September 27, 2012 — It's time to celebrate the fishing industry and all that it contributes to our local economy, heritage and culture. The port of new Bedford landed 117 million pounds of seafood, valued at a whopping $369 million in 2011, and for the 12th year in a row, was named as the top fishing harbor in the United States, according to figures released by NOAA last week.
The news merits a celebration and the city's Working Waterfront Festival, set for this weekend, is perfectly timed to deliver one.
Held on the city piers, rain or shine, the free two-day festival showcases the city's working waterfront and provides visitors with an opportunity to step inside the fascinating world of the commercial fisherman.
Now in its ninth year, this unique event has gained steadily in recognition and now draws people from afar, according to Director Laura Orleans. "Over the years we've learned a lot and I think the event is still growing," she said. Social media has helped to spread the word about all that the festival has to offer, she said.
Music, cooking demonstrations, fish cutting, films, safety demos, a farmers' market, a kids tent, author appearances, harbor tours and whaleboat rides are just some of the attractions visitors can enjoy at the festival.
This year's theme is "Fishtales: Fact, Fiction and Narrative Tradition," and will be presented in a new format, one that sees musicians, poets and local fishermen combine their talents onstage. "We found that music and cooking demonstrations draw a crowd. Talking heads, not so much," Orleans said. "So we decided to mix up the stage presentations so we can get the message across." The message is to provide people some inkling of what it means to be a commercial fisherman, she said.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard Times