This month, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Coastal Pines Technical College Foundation announced a new scholarship and endowment program designed to invest in the next generation of Georgia’s commercial fishermen.
The program is intended to address concerns of the graying of the fleet — a national problem in commercial fisheries — and boost participation locally with qualified crew.
“There is a growing concern from commercial fishing vessel owners and dock owners about the lack of trained crew to replace the industry’s participants as they retire and leave the fishery,” said Carolyn Belcher, chief of marine fisheries for the DNR’s Coastal Resources Division. “With this new scholarship and endowment, our goal is to incentivize students to pursue careers in commercial fishing across the Georgia coast.”
The Georgia Commercial Fishing Scholarship offers $5,000 in funds available for immediate distribution. And the Georgia Commercial Fishing Sustainability and Resilience Endowment will start with $20,000 in an interest-bearing endowment overseen by the foundation.
Read more:
https://www.nationalfisherman.com/gulf-south-atlantic/georgia-fisheries-scholarship-works-to-recruit-young-fishermen-for-the-future