Call for Applications: Southern New England Lobster and Crab F/Vs for Revolution Wind Ventless Trap Survey

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) is seeking up to two commercial F/Vs to conduct a ventless trap survey in the Revolution Wind Farm (RWF) and two control areas May 2027 – November 2028.

The project will be conducted jointly between the CFRF and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). This survey aims to collect post-construction data on the distribution, abundance and composition of lobster and crab species in the RWF and control areas. The map below displays the two RWF areas (black and purple outline) and two control areas (blue and grey outline) which will be sampled during the survey

Vessel Applications are due November 6, 2026! See below for details and the link to apply.

Participant Responsibilities:

• Each F/V participant will charter one or two CFRF/SMAST biologists for three days per month from May-November in each year of the project

• The first survey day each month will be dedicated to bringing all survey gear out to the survey areas, including baiting and setting 100 traps (10 trawls of 10 traps)

• The second survey day will be devoted to hauling the gear, sampling catch, and resetting the gear

• The third survey day will be devoted to hauling the gear, sampling the catch, and bringing all of the survey gear back to port

• All survey days within a month aim to be five days apart to achieve a standardized soak time, with the intended trip schedule being the 1st, 6th, and 11th of each month

• F/V crew will be responsible for setting and hauling all traps, and the CFRF/SMAST biologists will be responsible for sampling and data collection of all catch

• All catch will be returned to the water, and no catch will be landed for sale

• All survey gear will be set and hauled using on-demand EdgeTech 5112 Ropeless Fishing Systems and the EdgeTech Trap Tracker tablet app to set, mark, and haul all survey gear, no surface buoys will be used

• All survey gear will be removed from the water and brought back to port after the last sampling trip each month

Participant Requirements:

• Eligible for NOAA Letter of Acknowledgement; CFRF will apply for this with selected vessels

• Current or recent experience lobster or crab fishing in or around the identified survey areas

• F/V length greater than 40 feet with enclosed cabin

• Dedicated crew members (captain and deckhand)

• Captain, crew, and F/V must meet Orsted safety requirements or be willing to work with the CFRF to meet these requirements:

  • Captain must hold a 100 Ton Master Captain’s license (80 hours to obtain)

  • Captain must hold a valid STCW safety certification (40 hours to obtain)

  • All crew must hold a USCG-accepted safety training certification (10 hours to obtain)

  • Captain and crew must have passed a US Coast Guard Medical Exam in the last two years (3 hours to obtain)

  • Vessel compliant with Orsted Environmental Survey Vessel Checklist (4-hour inspection, with additional time needed to prepare or address concerns)

Proposed Compensation:

• Daily charter rate for survey days will be $5,858 per day

• Annual gear setup and breakdown days will be paid with two $2,929 stipends per year

• Monthly gear setup and breakdown days will be paid with seven $2,495 stipends per year

• Safety equipment and training fees will be covered by CFRF with minimal compensation for time spent at trainings.

Application Instructions: Complete the online application form by November 6, 2026
 

Contact Information: Please get in touch with Michael Long, CFRF Senior Research Biologist, mlong@cfrfoundation.org or 401-515-4892, with any questions.

Call for Applications: Tilefish Research Fleet

We are seeking commercial F/Vs to participate in an upcoming pilot Tilefish Research Fleet.

Both commercially important tilefish species harvested off the American East Coast (blueline tilefish and golden tilefish) are considered data poor. This project seeks to implement electronic monitoring aboard commercial fishing vessels to benefit scientists and commercial fishermen. The collected data will serve as a novel data source and ideally lead to the development of a consistent whole-fish-to-fillet conversion factor, giving fishermen the option to land fillets.

Applications are due October 2nd, 2026. See below for details and the link to apply.

New CFRF Merch Store

Gear Up for Sustainable Fisheries

Show your support for the people, science, and communities that help keep commercial fisheries sustainable with official CFRF gear.

We just launched an official CFRF merch store, so it is easier than ever to support our research and education projects!

When you wear CFRF merch, you help spread the word about the importance of fisheries research and directly support the work that keeps our fisheries sustainable for generations to come.

Article: Advancing Scup Mince Processing to Expand Markets for a Sustainable U.S Fishery

Our project to advance scup mince processing and expand markets for the US fishery was recently featured in an article written by the Seafood Industry Research Fund!

Photo Credit: Seafood Industry Research Fund

2026 Greenwich and Apponaug Cove Quahog Transplants

Come with us for a Quahog Transplant!

We are proud to have been a part of the Rhode Island quahog transplant program this month! Industry, managers, law enforcement, and scientists came together to move quahogs out of polluted areas into cleaner waters so they can ‘depurate’ and become safe for consumption later this year! It was great to see so many people come together to make this year’s transplants a success, with over 153,000 pounds of quahogs transplanted!

The program has been running since 1954, and these transplants help ensure the longevity of Rhode Island’s shellfish industry. Learn more at: https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/marine-fisheries/shellfish-and-aquaculture-resources/shellfish-transplants

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⛳ Introducing the CFRF Captain's Cup Golf Tournament

We are excited to invite you to the inaugural CFRF Captain’s Cup golf tournament fundraiser on June 28th, 2026 — a day of great golf, great company, and meaningful impact. Registration is open!

CFRF License Passenger License Plate Information

Thank you to everyone who picked up their passenger license plates this weekend! We hope you love your plates, and we can't wait to see them on the roads. Please feel free to spread the word that you can now order a CFRF passenger plate directly through the DMV!

If you did not make it to the distribution event, please read below for information on how to get your plates.

UPDATE: The pick-up window has been extended to April 30th!

CFRF License Plate Distribution Event Info

We look forward to seeing everyone who pre-ordered a CFRF charity plate for their passenger vehicle on Saturday, April 11th! We’ve got all the info you need to know before you go below!

CFRF Charity License Plates Distribution Event

If you pre-ordered the CFRF Charity Plate for your PASSENGER vehicle, they will be available for pick-up at our distribution event on April 11th. Scroll through the photos below for more information.

Please note that this event is only for passenger-registered vehicles. We are still collecting pre-orders for combination and commercial registrations.

New Paper: International Ocean Oxygen Data Management

We are proud to be a part of a large international collaborative publication discussing ocean oxygen data standards and management.

Read below for a summary of this initiative!

CFRF Summer 2026 Internship Opportunity

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is pleased to offer a part-time, paid summer internship for an undergraduate or graduate student or recent graduate.

This internship is offered from May through August 2026 with flexible start and end dates. The selected intern will receive at least $18/hour for 20 hours a week.

Visit the internship page to learn more and apply!

Applications are due March 27th.

CFRF's 2025 Annual Impact Report

We are excited to release the CFRF Annual Impact Report summarizing the work we conducted during our Fiscal Year 2025!

We are thrilled to share our accomplishments with you, and we value your involvement as we collaborate towards our mission. Thank you for your time and interest in our efforts.

NEW Fisheries Workshop For Students!

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness of fisheries topics, educating others about our research, and training the next generation of fisheries scientists through outreach and education initiatives.

We are proud to launch our free, by-request workshop to introduce students to fisheries science and provide resources for students interested in pursuing an impact-driven, community-oriented career in science.

Formal and Informal Educators: Learn how you can request a workshop for your students here!

Pilot Project: Uniting Knowledge from Fishing Communities and Offshore Wind Developers to Improve Boulder Relocation Practices

We recently completed a pilot project to implement a plan to improve boulder relocation practices during offshore wind development. Read below to learn what we did and what we learned!

background

Offshore wind energy development often requires the relocation of large boulders to provide scour protection, stabilize turbine foundations, and clear routes for cables. Relocated boulders can pose safety risks to fishermen by creating new 'hangs' in which gear may become caught, as well as potentially affect the habitat structure and fish communities in established fishing grounds. In April 2025, we co-hosted an event focused on these issues with Rhode Island Sea Grant, the University of Rhode Island, and the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island (CFCRI).

In response to the feedback from stakeholders at the event, we collaborated with CFCRI on a pilot project to identify relocated boulders that pose fishing hazards in the Revolution Wind Farm lease area and demonstrate a simple and effective path for future applications to reduce the negative impacts of boulder relocation on fishing.

methods and results

Construction of the Revolution Wind Farm resulted in nearly 2,800 boulders being relocated. We interviewed mobile gear fishermen who historically fished within this wind farm lease area and used the information gathered to map previously towable fishing grounds within the Revolution Wind Farm. We found that only five of the relocated boulders were within these fishing areas (click map to enlarge). 

These problematic boulders represent <1% of the nearly 2,800 relocated boulders, which indicates the issue of boulder relocation as it relates to fishing safety may be relatively easily overcome. In the future, this project’s approach could be conducted during relocation planning to identify boulders that need to be relocated strategically outside of towable fishing areas. This approach could minimize direct impacts on fishing vessel safety and contribute to a more positive and collaborative working relationship between offshore wind developers and fishermen. 

Read the summary report of this pilot project here. This project was funded by The Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island with support from Orsted.

NEW: CFRF Charity License Plate

Something fishy is coming to Rhode Island vehicles

It’s time to put Rhode Island Seafood on your plate!

We are excited to debut a brand new charity license plate for Rhode Islanders that supports research on the fresh, local, and sustainable seafood species our state is known for! The plate, designed by Andrew Lloyd Goodman, Assistant Professor at the Community College of Rhode Island, features eight iconic seafood species that are sustainably harvested in Rhode Island state waters and enjoyed throughout the state, region, and world.

License plates are available for pre-order* now! Each license plate costs $42.50, with $20 going directly to the CFRF. Proceeds from the license plate will directly support research focused on enhancing the sustainability and value of Rhode Island state fisheries.