We are excited to share our newest research paper, published in Fisheries Research, which used data collected by the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet!
Click here for a summary of the paper.
The full paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2024.106952
We are thrilled to share our newest research paper, which used data collected by the Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet. This paper is published in the Marine and Coastal Fisheries October issue, and our image is proudly displayed on the cover!
Click here for a summary of the paper.
The full paper can be found here: https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mcf2.10266
Check out our newest publication, “Integrating fishers’ knowledge with oceanographic observations to understand changing ocean conditions in the Northeast United States” which was recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science! This paper was led by Noelle Olsen and includes data from our Shelf Research Fleet and Salinity Maximum Intrusions projects.
The full paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1144178.
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
Researchers from the Rhode Island Division of Marine Fisheries, the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF), and the University of Rhode Island are conducting a project to examine different harvest control strategies for the valuable Jonah crab fishery. A key component of this project is collaborating with Jonah crab industry stakeholders to design and test potential management strategies for the commercial fishery. Please note that this project is an academic research project and is being conducted independently of the Commission’s management process for the species. We invite Jonah crab harvesters, processors, dealers, and other stakeholders to participate in an initial collaborative workshop where we will 1) provide background and description for the project and 2) collect stakeholders’ opinions on fishery assessment methods and management strategies to be tested moving forward. It is expected that the results of this simulation-based research will be informative to future Jonah crab research and management. This workshop will take place on Wednesday, April 6th, from 3-7pm at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography campus in Narragansett, RI (address below). Virtual attendance will also be offered. A stipend will be offered to our fishing partners to compensate you for your time.
To RSVP, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/etnxgYd4Ths7jVtV6
RSVP encouraged by March 23rd, 2022 to secure your place in the workshop. Some background information will be made available to registrants prior to the workshop. Questions may be directed to Corinne Truesdale at corinne.truesdale@dem.ri.gov. Thank you for your interest!
Workshop location:
URI Graduate School of Oceanography
218 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI 02882
David Bethoney, our Executive Director, was recently featured in an article for EcoRI News to discuss the bay scallop restoration project we are currently working on.
Bay scallops were once an iconic fishery species in Rhode Island, but populations have been scarce since the 1980s. We are collaborating with The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to synthesize relevant information on bay scallops and use that information to create a plan to help restore them in the state’s coastal salt ponds.
Read the full article here: Scientists, Shellfishermen Seek Strategies to Sustain Ocean State’s Dwindling Bay Scallop Populations, and check out the project webpage for more information about the project!
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.
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and the University of Massachusetts School For Marine Science and Technology are jointly proposing to Orsted to undertake a trawl survey to monitor the Revolution and Sunrise Wind Farm Areas off southern New England. We are seeking commercial fishermen to join us in the proposal process and, if funded, to undertake the proposed trawl 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 October 31st, 2021.
Please click the links below to view and download the documents:
Revolution & Sunrise Wind Farm Vessel Application
Revolution & Sunrise Wind Farm Trawl Survey Briefing Document
Questions? Please contact;
Survey Related: Chris Rillahan, SMAST Technical Associate
Email: crillahan@umassd.edu
Phone: 508-910-6323
Safety or Training Related: David Bethoney, Executive Director, CFRF
Email: dbethoney@cfrfoundation.org
Phone: (401)-515-4662
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 Assessing Vulnerability of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Social-Ecological System in the Northeast Waters of the US project was featured in the April NOAA Navigator. Click here to view the article, “Scientists Seek Input From Scallop Industry for Study on Ocean Acidification Impacts”.
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.
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!
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
We’re proud to announce that Dr. David Bethoney will take over the Executive Director position recently vacated by Dr. Chris Glass. David comes to us from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology as a Research Assistant Professor. He has more than a decade of experience working with the commercial fishing industry in the Northeast, on developing a river herring bycatch avoidance program and conducting drop camera surveys to support Atlantic sea scallop management. David will be responsible for working with the CFRF Staff, Scientists, Academia, Interns and Consultants to carry out all tasks associated with ongoing projects and general administration. He will also be responsible for pursuing new partnerships and projects, including proposal development and submission, under the advisement of the CFRF Exec. Committee and Board of Directors. David’s first official day is March 2, 2020, his initial opportunity to officially introduce himself and to familiarize himself with the CFRF Staff. Please take a moment to stop by the CFRF office and introduce yourself and welcome David to our dynamic research foundation. The CFRF welcomes you to contact David at dbethoney@cfrfoundation.org or (401) 515-4662. Fred Mattera, CFRF President
The CFRF is currently soliciting applications from fishermen interested in joining the Black Sea Bass Research Fleet for one open position. Priority will be given to vessels which interact with black sea bass, targeted or as bycatch, through the winter months. Offshore lobster and crab vessels are particularly encouraged to apply. Monthly Research Fleet responsibilities include sampling 150 black sea bass (size/sex) at sea using the On Deck Data app and collecting 50 black sea bass for diet and age/growth analysis at RI DEM
To apply, fill out an application (available HERE) and submit it to CFRF either via email, fax, or mail. The deadline for applications is September 9, 2019.
The CFRF and RI DEM launched the Black Sea Bass Research Fleet in December 2016 and have been collecting data ever since. Currently the Research Fleet employs 12 commercial fishermen from a variety of gear types collecting biological and fishery data on black sea bass they interact with during routine commercial fishing. All data is collected at-sea by the fishermen and will ultimately feed back into the stock assessment by creating catch and discard characterizations for each fishing Fleet to help reduce uncertainties.
For more information on the Research Fleet, the project webpage can be found HERE or read the project briefing document available HERE.
For further information about the project or the application process, please contact Thomas Heimann at 401-515-4892 or theimann@cfrfoundation.org
