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.
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 Man Overboard Alert Systems
REDDE 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.
While the grant receipt appears to be unlikely, a small scale of testing will still be conducted during the Summer of 2025. Green and White Hope will collaborate on the project, finding vessels to test as necessary, assisting in results documentation, and if successful, applying for 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 Services
PFD Designed for Commercial Fishing
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. A proof of concept has been conducted and a prototype is expected in the summer of 2025.
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Partners: Green and White Hope with CM Marine Safety Equipment