Our Deckhand to Captain Training Program Update |
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In December, two of our Deckhand to Captain trainees put their Public Speaking training to the test at the New England Fisheries Management Council meeting in Newport, RI. Each time the Council meets, there is an "Open Comment" period for the public to make comments pertaining to their concerns within their fishery. Both Anthony Smith and Curtis Pedersen did an amazing job, detailing their history in the industry and their concerns about our fishing industry's future. |
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Graduation and Celebrations |
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We had 6 trainees graduate from our 2023 Deckhand to Captain training program in December. Each trainee participated in 9 months of training, including biweekly (twice per month) classes in business management, budget development, collaborative marketing, industry regulations and policies, public speaking and much more! Each trainee also had to conduct at least 15 hours of industry advocacy work or collaborative research. Additionally, trainees had to complete a 2-day Safety and Survival and Drill Conductor class, in order to graduate from the program. We wish all our trainees the best luck with their ventures and have aligned each one with their own personal Business Advisor and Mentor! Thanks to the staff at Vida Cantina for donating space for our graduation and to Chef Dave Vargas for the delicious lobster dishes! |
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Marine Biodiversity Observation Network |
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NEYFA has been chosen as one of many regional Project Advisors on a collaborative research project entitled the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) project. This will revolutionize our understanding of how changes in water conditions affect marine life in New Hampshire and southern Maine coastal waters, specifically Casco Bay. This innovative project integrates cutting-edge technologies like acoustic telemetry, environmental DNA (eDNA), and advanced acoustics with traditional fisheries sampling methods. By combining these tools, researchers will quantify the impacts of environmental changes on individual organisms, populations, and community structures. Focused on the Atlantic cod and common terns, the study will investigate the effects of forage species and environmental conditions on these key species. Tracking tags, including GPS technology for terns and acoustic technology for Atlantic cod, will be used to monitor their movements. Additionally, researchers will analyze the diet of these predators by examining gut contents from Atlantic cod and fecal samples from terns. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting endeavor as we work towards a better understanding of the factors shaping our marine ecosystems. | | |
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Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety and NEYFA |
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NEYFA has also been asked to serve on the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC) Fisheries Advisory Panel. NEC is funded by the US government and is one of several regional research facilities sponsored by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Our friends at Maine Coast Fishermen's Association and Fishing Partnership recommended us and we are glad to be part of this valuable organization! |
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INTERNATIONAL FISHING INDUSTRY SAFETY & HEALTH CONFERENCE IFISH6 in Rome, Italy |
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Executive Director of NEYFA, Andrea Tomlinson traveled to Rome, Italy in January to represent NEYFA at the IFISH 6 International Fishery Safety and Health Conference. Also present were our friends at the Fishing Partnership from Gloucester! This 5-day conference featured 50 countries and over 150 participants and was held at the United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. To see the array of diverse presentations from presenters all over the World, go to their website here. What Andrea learned is that fishermen worldwide are experiencing the same issues as our young fishermen and women here in New England are experiencing: feeling stigmatized by the public, feeling that their fisheries management does not understand the industry and are over-regulating and every country present, except Norway, said they are also seeing the "graying of the fleet" and a lack of young people joining the industry. We have global work to do! A huge thank you to the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety for sponsoring Andrea's lodging at the conference! |
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An Update from our Content & Communications Specialist |
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Have you seen the latest Dock Talk? Special thanks to Tyler Robillard for participating in our latest Dock Talk and sharing a piece of his story with our network! Want to Join "Dock Talks: Next Gen" and Share Your Story and help us educate the public about commercial fishing? Are you a passionate fisherman or fisherwoman with tales to tell and insights to share about the world of New England fisheries? We want YOU to be a part of "Dock Talks: Next Gen," a groundbreaking docuseries aimed at preserving our working waterfronts and changing the stigma around fishermen and women. We want to educate the public on what commercial fishing is all about and get rid of all the rumors and assumptions about your industry. 🌊 Why Participate? This series is for fishermen and fisherwomen like you to voice the importance of preserving New England's fisheries for our future. Your experiences and knowledge are really important in educating the public about who fishermen and fisherwomen really are and the crucial role your sustainable fishing practices play in our industry and feeding the nation. 🎥 Let Us Help You Share Your Story We will use your story on both IG and FB and maybe our website! ❤️Bella | | |
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Maine Fishermen's Forum When: Feb 29th - March 2nd This is a free event in Rockport, ME at the Samoset. A fishermen-friendly, family-style event that welcomes everyone! We will be presenting on our Deckhand to Captain training program on Saturday. Check out the schedule! | | |
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Seafood Expo North America (SENA) When: March 10th - 12th Formerly known as the Boston Seafood Show, This is an international seafood expo held in Boston, MA each year and worth seeing if you have never been! We will be there! | | |
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Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association Annual Weekend When: March 22nd - 24th Located in Hyannis, Massachusetts, this annual event will be tons of fun and we will be there presenting on our Deckhand to Captain training program on Friday morning! | | |
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Founded in 2021, New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance (NEYFA) has been a conceptual work in progress since 2017, catalyzed in 2019 when NH Community Seafood, NH Food Alliance, and NH Sea Grant held three “focus groups” called Dock Talks: Next Generation around the NH Seacoast, including commercial fishermen from a variety of fisheries from southern Maine, NH, and northern Massachusetts. Based on the responses from those focus groups and countless conversations with young commercial fishermen, NEYFA formed with a 3-year grant funded by the USDA, FMPP grant program in cooperation with Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative, the administrator of the grant. | | |
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A Special Thanks to Our Partners |
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OUR MISSION... is to empower the next generation in our local commercial fishing industry by providing critical networking, training, and resources. Through values-based initiatives, we plan to preserve, protect, and promote the future of our small boat fishing businesses in northern New England. ❤️🌊🦞🐟 |
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