Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation

What Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation does

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit private foundation established in 2003 by Rhode Island commercial fishermen and headquartered in Saunderstown, RI. Its core operation is a collaborative fisheries research model that pays fishermen to collect biological, oceanographic, and fishery-dependent data during routine commercial operations using custom Android tablet applications (On Deck Data, Ocean Temps) integrated with electronic calipers, VEMCO Bluetooth temperature sensors, CTD instruments, acoustic tags, and underwater video. Active Research Fleet programs cover lobster, Jonah crab, black sea bass, quahog, tilefish, whelk, skate, and shelf oceanography, supplemented by conservation gear engineering (e.g., ventless trap surveys, modified dredge bags), ghost gear removal, quahog restoration, and offshore wind farm fisheries monitoring for developers including Orsted.

CFRF monetizes through four primary streams: (1) federal and state grants — principally NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service and BOEM, with $5.8M administered across three multi-year NOAA awards between 2009 and 2016; (2) contracted research services for offshore wind developers; (3) tax-deductible donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations; and (4) a Rhode Island Sustainable Fisheries charity license plate that delivers $20 per plate to CFRF on a $43.50 retail price. Workshops, internships (paid at $18/hour), and educational content are offered free of charge.

The foundation serves a multi-sided constituency: commercial fishermen in Southern New England (150+ engaged participants since 2003), federal and state fisheries managers and scientists (NOAA, RI DEM, ASMFC, 300+ collaborators), academic partners (WHOI, URI GSO, Roger Williams University, UMass Dartmouth SMAST, Johnson & Wales, Brown), culinary and processing partners (Seafreeze, Sea Fresh USA, TownDock, Pisces Fish Machinery), and the general seafood-consuming public. Outputs include peer-reviewed publications, NOAA stock assessment inputs, regulatory reports (e.g., OCS Study BOEM 2021-010), economic impact studies, and a documented $1.5M+ in direct payments to fishermen since inception.

Name

Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation

Legal name

Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation

Website

https://cfrfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2003 by Rhode Island commercial fishermen that runs collaborative Research Fleets — paying fishermen to collect biological and oceanographic data on lobster, crab, shellfish, and groundfish species during routine fishing operations, funded primarily by NOAA and BOEM grants, wind developer contracts, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collaborative Fisheries Research

NAICS

Fishing (1141), Shellfish Fishing (114112)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Collaborative fisheries research
• Fishery-dependent data collection
• Sustainable seafood research
• Bycatch reduction gear
• Offshore wind fisheries monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Saunderstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: Primary revenue source from federal and state grants including NOAA awards, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management funding, and BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) grants for wind energy fisheries monitoring research.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations supporting sustainable fisheries research. CFRF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
3. License Plate Program: Rhode Island charity license plates featuring local seafood species sold for $43.50, with $20 per plate going directly to CFRF to support fisheries research.
4. Research Services: Contracted research services for wind energy companies (e.g., Orsted) conducting fisheries monitoring in offshore wind farm areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CFRF conducts collaborative fisheries research by engaging commercial fishermen as active data collectors through its Research Fleet programs (Lobster & Jonah Crab, Black Sea Bass, Quahog, Shelf, Tilefish, Whelk, Skate). The foundation develops custom data collection technology (On Deck Data and Ocean Temps Android applications), tests conservation gear modifications to reduce bycatch, monitors fisheries impacts in offshore wind energy areas, and operates community programs such as ghost gear removal and the Rhode Island Sustainable Fisheries Charity License Plate.

Product overview

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) is a non-profit research organization that operates multiple collaborative research programs rather than a unified commercial product. Its core offerings include the On Deck Data Application and Ocean Temps Application for fisherman-collected data, along with various Research Fleets (Lobster & Jonah Crab, Black Sea Bass, Quahog, Shelf, Tilefish, Whelk, Skate) that engage commercial fishermen in scientific data collection. Additional offerings include ghost gear removal programs, wind farm fisheries monitoring services, sustainable seafood initiatives, and the Rhode Island Sustainable Fisheries Charity License Plate. The organization focuses on conducting collaborative fisheries research and education to achieve sustainable fisheries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lobster & Jonah Crab Research Fleet Collaborative research program engaging commercial fishermen to collect biological data on lobsters and Jonah crabs during routine commercial fishing operations using CFRF's On Deck Data Android tablet application. Over 112,000 lobsters and 54,000+ Jonah crabs sampled since June 2013.
• On Deck Data Application Custom Android tablet application used by commercial fishermen to collect biological and fishery data at sea, including lobster, Jonah crab, black sea bass, and quahog data collection modules with electronic calipers integration for precise measurements.
• Ocean Temps Application Custom mobile application for retrieving and uploading bottom water temperature data collected by fishing vessels via Bluetooth from VEMCO Minilog II temperature sensors, with location recording and wireless data upload capabilities.
• Black Sea Bass Research Fleet Collaborative research program partnered with RI DEM engaging commercial fishermen to collect biological and fishery data on black sea bass using specialized tablet applications during routine commercial fishing operations.
• Quahog Research Fleet Collaborative research program partnered with Roger Williams University and RI DEM engaging commercial shellfishermen to collect biological data on quahogs during routine commercial shellfishing operations.
• Shelf Research Fleet Collaborative research program partnered with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) collecting oceanographic data on the continental shelf using CTD instruments aboard commercial fishing vessels.
• Wind Farm Fisheries Monitoring (South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind) Contracted fisheries monitoring surveys conducted in offshore wind farm areas to assess the impacts of wind energy development on commercial fisheries, including South Fork Wind Farm, Revolution Wind Farm, and Sunrise Wind Farm surveys, with funding support from wind energy developers such as Orsted.
• Ghost Gear Removal & Prevention Program Program removing abandoned fishing gear (ghost gear) from Narragansett Bay, including traps, scrap metal, rope, and plastic debris to restore marine habitat and prevent further ecological damage.
• Rhode Island Sustainable Fisheries Charity License Plate Rhode Island charity license plate featuring eight iconic sustainable seafood species (black sea bass, summer flounder, American lobster, quahog, longfin squid, Jonah crab, scup, and channeled whelk), with $20 per plate going directly to CFRF to support fisheries research.
• Scup Mince Processing Research Research project advancing scup mince processing techniques in partnership with local Rhode Island seafood processing companies (Seafreeze, Sea Fresh USA, The TownDock) and machinery manufacturer Pisces Fish Machinery Inc., to develop cost-effective filleting methods for underutilized species with 30-35% yield.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 lobsters sampled through Research Fleet programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaborative partner for fisheries research, stock assessments, and management. RI DEM scientists participate in Research Fleet steering committees and data collection protocols. Collaborative projects include Black Sea Bass Research Fleet, Quahog Research Fleet, and Jonah crab management workshops.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Shelf Research Fleet collecting oceanographic data using CTD instruments. Joint workshops on unusual ocean conditions and Pioneer Array data. Published research on continental shelf surficial substrates.
• University of Rhode Island Graduate School of OceanographycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research expertise and facilities. Collaborators include Dr. Kevin Stokesbury at SMAST and researchers for Jonah crab management studies, wind farm trawl surveys, and lobster Jonah crab research.
• Roger Williams UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaborator on quahog research including larval supply assessment and stock evaluation projects. Led by Associate Professor Dale Leavitt.
• OrstedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWind energy developer funding fisheries monitoring surveys in offshore wind farm areas. Partnerships include South Fork Wind Farm fisheries monitoring, Revolution Wind Farm surveys, and beam trawl surveys in wind energy areas.
• Johnson & Wales UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary education partnership for seafood workshops, cooking demonstrations, and RI Seafood Challenge events. Chefs from JWU create and test recipes for underutilized species like scup.
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fisheries management body collaborating on lobster, Jonah crab, and other species research. Research Fleet data used in stock assessments and management plan development.
• NOAA Fisheries / Northeast Fisheries Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal fisheries science agency providing funding through NOAA awards and research collaboration. Data used in NOAA stock assessments. Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program partnerships.
• Rhode Island Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting events on boulder relocation practices with wind developers, supporting sustainable seafood initiatives and legal fellow programs.
• The Nature Conservancy of Rhode IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on bay scallop restoration project synthesizing information and developing strategies to restore bay scallop populations in Rhode Island's coastal salt ponds.
• Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated organization providing meeting facilities and collaboration on wind energy/fisheries projects including boulder relocation pilot project funded by CFCRI with Orsted support.
• Brown UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent collaboration on educational materials including infographics and promotional videos about Rhode Island seafood species and sustainable fishing practices.
• Seafreeze, Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Rhode Island processing company collaborating on scup processing technique research to develop cost-effective filleting methods for underutilized species.
• Sea Fresh USA, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Rhode Island seafood processing company partner in scup processing technique development project.
• The TownDockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Rhode Island seafood company and project team member for automatic squid jigging pilot project and scup processing research.
• Pisces Fish Machinery Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing company from Wells, Michigan that developed processing machinery line capable of filleting scup and removing bones, achieving 30-35% yield.
• Gulf of Maine Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 2019-2020 Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program testing N-Viro dredge to reduce bycatch and improve fuel efficiency.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• New England Aquarium: Boston-based marine research and education institution that runs collaborative fisheries and ocean health programs. Overlaps with CFRF on sustainable seafood education, marine science workforce development, and regional conservation.
• Maine Lobstermen's Association: Fishermen-led industry association with similar community-of-interest to CFRF. While primarily an advocacy body, it also supports collaborative research with NOAA and academic institutions on lobster fisheries in adjacent waters.

Others

• Marine Stewardship Council: Global non-profit setting standards for sustainable fishing and seafood certification. Adjacent ecosystem player whose work depends on the kind of fishery-dependent data CFRF generates through Research Fleet programs.

Direct peers

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: CFRF's core collaborative partner on the Shelf Research Fleet, jointly collecting oceanographic CTD data and co-authoring publications on continental shelf conditions. Operates as a complementary marine science research institution with overlapping fisheries-oceanography focus.
• Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Non-profit that convenes fishermen, scientists, and managers for collaborative fisheries and oceanographic research in the Gulf of Maine. Closely analogous community-led research model to CFRF, just in a different regional ecosystem.
• University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography: Academic partner (Dr. Kevin Stokesbury at SMAST, plus GSO faculty) collaborating on Jonah crab, lobster, and wind farm trawl surveys. Comparable in producing fishery-dependent research data for management use.
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: Regional fisheries management body that uses CFRF Research Fleet data in lobster, Jonah crab, and other species stock assessments. Directly comparable as a fisheries data generator serving Atlantic coast management needs.
• NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center: Federal science agency that funds CFRF's largest grants and uses its data for stock assessments and Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside programs. The dominant institutional peer for collaborative fisheries research in the same geography.
• The Nature Conservancy (Rhode Island): CFRF collaborates with TNC on the bay scallop restoration project. As a larger marine/coastal conservation NGO operating in the same geography with overlapping species and habitat focus, it is a strong non-profit peer.
• Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory: NOAA lab focused on oceanographic observation and fisheries-environment data collection. Comparable mission of generating fishery-relevant environmental datasets that inform stock assessments and management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cfrfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfrfoundation
• Xx.com/cfrf_ri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/commercial-fisheries-research-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation