Cornell Cooperative Extension launches new project to help LI fishermen
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE) Marine Program is helping for-hire fishermen by bringing high tech to the high seas.
The eVTR (Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting) project, launched this month by CCE, alleviates data collection burdens on fishermen by simplifying the mandatory reporting process. The new system, funded through a $300,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, was designed to modernize data collection systems used by more than 240 for-hire marine fishing permit holders across Long Island.
“Recreational fishing has long played an important role in the history, culture, and economy of Long Island,” said Vanessa Lockel, executive director of CCE Suffolk. “But to remain competitive, our fishermen need to adopt modern technologies. By helping to update their data collection systems, CCE Suffolk will play a hand in building a more secure and efficient future for our fishing sector.”
As of 2017, marine recreational fishing trips accounted for $473 million in sales, $209 million in income, and $363 million in gross domestic income to the New York State economy, supporting over 5,700 full- or part-time jobs.
In addition to strict regulations, including bag limits and seasonal restrictions, for-hire fisherman face a bevy of other challenges. The rising cost of fuel, maintenance, and fishing gear has put a strain on profit margins, and patronage has suffered as well.
Permit-holding fishermen and commercial harvesters are required under state law to report information on catch, trip length, dealers, and other items to the state Department of Environmental Conservation as well as federal agencies. While data have traditionally been recorded and submitted on paper, the state is presently transitioning to electronic reporting. The eVTR project will equip fishermen to successfully make this significant change.
Through a series of outreach and training events, CCE staff will guide fishermen on the use, adoption and registration of the new system, called the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program’s eTrips program, and provide ongoing technical support as well. To further ease the burden of electronic reporting, CCE will distribute 150 iPads to participating fishermen.
For more information about the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, visit: http://ccesuffolk.org/.
