Members of the U.S. commercial fishing industry unveiled a groundbreaking set of publications under the banner of A Transition to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet.
Led by members of the fishing industry itself, the research showcases the value of community-centered approaches to solving the climate crisis and makes the case that those most affected by climate impacts should have authorship of the solutions that define the energy transition.
Built on two years of research and engagement with fishermen across Alaska, the West Coast, and New England, the publications outline ambitious yet practical strategies and policies for positioning the fishing fleet to thrive in a low-carbon future. Vital to coastal economies and sustainable food systems, wild seafood harvest already has one of the lowest carbon footprints among protein sources and plays an essential role in national food security. But maritime clean energy solutions lag behind the innovation taking place on land, making it unclear what the future holds for this hard-to-decarbonize sector.
Putting fishermen at the helm of their own energy future
The work, first conceptualized in 2022, came about in response to a unique confluence of events. That year, record-high diesel fuel prices resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused the highest energy burdens among the nation’s fishing fleet in over a decade and left many boats tied to the dock, foreshadowing the kind of desolation that could occur in the future if fishing vessels don’t adapt to a changing energy landscape. Around the same time, a parade of state and federal policies, including the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and Washington state’s Climate Commitment Act, established a wealth of new funding streams to promote an economy-wide transition off of fossil fuels – but did not specifically target any energy efficiency and clean power opportunities within the commercial fishing sector.
In the two years since, five researchers with roots in the fishing community set out to fill this gap by establishing an evidence-based framework for fishing industry-led advocacy aimed towards achieving a low carbon fishing fleet. Drawing from interviews with almost 150 fishermen and over 30 supporting experts, the resulting 18-volume set synthesizes thousands of insights on the promises and pitfalls of various policy and technology pathways to a low carbon fishing fleet, thereby equipping fishermen and their partners in government and beyond with the knowledge to pursue a safe, affordable, equitable, and practical low carbon transition that puts the fishing industry at the helm of its own energy future and secures its continued contribution to American diets and coastal economies.
Working class climate leadership
The research took place through the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign, a bicoastal initiative with the motto, “climate action led by people in boots, not people in suits.” The Campaign works across the U.S. fishing community to unlock a groundswell of fishermen-driven climate leadership and foster momentum toward fishery-friendly climate solutions.
“Climate and energy issues are defining features of what it means to be a seafood harvester today,” said Sarah Schumann, a commercial fisherman who led the research team and serves as the director of the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign. “Whether we’re grappling with ocean acidification, warming-induced volatility in our catches, or the impacts of ocean-based renewable energy development in our most precious fishing grounds, fishermen are feeling the heat. This research meets the moment head-on and shows: the fishing community – and the working class in general – have what it takes to lead.”
Next steps
A webinar on January 23 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern will share research findings and discuss next steps. Members of the media, government, fishing industry, academic, nonprofit, and innovation communities are invited to attend.
Additionally, members of the fishing industry are invited to apply by February 5 for two opportunities to turn research findings into in 2025:
- A fellowship for early- to mid-career New England fishermen will develop emerging leaders’ capacities and create forward movement by producing low carbon fleet action agendas for specific states and fleets.
- A 20-article series in partnership with National Fisherman will dive into energy innovations that can save fishermen fuel today, while looking ahead to alternative power systems of tomorrow. A ten-member steering committee of fishermen and shoreside technicians is being recruited to lead the charge.
More information is available at fisheryfriendlyclimateaction.org.
Reactions from the fleet
Fishermen and industry leaders weighed in on the importance of this work, invoking the industry’s vocational devotion, commitment to ocean ecosystems, and proud tradition as seafood providers as indispensable motivators driving the industry's transition to a low carbon future.
Alaska
“Seafood has the lowest carbon footprint of any major protein source in America and while we celebrate that status, we are proud to work through the Fishermen Friendly Climate Action Campaign to identify and promote additional decarbonization efforts to protect our planet and our fisheries,” said Linda Benhken, owner/operator of the F/V Woodstock of Sitka, Alaska and executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, which is currently outfitting the F/V Mirage, a Sitka-based troller and longliner, with a low carbon diesel/electric hybrid system.
“The Native people have been enjoying this miracle of Bristol Bay for thousands of years. Commercial fishermen have only been part of it for 150 years,” said Robert Buchmayr, owner/operator of the F/V Okuma of Dillingham, Alaska. “It would be wonderful if we can find a way to continue this miracle of nature that provides for so many. Moving to being carbon-free is part of that puzzle.”
“This work is necessary not only for our fishing businesses but for the planet and ecosystems we live in and rely on," said Frances Bursch, a Bristol Bay salmon fisherman and co-owner of Wild North Salmon LLC. “The fact that the research and reports produced through the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign are compiled by fishermen ensures the information is practical and actionable within our broader fishing fleets and communities.”
West Coast
“Fishing is more than a way of life. It is a calling,” said Pete Halmay, commercial fisherman and president of the San Diego Fishermen's Working Group. “If we look at it in this way, we have to plan far into the future, not just for the next trip or season. If commercial fishermen are not the climate and energy leaders, we will be stuck with programs that do not work and are not helpful to commercial fishermen.”
"This research is vital in making sure that future legislation and regulation are able to not only preserve the maritime heritage present in our local fisheries, but also to propel them forward into the future of sustainability,” said Dan Tucker, executive director of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County. “Allowing our fisheries to join us on the journey of climate change mitigation and energy transition is paramount to preserving heart-healthy, sustainably-sourced proteins in our diets, as well as a way of life and social connection that has built not only communities, but entire economies. We're proud to have helped support this work, and we look forward to continuing these conversations."
“Commercial fisherfolk have the biggest incentive to recognize and address the cause and remedy to climate change,” said Aaron Longton, owner/operator of the F/V Goldeneye out of Port Orford, Oregon, and founder of Port Orford Sustainable Seafood. “After all, we depend entirely on healthy marine ecosystems in order to supply the markets with the world's last wild protein. The health of the planet and our livelihoods are tied directly to the health of our marine environment. Awareness, open minds, and thoughtful solutions are our only hope as the human stewards of this abundant public resource."
“Most fishermen and women are concerned about long-term ocean health,” said Dick Ogg, F/V Karen Jeanne of Bodega Bay, California, and President of the Bodega Bay Fisherman's Marketing Association. “We are conservationists at heart, caring for the health of our environment. Our industry's survival relies on the health of our oceans. Seafood provided sustainably by your local fishers belongs to the public and will only continue if we all care about the impact of the process.”
New England
“Those of us who fish for a living, work at sea, and come home to our small communities, know well how much we rely on each other – whether it’s a matter of safety out on the water, or the realization that, to a great extent, we will succeed or fail together,” said Richard Nelson, retired lobsterman from Friendship, Maine and co-author of EV on H20: The Feasibility of Electrifying Maine’s Lobster Fleet. “When we see a need, such as our first-hand recognition of climate change, we want to jump in to help. Any programs developed should take advantage of our knowledge, energies, and our ‘get ‘er done’ attitude right from the start.”
“The fishing industry is a cornerstone of coastal communities, providing livelihoods and low-carbon protein sources,” said Shelley Edmundson, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust. “However, high fuel costs, aging infrastructure, and climate volatility threaten its sustainability, especially within our island community. This report not only highlights challenges but also offers a roadmap to empower the fishing community to lead the transition to cleaner, more efficient energy sources.”
“Fishing isn’t just a job, but a way of life, forging us the opportunity to control our destiny to harness and address climate control through sound research,” said Fred Mattera, Executive Director of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island. “Hands-on experience and experimenting will provide a pathway to resilience. This is our culture and the beating heart of our future.”
“Fishing families and businesses care about the ocean environment because it provides the best natural protein in the world, and that needs to be protected – including from climate pollution,” said Angela Sanfilippo, president of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives’ Association and executive director of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership. “In Massachusetts, we are leading the charge toward fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and fishing industry-led decarbonization through our Energy Efficient Fisheries project, which kicked off in 2023.[3] I hope that the seafood industry can count on the partnership of the public and policy makers on these critical issues.”
“Federal management needs to reconsider its role in excess carbon production,” said Chris Brown, owner/operator of the F/V Proud Mary out of Point Judith, Rhode Island, and president of the Seafood Harvesters of America. “For example, fishermen are often required to travel long distances to deliver fish in specific ports far from their fishing grounds, which costs fishermen valuable time and money, increases risk, and generates unnecessary carbon emissions. It’s time for state and federal fisheries managers to take a hard look at how their decisions contribute to the climate change that’s impacting our oceans.”
“Commercial fishing is more than a job,” said Beth Casoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. “It’s a way of life not only for the fisherman but for his entire family. It brings communities together and feeds a nation and helped build this great nation and now we need to help ensure the oceans remain clean and pristine as the commercial fishermen depend upon them to feed Americans and earn a living.”
More information
The full set of publications is available at fisheryfriendlyclimateaction.org.
