The Opportunity

Fellows will work both independently and collaboratively to turn knowledge and relationships into action and power, while developing their skills as community leaders. Through this one-time opportunity, each fellow will:

1. Master the issues by deepening their knowledge and practice of technological and policy pathways to a low-carbon fishing fleet.

2. Deepen their practice of community-based leadership, including storytelling, relationship-building, strategy design, and moving people to action.

3. Contribute to a bicoastal conversation about fishing industry priorities and set the stage for a coordinated federal advocacy campaign.

4. Organize local fishermen to produce a state-level roadmap outlining strategies for innovation, investment, and policy change to support a locally led transition to a low carbon fishing fleet (supported by a stipend).

Fellowship Commitments

As part of their fellowship, fellows commit to:

• Join twice-monthly virtual strategy, coaching, and team-building meetings with their peers in the fellowship program. January – May.

• Perform readings on: methods for reducing fossil fuel use on fishing vessels through energy-efficient technologies, electrification, and alternative fuels; evaluations of existing federal and state policies and programs to support adoption of these technologies; and routes to enhance these policies or develop new complementary programs. January – May.

• Participate in and provide logistical support for meetings of a bicoastal think tank that will unite fishermen and shoreside marine professionals to develop a platform for federal agencies and policymakers to support a transition to a low-carbon fishing fleet. January – May.

• Engage local fishermen in their states through workshops, social media, focus groups, and/or task force meetings, to outline a vision of locally appropriate transition a low-carbon fishing fleet and develop a state-level roadmap with actionable steps for reducing fossil fuel dependence. Some states may have one fellow, while other states will have multiple fellows who will work as a team. Deadline to complete: October 2025.

The total anticipated time commitment for each fellow is 120 hours. Each fellow will work with the coordinator at the outset of the program to develop a personalized timetable that accommodates the fellow’s fishing commitments.

Compensation

Each fellow will receive a $4,000 stipend by completing the development of a state-level roadmap outlining strategies for innovation, investment, and policy change to support a locally led transition to a low carbon fishing fleet. Fellows will also have access to a small reimbursement-based bank of funds to support travel, meeting expenses, and other approved expenses associated with their roadmapping project.

Eligibility

This fellowship targets early to mid-career fishermen in the New England, Alaska, and West Coast fishing community who are serious about supporting a fishermen-led transition to a low-carbon fishing fleet and eager to collaborate with peers coast-to-coast. Fellows should be motivated to help their community achieve shared purpose and momentum, and should seek to actively develop skills, knowledge, and relationships to grow their community leadership.

Ideal candidates will:

• Be genuinely interested in advancing a low-carbon fishing fleet.

• View the fellowship as an investment in their capacity as a grassroots fishing community leader.

• Demonstrate open-mindedness, respect for others, and strong listening skills.

• Have a keen desire to learn and support the learning of others.

• Be committed to attending bimonthly virtual meetings, completing a state-level roadmapping project within the fellowship timeline, and participating in a bicoastal think tank focused on federal policy advocacy.

Host Organizations

Fellows are strongly encouraged to affiliate with a membership-based fishermen’s association within their state for the duration of the fellowship. Fellows may in some cases receive their stipend through their host organization. In some states, a small stipend is also available to host organizations to offset the burden of hosting a fellow.

The ideal host organization will lend support to the fellow’s state-level roadmapping project by orienting the fellow to the state’s policy landscape, providing guidance on workshop planning and participant recruitment, and sharing feedback on drafts of the roadmap. The ideal host organization will see value in this work for its members and will commit to co-publishing the roadmap with the fellow (while also respecting the fellow’s leadership in this effort) and helping the roadmap gain traction with policy makers.

Organizations interested in hosting a fellow are encouraged to reach out to the fellowship coordinator and are asked to circulate the fellowship opportunity among their members. In some states, a host organization has already been selected.

Questions?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions or contact fellowship coordinator Sarah Schumann.