Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation

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Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation

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CFRF is a non-profit, private foundation dedicated to supporting fisheries research and data collection projects in the Southern New England region.

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is a result of a unique initiative. The Foundation was started in 2004 by a group of fishermen who wanted to develop a means of support to address issues in the groundfish fishery, including ways to improve gear selectivity and reduce bycatch. Its mission has since been expanded to include all fisheries important to the commercial fishing industry based in southern New England. The CFRF is the only fishing industry led research foundation in the New England region. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised solely of commercial fishermen and individuals working in support businesses for the commercial fishing industry. The heart of the Foundation’s work is focused on establishing working relationships among managers, scientists, and members of the fishing industry through collaborative research projects. The major objective of the Foundation’s work is to help those engaged in the fisheries management decision-making process to move past contentious debates and towards the process of using timely, relevant research to better inform management decisions. The ultimate goal is to aid in the development and adoption of practical solutions to common problems affecting important fisheries in southern New England.

10/30/2026

👻 Ghosts are lurking in our waters, but not the usual kind!

Ghost gear is fishing gear that has been lost in the water for a variety of reasons. Through our Ghost Gear Removal Program, CFRF works closely with commercial fishermen to locate and remove ghost gear from Rhode Island waters.

Whenever possible, recovered gear is returned to its owner or recycled to give it a second life. This work is made possible through collaboration with the fishing community to help keep our waters healthy and productive.

Learn more about our Ghost Gear Removal and Prevention Program:

10/30/2026

Don't Forget! Stop by Salty Brine State Beach TODAY anytime from 12-2 for a tech demo and informal info session!

You’re Invited: Join us for Ocean Sensor Tech Demos at Salty Brine State Beach Next Friday, October 30th!

As part of the NSF Seafood Engine in New England project, we will work with commercial fishermen to deploy ocean sensors to better understand how ocean conditions influence fisheries productivity in the region.

Come join Jaia Robotics and Sedna Robotics for live demonstrations of their underwater robots that collect data on temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen! Stop by for 20 minutes to watch a deployment off the beach, learn about upcoming research opportunities for fishermen, and chat about recent ocean conditions. We’ll also be collecting feedback from captains on their ocean data challenges, needs, and ideas.

10/28/2026

That’s a wrap! Sampling has officially ended for our pilot project to determine how similarly fishermen can estimate the market category of black sea bass compared to seafood dealers. Our project collaborators, including five members of the BSB Research Fleet and The Town Dock, collectively sampled 1000 Black Sea bass for this project! Now it’s time for data analysis, so stay tuned for results!

Thanks to Bill Cote for the photos 📷

10/27/2026

10/26/2026

Ready to discover your Halloween fish alter ego? 👻🦑

Find your birth month + the first letter of your first name to get your spooky fish name!

Tell us yours in the comments! 🧙🐟

You’re Invited: Join us for Ocean Sensor Tech Demos at Salty Brine State Beach Next Friday, October 30th!As part of the ...

10/23/2026

10/21/2026

Call for Applications!

We are 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. Swipe through to learn more and apply on our website.

10/19/2026

Come with us for a short and sweet gear set day for a ventless trap survey!

Before we can conduct our ventless lobster trap surveys each month, we have to bait and set the traps! Our goal is to let them fish for 5 days before we haul them and sample the catch 🦞

10/13/2026

Attention Scallop Fishermen:
You’re Invited to Attend Scallop Seed Avoidance Workshops

The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is hosting a series of workshops where commercial scallopers will help build a fleet-led program to protect scallop seed beds.

In partnership with CFRF, CCCFA will use our mobile phone app, ScallApp, to establish an early alert system for reporting small scallop sightings and observations. Up to 1,000 lbs. of RSA will be awarded in recognition of participation in the workshop.

Register for one of the workshops here: https://forms.gle/ih3Cxcp2E8h8H2HHA

Address

61B East Farm Road
Kingston, RI
02881

Website

http://www.cfrfoundation.org/

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