In the push toward a low-carbon future, commercial fishermen aren’t just looking to keep pace; they want a seat at the table.

A report compiled by the Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign gathered input from 148 fishing businesses across Alaska, the West Coast, and New England, offering a roadmap shaped by those who know best what it takes to work on the water.

The sixth volume in the six-part series, Fishermen’s Recommendations for New Programs and Policies, lays out a five-pronged strategy based on direct interviews with vessel owners and operators. These recommendations emphasize the need for practical solutions grounded in real-life experience, not just theory or top-down mandates.

“This report was lovingly crafted by and for members of the commercial fishing communities,” the authors noted, “rooted in trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to ensuring that this community remains in control of its own clean energy future.”

Many fishermen expressed frustrations with regulations that forced them to adopt underperforming or ill-suited gear, especially when it came to newer diesel technologies.

“I’d say get on the drawing board and somebody get their coveralls back on and get these electronic engines going first, before you try and figure out something else that ain’t gonna work,” said one Oregon fisherman in the report.

Concerns centered on Tier 3 and Tier 4 engines, particularly the reliance on computerized sensors that are prone to failure offshore and require hard-to-reach technicians for service. In the words of one New England participant, “We are not operating in an environment where we can afford to be beta testers for somebody’s new design. If my engine fails on land, I call AAA. If my engine fails at sea, I might not make it home.”

The report’s authors didn’t stop at identifying problems. They outlined a comprehensive five-part plan based on what fishermen say they need:

• Research and development - guided and tested by fishermen.
• Pilot projects - to prove what works across gear types and regions.
• Knowledge transfer and workforce development - bringing captains, crew, and shore-based technicians up to speed.
• Incentive programs - to make upgrades affordable, practical, and fair.
• Waterfront infrastructure - ensuring ports are ready for vessel-level changes.

When it comes to demo projects, fishermen don’t want proof-of-concept; they want to see real-world operations. According to the report, fishermen have a history of participating in demonstration projects to test and promote the use of safety equipment.

“You always start change with a couple of guinea pig projects, but it’s going to take a lot more of them to really figure out what the pros and cons are and what works and what doesn’t work,” said a California fisherman.

In addition to safety equipment, the idea of testing and demonstrating new technologies in general is top of mind for fleets across the country. A Massachusetts trawl fisherman added, “Somebody’s got to demonstrate the whole thing and see how it is for a small vessel versus a bigger vessel versus a speed vessel. Then you can see better. Because I want to know, which one would I pick for my vessel?... Every vessel is different.”

Incentives that fit the job

Programs like the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), California’s Carl Moyer Program, and the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) have helped some, but not all. Fishermen want programs that are easier to access, offer flexibility in timelines and funding match, and recognize the realities of life on the water. Fishermen in the study emphasized that you still have to put a load of money up front for these vessel upgrades, and if you don’t have it, you can’t participate in the program to get funding.

Other individuals also pointed out how critical intermediaries, such as associations or grant writers, have become for fishermen trying to navigate federal and state funding. Some have stated they wouldn’t have done it without a grant writer’s help.

One fleet at a time

The findings in the report don’t just represent technical feedback; they offer a blueprint for building smarter policies grounded in what fishermen know works. The fishing industry is a tough one, and these individuals don’t have a lot of extra time, help, or money, but if someone shows them something that works, they are willing to try it.

If state and federal agencies want to support the fishing industry’s climate transition, they need to start by listening and then acting on what they hear from fishermen. 

Find more on Talking Shop on a Low Carbon Fleet here.