The following information about busses to the DC rally has been recieved by Saving Seafood. This page will be kept updated when/if new information arrives.
NEW ENGLAND BUS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 15, 2012 – The Keep Fishermen Fishing rally is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 12 noon. in Washington, DC. A New England bus is being provided for those who wish to attend the rally, making stops in New Bedford, MA, North Kingston, Rhode Island, and near Route 95 Exit 91 in Connecticut. (Due to legal drive time restriction that apply to bus drivers, it was not possible to leave from further north and make it to DC. Fishermen from points north of New Bedford, are most welcome to board at any of the departure points.)
The bus is sponsored by the American Association of Fishermen and their Communities, Seafreeze Shoreside, Handrigan Seafood, Trawlworks, Bergie's Seafood, Gambardella Seafood, Deep Sea, Town Dock, Pt. Judith Electronic Services, Markarian & Meehan, New Bedford Ship Supply, BASE New England, Joel Hovanesian, Craig Turner, and Harold Loftes.
Tickets for the round-trip bus ride are $30, and those interested in reserving a seat should call Tina Jackson at 401-837-6932 or tinajaafc@gmail.com. Anyone interested in attending the rally but unable to afford the round-trip fare should also contact Tina.
Listed below are the scheduled pick-up sites, pick-up times, and directions. Other information, directions and/or any changes will be available on the Keep Fishermen Fishing website: www.keepfishermenfishing.com
The Northeast Seafood Coalition will pay busfare for any of its members who wish to attend. Interested NSC members should contact Executive Director Jackie Odell at the NSC office at 978-283-9992.
NEW BEDFORD
Departure Time: 2:00 AM
Location: Waterfront Grille
Directions: Take the Purchase St. exit off of Rt. 18 into New Bedford. Go past the ferry lots and state piers toward the Fairfield Inn. Waterfront Grille is directly across from the Fairfield Inn. Please park to the right of the Grille closest to the boats, not in the restaurant lot.
RHODE ISLAND
Departure Time: 3:15 AM
Location and Directions: Park N Ride near the Home Depot in North Kingston, off of Rt. 4 across from the Old Fiddlesticks.
CONNECTICUT
Departure Time: 4:00 AM
Location and Directions: Route 95, Exit 91, North Main Street- Park N Ride directly off the exit.
MONTAUK BUS
The Viking Fleet is co-sponsoring a charter bus to the Keep Fishermen Fishing rally in Washington D.C. next Wednesday, March 21. The rally is the second coastwide movement by recreational and commercial fishing groups to urge Congress to loosen some of the mandatory time-lines for rebuilding stocks of historically overfished species to ease the economic impacts of steep catch reductions on fishing industry businesses.
The bus will leave the Viking Fleet parking lot in Montauk at 5 a.m. Wednesday, will make a stop at the Omni in Southampton about 6 a.m. and will return to the East End about 10 p.m. The cost is $50 per seat which include a box lunch from Panera Bread.
For more information or to make reservations call the Viking Fleet at 668-5700 or at www.vikingfleet.com. Info on the rally and other buses leaving from points west are at www.keepfishermenfishing.com.