Volume 3: Waterfront Infrastructure

Abstract

This report, part of the Enabling Conditions for a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet series, explores the critical role of shoreside infrastructure in enabling a transition to a lowcarbon fishing fleet. Drawing on interviews with 148 fishing businesses and eleven port managers across Alaska, the West Coast, and New England, the report highlights the need for coordinated upgrades to support alternative fuels and electrification across fishing ports, while underscoring the logistical and economic challenges involved, such as the varying capacity of existing infrastructure, the role of technological uncertainty in stifling investment, and the need for substantial financial incentives and knowledge sharing.

Specific themes covered in this report include the readiness of ports to handle next-generation fuels, the potential strain of increased electrical demand from vessel electrification, and the necessity of developing regional clean transportation corridors to support the mobility of fishing fleets. Proposed solutions include fostering collaboration among stakeholders, implementing demonstration projects, and providing technical and financial support for ports and fishermen alike. Overall, the study underscores the importance of aligning shoreside investments with vessellevel advancements to ensure a seamless and equitable energy transition that benefits both urban and rural ports and the fishermen who rely on them.