August 19, 2024 — For experienced commercial fishermen ready to elevate their careers, the New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance (NEYFA) offers an opportunity through its Deckhand to Captain (DTC) Training Program. This intensive nine-month course is designed to guide individuals from seasoned deckhands to successful owner-operators. I was able to sit in on a class and get a detailed look at what the program offers and some of the latest updates from the local fishing community.
NEYFA’s DTC Training Program is open to commercial fishermen with at least three years of experience as a deckhand or sternman. The program equips trainees with essential skills in business management, loan acquisition, financing, public speaking, industry regulations, collaborative marketing, and branding, among other skills. The students benefit from one-on-one mentorship with their experienced captain mentor, class guest speakers, members of the fishing community, and guidance from the program’s founder, Andrea Tomlinson. Tomlinson began working within the commercial fishing industry shortly after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire (UNH). On her first trip fishing in the Gulf of Maine, she was hooked on creating an impactful career within the industry. Her background spans years in aquaculture to groundfish and encouraging the coastal communities to support fishermen and buy local seafood.
“I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist and work with the sea since I was about ten years old, fishing for fluke and bluefish off the docks at Clarkes Landing marina in Point Pleasant, NJ, where our family kept our rec boat growing up. I have worked in wild-caught fisheries and, before that, in finfish and shellfish aquaculture for most of my career,” shared Tomlinson.