Saving Seafood

Massachusetts: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center seeks seafood workers for oral history project

March 28, 2018 — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has begun a major research initiative, exploring the history and role of unions and other industry organizations from the 1930s to the present through a combination of archival research and oral history interviews.

The resulting documentation will become part of the center’s growing archive and will provide the foundation for the creation of exhibits, public programs and publications. Funding for this project is provided through grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Mass Humanities.

The center is currently working to identify individuals who worked in the fish houses (seafood-processing plants) during the 1970s and during the seafood workers strike of 1981 as part of an effort to better understand and document the history of organized labor on the city’s waterfront. The center is particularly interested in understanding how the seafood industry, work conditions, the labor force and the community has changed over time, according to a news release.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

Massachusetts: Sustaining New England’s Wild Seafood

March 27, 2018 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and Eating with the Ecosystem presents Sustaining New England’s Wild Seafood on Thursday, April 12th at 6:30 p.m. as part of AHA night.  This naturalist-style lecture about marine ecosystems, how these contribute to seafood production and why it is important to take a whole-system approach to sustaining seafood.  Recipes will be shared.

This program is part of the Center’s look at the issue of sustainability during the month of April.  Admission is free.  The Center is handicap accessible through the parking lot entrance. Free off-street parking available. The Center is located at 38 Bethel Street in New Bedford’s historic downtown.

Eating with the Ecosystem’s mission is to promote a place-based approach to sustaining New England’s wild seafood, through healthy habitats, flourishing food webs, and short, adaptive supply chains. Learn more at www.eatingwiththeecosystem.org.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through archives, exhibits, and programs. For more information, please email programs@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894.

 

Free safety training workshop for fishermen in New Bedford

February 12, 2018 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — In attempting to spread awareness for a fishermen’s safety seminar on Monday, Fishing Partnership Support Services included two case reports with its press release.

The first documented the case of the fishing vessel Katmai that sank in 2008. The other disclosed information surrounding the sinking of the fishing vessel Lydia & Maya.

Seven members of the Katmai never returned home. Fortunately, every member of the Lydia & Maya survived.

Each incident involved stability issues with the vessels.

Ed Dennehy, a retired Coast Guard captain and safety training director for Fishing Partnership Support Services, hopes Monday’s free seminar can prevent future accidents.

“Oh, absolutely (it could save lives,)” Dennehy said. “If they have stability problems, we cover some of the things that they need to address those problems especially if they’re taking on water.”

The safety training is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center at 38 Bethel St.

The program will include PowerPoint presentations and hands-on training. The first part of the day will act as the informational portion while the second half will allow the participants to implement what they learned.

“It’s important that they understand some of the physics first and then we talk to the practical, how does that practically apply to your boat?” Dennehy said.

The training will include stability principles and stability curve as well as understanding stability reports.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

MASSACHUSETTS: February Dock-U-Mentaries Series Presents After the Storm: Lessons from the Northern Edge

February 5, 2018 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

Join us for After the Storm: Lessons from the Northern Edge as the Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on February 16th at 7:00 p.m. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.  Films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge.

Commercial fishing is one of the world’s most dangerous ways to earn a living. For centuries fishermen have braved the waters of the northeast Atlantic to make their catch, some never to return home. But in 2004, the scallop boat Northern Edge sank, taking with it five of the six men on board. The lucrative fishing port of New Bedford, Massachusetts changed forever. The loss of the Northern Edge spurred a response on every front. Fishermen, politicians, and lawmakers alike took a new look at the safety of those who fish the Atlantic waters for a living. In one of the most regulated industries in the country, however, an imbalance between conservation law and safe practice emerged. This film by J.D. Marlow and Amanda Bergeron explores the question:  Can conservation efforts and fishermen’s safety co-exist?  Question and answer session with veteran fisherman and safety trainer Captain Rodney Avila to follow the film.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and presenting the history and culture of New Bedford’s fishing industry through exhibits, programs, and archives. www.fishingheritagecenter.org

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry.  The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States.  The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM.  The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge.  For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov/nebe or visit the park’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NewBedfordNPS/. Everyone finds their park in a different way. Discover yours at FindYourPark.com

 

Massachusetts: Fishing Heritage Center Opens New Exhibit

January 31, 2018 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is pleased to announce the opening of Frozen Asset: Ice Making & the New Bedford Fishing Industry on Thursday, February 8th at 6:00 p.m. during AHA.  This exhibit explores the historic and contemporary ice industry as well as how ice contributed to the success of the commercial fishing industry. A special showing of Harvesting Ice in New England 1926- 1957 will take place at 7:00 p.m.

Ice has been used to preserve food for centuries.  From the early 1800s to the 1960s, ice was harvested from fresh water ponds and stored in ice houses throughout New England.  With the advent of refrigeration in the mid 20th century, the ice industry modernized the process of making ice through the use of refrigerant, allowing ice to be made year round.

Changes in how ice was harvested in the mid-19th century allowed ice to be cut uniformly, minimizing melting in storage and during use.  Fishermen began to carry ice to preserve their bait and their catch.  Having ice allowed crews to venture farther off shore and expand the variety of species landed fresh. Ice was used by railroads to transport the catch far from fishing ports, increasing the market for fresh fish.  With the advent of refrigeration, New Bedford fishermen could land their catch here rather than at Fulton’s Fish Market in New York City and transport fish to markets across the country by truck.

Today, ice is still used to preserve the catch and land fresh product for market. Vessels ice up before heading out to sea, taking on 15 to 40 tons depending upon the target species, trip length, and time of year.

The Center is grateful to Joseh E. Swift, Crystal Ice Company, Inc., and Woods Hole Historical Museum for the support with a special thanks to guest curators Stephanie Trott and Robert Demanche. This exhibit is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Dartmouth Local Cultural Council, the Fairhaven Local Cultural Council, the Mattapoisett Local Cultural Council, and the New Bedford Cultural Council.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through archives, exhibits, and programs.

 

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Hosts Scanning Day

November 17, 2017 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will host Scanning Day on Saturday December 9, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Scanning Day is an opportunity for the public to share and preserve a digital image of their fishing industry photographs, documents, and other records for future generations.

The Center invites the public to bring their fishing industry related photographs, both historic and contemporary, as well as documents such as settlement sheets, union books, or news clippings to be scanned. Staff will scan the materials and record any information the owner shares about each piece.  The owner will leave with their originals along with a digital copy  of the scans on a flash drive. The Center is working to create a digital archive of these materials which will be made available to researchers and the public. These documents will help us to tell the story of the fishing industry.  This event is free and open to the public.

If you have a collection you would like to contribute to the Center’s digital archive and you are not able to attend Scanning Day, please call (508)993-8894 or email Center staff at info@fishingheritagecenter.org to make an appointment to have your collection scanned. Future dates for Scanning Days are January 13 and February 10, 2018.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through archives, exhibits, and programs. For more information, please contact the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center at programs@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894.

MASSACHUSETTS: The Working Waterfront Festival returns: A fest primer

September 14, 2017 — It’s back, baby.

Yup, New Bedford’s famed Working Waterfront Festival, which transitioned to a biennial event following 2015, is back — and looks better than ever.

Clear your calendar for Sept. 23, and head down at the docks to watch whaleboat races and lobstering contests; to eat fresh seafood, sing, dance, climb aboard a fishing vessel and more at the Working Waterfront Festival.

Now I’m the first to admit I don’t know ship about fishing, so when I’ve gone to the Waterfront Fest in the past, I’ve felt like I’m walking into a Discovery Channel documentary.

It’s absolutely eye-opening, utterly fascinating, and a fantastic — and free! — family day trip.

New Bedford is the nation’s most valuable fishing port, and the fest—named one of the world’s “Top 20 Travel Events” by National Geographic Traveler in 2011 — draws people from around New England each year for harbor tours, cooking demonstrations, author talks, folk music and dance, fishing contests, explore vessels, and more.

This year, the fest has a new partner in the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, and will be presented in two locations: on Steamship Pier, and at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. The sites will be linked by a free shuttle bus.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Sunset Cruise to Benefit New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

September 5, 2017 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will host a sunset harbor cruise fundraiser aboard the M/V Cuttyhunk on Saturday, September 16 from 5:00 p.m. – 7 p.m. Passengers will enjoy live music, a cash bar and light refreshments. Musical entertainment will be provided by Joanne Doherty.

Born and raised on the Southcoast with the working waterfront in her blood, Joanne Doherty spent her childhood climbing on her father’s scallop boats and painting them for summer jobs. For the last fifteen years she’s been performing throughout New England spinning her magic on a wide variety of songs selected from an eclectic catalogue of folk, blues and old standards combining her deft & delicate stylings on guitar and ukulele with a rich smooth voice.

Tickets are $40 and may be purchased at the Fishing Heritage Center. Tickets may be reserved by calling 508-993-8894 or online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3079097. All proceeds will benefit the Center’s programs, exhibits and daily operations.

Located at 38 Bethel Street in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through archives, exhibits, and programs. The Center is open to the public Thursday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org.

Stock assessment meeting erupts into lively talk between NOAA, fishermen

August 17, 2017 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Diagrams, life-like statues and pictures fill the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center to depict the history and future of the industry.

NOAA scientists and local fishermen filled the small building on Bethel Street on Wednesday night to discuss future stock assessments. The meeting, though, told another aspect in the story of the Port of New Bedford: the decades old tension that continues to exist between the groups.

“We all have to pull in the same direction,” Executive Director of New Bedford Seafood Consulting Jim Kendall said.

Instead a powerpoint presentation listing stock limits led to a discussion, which evolved into an argument and ended with two fishermen abruptly leaving. Russ Brown, director of the Population Dynamics Branch of NOAA, ended his presentation to meet with the fishermen outside. They spoke outside for 20 minutes before parting ways with a semblance of mutual respect.

“What we need to do is find common themes,” Brown said. “I’m a scientist. We want to find common themes within the science where we have questions and the industry has questions, and we can basically collaborate and pull in the same direction.”

Most of the discussion revolved around the methods in which NOAA is acquiring its data. Fishermen in attendance questioned the methods used by scientists to count groundfish. They also pointed out that years to correct a data point is too much time for an industry that continues to shrink.

“We understand that the management is affecting people and is having some serious consequences for our stakeholders who are depending on the resources,” Brown said. “We care about that, and we want to make sure the science is as accurate as it can be.”

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

MASSACHUSETTS: ‘Finest Kind’ film pays tribute to New Bedford fishing industry

August 10, 2017 — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will host the world premiere of “Finest Kind: The New Bedford Fishing Industry” Sunday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. The screening will be held at Greasy Luck Brewery, 791 Purchase St., New Bedford. Doors open at 6 p.m.

A facilitated discussion with some of those featured in the film and director Kevin Kertscher will follow. Free parking is available on the street. The venue is wheelchair-accessible. The screening is free.

A year in the making, this original documentary was produced by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Written and directed by Kevin Kertscher of Big Ocean Media, the film interweaves interviews, historic and contemporary footage, and photographs to provide a sense of the rich history and culture of the New Bedford and Fairhaven fishing industry.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times