URI senior Corinne DeAngelis learned about running a fisheries apprenticeship program—and picked up some unusual skills along the way
As part of her summer internship, Corinne DeAngelis trained alongside commercial fisheries apprentices who were learning how to put on a survival suit and jump into a pool, perform CPR at sea, mend fishing nets, and load gear and supplies onto a fishing vessel while maintaining its stability in the water. The URI senior wildlife and conservation biology major herself got certified in some of these areas with the apprentices whose program she was helping to run.
Corinne is a Rhode Island Sea Grant Community-Engaged Intern (CEI) at the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island (CFCRI) at URI, which offered the month-long commercial fisheries apprentice program early in the summer. Corinne says the CFCRI received 150 applications from people ranging from their late teens/early 20s to their mid-30s. Eleven placements were offered in the program, and six people ended up completing it, with five of them now placed as crew on fishing vessels, including trawlers and lobster boats.
Participants in the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation practice survival skills in the pool.
With the apprentice cohort being fairly small, in addition to helping out with photographing and videoing the trainings and creating participant surveys, Corinne was able to participate in the program along with the apprentices, gaining certifications in CPR and vessel stability. The intensive days, which ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week, allowed Corinne to get to know the apprentices well and get their feedback on the program, which will help the CFCRI fine-tune future offerings.
Fred Mattera and Shaye Rooney, co-executive directors of the CFCRI, praised Corinne’s professionalism and dedication to her position, saying that she was “an asset to our program, filling in the gaps where and when needed,” adding that she “connected extremely well with the apprentices, creating a more cohesive group.”
Corinne says she has enjoyed her time at the Commercial Fisheries Center. “I was genuinely excited to come here and learn and do all this hands-on stuff because I’m definitely a hands-on learner,” she says. Now that the apprenticeship program has ended, Corinne is finishing up her 10-week internship, learning more about issues facing the fishing industry, such as the development of offshore wind farms. She calls working with CFCRI mentors Mitch Hatzipetro, Shaye Rooney, and Fred Mattera “wonderful,” and adds that the program has given her a new appreciation for commercial fishing, whether or not it becomes part of her future career.
Community Engaged Internship Program
The Rhode Island Sea Grant CEI program pairs students from Rhode Island colleges and universities with research, outreach, or education professionals working in coastal communities. The CEI projects offer students mentorship and hands-on experience that will give them invaluable skills whether they pursue employment or advanced studies after graduation. Preference will be given to rising juniors (third year) or seniors (fourth year) students.
Visit our student page to learn more, or contact our Workforce Development Coordinator, Kim Ohnemus.