September 11, 2018 — The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues Friday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., with “Rodman Sykes: A Life in the Fisheries.” The film is part of a series by Markham Starr documenting the commercial fishing port of Point Judith, Rhode Island.
Rodman Sykes is a lifelong commercial fisherman out of Point Judith. He began fishing with his grandfather as a child and has pursued this career his whole life. He discusses his life in the fisheries, how it has changed over time, and what increasing regulatory pressure is doing to the industry against the backdrop of a day aboard the F/V Virginia Marise, catching both groundfish for food and skate to be used as bait by local lobstermen.
Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, 33 William St., in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free.