Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Will Assist Lengthy Island For-Rent Fishing Fleets Modernize Their Information Assortment Methods

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE) Marine Program has launched an initiative designed to modernize information assortment programs utilized by greater than 240 for-hire marine fishing allow holders throughout Lengthy Island.

This program, often known as the eVTR (Digital Vessel Journey Reporting) venture, will scale back information assortment burdens on fishermen by simplifying the obligatory reporting course of. Furthermore, this system will improve the standard, timeliness and accessibility of fisheries information to be used by fleet managers and policymakers.

For-hire fishermen function vessels which can be employed by people or teams for leisure fishing journeys. This contains social gathering boats and constitution boats. They primarily catch fluke, scup, black sea bass, striped bass, blackfish, and bluefish in New York State waters inside three miles of shore.

The modernization venture is funded via a $300,000 grant from the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis. The muse was chartered by Congress in 1984 to extend assets out there for the conservation of the nation’s fish, wildlife, vegetation, and habitats.

“Leisure fishing has lengthy performed an essential position within the historical past, tradition, and financial system of Lengthy Island,” mentioned Vanessa Lockel, Government Director of CCE Suffolk. “However to stay aggressive, our fishermen have to undertake trendy applied sciences. By serving to to replace their information assortment programs, CCE Suffolk will play a hand in constructing a safer and environment friendly future for our fishing sector.”

Marine leisure fishing journeys supported 5,739 full- or part-time jobs and contributed $473 million in gross sales, $209 million in revenue, and $363 million in gross home revenue to the New York State financial system in 2017, the final yr for which figures can be found.

The state’s for-hire sector faces many challenges, together with strict laws in respect to fish measurement, bag limits, and seasonal restrictions. The fleets’ revenue margins are additionally being squeezed by elevated prices related to gas, upkeep and restore, and fishing gear. As well as, patronage has been declining as a consequence of essential fare will increase.  

State-licensed social gathering and constitution allow holders – in addition to industrial harvesters — are required to submit month-to-month vessel journey stories of all fishing actions to the state Division of Environmental Conservation in addition to federal businesses. Information embrace data on catch, journey size, sellers, and different gadgets. Whereas this information have historically been recorded and submitted on paper, the state is presently transitioning to digital reporting. The eVTR venture will equip fishermen to efficiently make this vital change.

The CCE Marine workers will primarily present know-how, coaching and technical help for an digital reporting system referred to as the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program’s eTrips program. By a sequence of outreach and coaching occasions, CCE workers will information fishermen on the use, adoption and registration of the system. Individuals can even obtain ongoing technical help as wanted. To additional ease the burden of digital reporting, CCE will distribute 150 iPads to taking part fishermen.   

The CCE workforce can even be aiding New York State meals fish license holders who want to voluntarily report electronically.