What will EEF do, and what will the results be?

EEF projects will include a fishing and seafood industry baseline and energy needs assessment, fishing vessel energy use assessments, opportunities for fishermen and marine service providers to pursue collaborative learning in Massachusetts and beyond, and consultancy services for business owners seeking to access low-cost capital and grant funding for fuel efficiency investments. Our work is designed to be participatory and scalable, all in service to the industry.

Who is involved in EEF?

EEF is a Massachusetts project hosted by the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Development Program in partnership with the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign and led by a diverse fishing industry advisory committee with members from across Massachusetts representing businesses large and small representing all our major fisheries and gear types. EEF initiatives are supported and implemented by a project team with deep experience working on fisheries issues, grassroots organizing, ocean policy, and electronic technologies. EEF focuses on Massachusetts ports and vessels, but we aim to inspire future efforts across the region and beyond.

What are the goals of EEF?

Lowering climate change-driving carbon emissions, reducing fuel consumption, and saving fishing and seafood businesses money! Energy efficiency, which means taking measures to reduce the overall amount of energy required to run a business, is one of the easiest ways to reduce fixed costs in a fishing or seafood business. Shore-based businesses can also save by investing in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and there are many state and federal tax incentives available to support these actions. Low-carbon propulsion systems and other alternative systems may become more economically viable on board fishing vessels in the near future, and the EEF project is at the forefront of on-the-water innovation. Lowering your fuel or electricity bill while reducing greenhouse gas-driving emissions is a win-win for your bottom line, the resources we depend on, and our communities.

Will a focus on efficiency and clean energy lead to unwanted mandates?

EEF was developed to make sure that safe and cost-effective options, not burdensome regulations, are the future of energy innovation for Massachusetts fishing and seafood businesses. Vessel owners know that uninformed, untested mandates at sea are never ideal. From safety to cost effectiveness, next-generation technologies must prove themselves in some of the harshest environments on the planet. With fishermen and seafood businesses leading the assessment and adoption of innovative energy technologies, the industry can avoid mandates and adopt technologies that work for their unique application at the right pace.

Why is EEF doing this work now?

Food producing industries like ours have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to access state and national programs that support the adoption of emission reduction technologies right now, but the open window won’t last forever. The US fishing industry, particularly smaller businesses, must plan, advocate, and organize in order to compete for these important and valuable programs. EEF is a great way to lay out a workable plan and bring funds home to our ports.