final report click here.