Who We Are

The Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island is the home for the Ocean State's commercial fishing  community. The center was founded to preserve commercial fishing as a profession, culture, and way of life through promoting the sustainability of the resource. Achieving true sustainability in our fisheries is a difficult and complicated feat. But CFCRI believes in cultivating an environment of open communication and encouraging the sharing of knowledge about our ocean and it's resources. In the pursuit of sustainable seas, our approach is innovative, our lens is optimistic, and our goals are ambitious. ​

Our members believe in commercial fishing as a profession, a culture and a way of life. We seek to preserve the sanctity of our community, the solvency of our small business and the sustainability of the fishery resource. The Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island is our headquarters to bring fishermen, scientists, managers, and elected officials together in a collaborative effort to improve our fisheries and our understanding of the marine environment so that the proud heritage of our industry continues nobly through future generations.