Promoting Technology & Equipment
Green and White Hope is partnering with multiple organizations to make viable safety equipment more available to our Maine commercial fisherman. In addition, we are committed to testing and working with suppliers to bring valuable commercial fishing safety technology to the working waters.
PFD Designed for Commercial Fishing (In Progress)
Ben Collings Mackay, a 4th generation lobster fisherman and 4th year business student at St Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. has dedicated his studies to designing and developing a PFD specifically for commercial fisherman through his company CM Marine Safety Equipment. The jacket would inflate automatically when someone hits the water and would have a GPS feature to ping nearby boats and emergency services. Green and White Hope is working with Ben to survey US fisherman to ensure his design meets the needs and certifications both in Canada and the US. The next survey opportunity will be at the 2026 Maine Fishermen's Forum. Ben has recently achieved a First Article product and is continuing his testing and certifications to bring the product to market. Green and White Hope is hoping to acquire some early product to share with Maine fishermen.
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Partners: Green and White Hope with CM Marine Safety Equipment and NEFSA
Personal Locator Beacon Program (Pending)
Personal Locator Beacons, otherwise known as PLB's or Personal ePIRBS, have evolved significantly over the past few years. The latest versions can be setup to auto deploy when a fisherman hits the water and broadcast a distress signal both via Satellite and AIS, significantly shortening and broadening notification times. Green and White Hope is currently defining a project in collaboration with Chase Leavitt that would distribute 'free' PLB's to the most vulnerable fishing population that may be most frequently alone in exchange for feedback on feasibility while working, effectiveness when deployed, etc. This is targeted to be submitted to a grant opportunity late summer 2026 and could be offered as a program in 2027.
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Partners: Green and White Hope with Chase Leavitt
Lifejackets for Fisherman
Of the 266 commercial fishing fatalities from falls overboard from 2000-2019, none of these persons were wearing a PFD. Green and White Hope is collaborating with Fishing Partnership Support Services(FPSS) and the Northeast Center for Occupational Health & Safety (NEC) to provide lifejackets at a free or discounted cost to fishermen who attend a safety or first aid/CPR training or meet with FPSS staff.
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Partners: Green and White Hope with Fishing Partnership Support Services, Northeast Center for Occupational Health & Safety
Test Integrated Kill Switch Systems
(In Progress)
REDDE Services has applied for a federal grant to execute the following project:
* Install and test MOB Alert systems on vessels and provide feedback to manufacturers specific to operation in small vessel fisheries in the northeast
* Test leading MOB recovery devices on typical configuration fishing vessels and compile reviews highlighting advantages and limitations.
Due to federal government changes, the grant was not awarded in 2025, but has not been denied, so is in a holding pattern.
Not detered, REDDE has proceeded with limited scale testing usinig their own equipment which hit the water in December 2025. REDDE will be sharing some of their resulsts at the 2026 Fishermen's Forum from March 5-7, including at the Single handed fishing safety education session.
Green and White Hope will collaborate with REDDE on results and if successful, assist on larger grants or private donors to deploy these systems more widely up and down the coast of Maine.
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Partners: Green and White Hope with REDDE Marine Safety