Transition to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet
Putting fishermen at the helm of our own energy transition
Overview
The Goal
To put fishermen at the helm of their own energy transition.
The Challenge
2022’s record-high diesel fuel prices gave fishermen a preview of what the future of their businesses might look like in a world that’s reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. As policy makers undertake ambitious programs to support decarbonization of every sector in the U.S. economy, we want to make sure that fishermen aren’t left behind.
How Fishermen are Mobilizing for Action
Through the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign, commercial fishermen are tapping into our collective expertise to ask: what kind of targeted public programs and policies are needed to enable bottom-up, locally appropriate innovation and put the fleet on track to a low-carbon future?
Assembling a Knowledge Base
Compiling insights and identifying priorities coast to coast
In 2023–2024, five researchers with deep roots in the U.S. commercial fishing industry joined forces through the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign to establish an evidence-based framework for fishing industry-led advocacy aimed at fostering a transition to a low-carbon fishing fleet.
Their mission was: first, to gauge fishermen’s familiarity, perceptions, and firsthand experiences with various technological pathways capable of reducing carbon emissions in the fishing fleet; and second, to evaluate the effectiveness of existing state and federal initiatives in facilitating reduced diesel consumption and emissions.
Most critically, they asked fishermen: What new or improved programs would you like to see implemented to ensure a safe, affordable, equitable, and practical transition to a low-carbon fishing fleet?
Turning Knowledge into Action
Building power together for lasting change
“Vessel efficiency and energy innovation may not be the area of climate-related change and transformation that has the most significant impact on fisheries, but it’s one where fishermen are poised to confidently and capably take the lead. No one understands fishing vessel energy systems more intimately than the men and women who place their faith in these systems daily to get them to sea and back safely. No one is better suited to craft a vision for this industry’s energy future than the people who have fused their fates to this heritage livelihood and the ocean ecosystems that sustain it.” — Executive Summary, A Transition to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet
Starting in 2025, the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign is creating convening spaces for fishermen and fisheries leaders to translate learnings from the research into frameworks for action, by hosting technology- and policy-centered dialogues that position the fishing community to boldly lead on this issue. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Fellowship for Emerging Fisheries Leaders
Recruiting now for New England fishermen
The Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign is offering a set of state-specific fellowship opportunities to emerging leaders in the New England fishing industry in 2025. Fellowships aim to develop fellows’ capacities in community-based peer leadership and fishing vessel energy innovation and policy. Fellows will take the knowledge already compiled through the research phase of the Transition to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet initiative, and turn it into forward movement by producing local action agendas for advancing fishing community-led visions of a low carbon fishing fleet within their states or fleets.
Partnership with National Fisherman
Join the Steering Committee
“Fishermen emphasize that investing in knowledge transfer through education, outreach, and training is an important and cost-effective step towards achieving short-term energy savings across the fishing fleet as well as preparing the fleet and its shoreside partners to eventually adopt alternative fuel and power sources. Respondents demonstrate a keen interest in enhancing their knowledge on these subjects, and a desire to initiate collaborative learning immediately by leveraging the industry’s own networks.” — Fishermen’s Recommendations for New Programs and Policies (Volume 6, Policy Pathways)
To support industry learning, National Fisherman is launching a 20-article series diving into energy innovations that can save fishermen fuel today, while thinking ahead to the vessel power systems of tomorrow. A ten-member steering committee of fishermen and shoreside techs will lead the charge. This opportunity is made possible thanks to funding from the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Development Programs’ Energy Efficient Fisheries project.
Engaging with Policy Makers
Educating our Partners in Government and Beyond
“Fishermen cannot accomplish this transition on their own… In much the same way that federal and state governments are setting up programs to facilitate affordable adoption of heat pumps, solar panels, and electric vehicles, they can work with the fishing industry to design comprehensive programs that simultaneously reduce emissions and build resilience within this frontline climate community.” — Executive Summary, A Transition to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet
The Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign does not represent fishermen in dialogue with policy makers, but instead carves out space and provides support for fishermen to engage directly. Members of the research team are available upon request to help fishermen and their representatives hone talking points and develop action strategies at the state level. A federal policy strategy linking fishermen coast to coast will emerge in the near future.
