Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: Former Rafael Groundfish Trawler Gets Blue Harvest Makeover

August 28, 2020 — One by one, fishing vessels once owned by Carlos Rafael — the New Bedford “Codfather” who did prison time for fisheries fraud — are being relaunched under new colors.

Blue Harvest Fisheries this week launched the Carrabassett, the second of three refitted groundfish vessels the company is putting into service this year. The 78-foot trawler was once painted “Carlos Rafael green” and emblazoned with the “CR” logo. Now it’s refurbished, repaired, upgraded, painted deep blue, and decorated with Blue Harvest’s distinctive scallop logo.

The Schelvis, an 85-foot trawler once known as the Glaucus, is scheduled to launch this fall. The Allagash, an 83-foot trawler formerly known as the Southern Crusader II, entered Blue Harvest’s fleet in July after getting some serious work done. Earlier this year, the vessel could be plainly seen from the Union Street Wharf at the Fairhaven Shipyard.

In addition to being renamed and repainted in Blue Harvest colors, all three vessels are outfitted with new fishing gear and updated electronics. The Allagash and Carrabassett have had their decks reconfigured so catch can be quickly sorted, cleaned and stored. The Schelvis is undergoing greater changes that will allow catch to be stored in superchilled water tanks, Blue Harvest said in a media release.

Read the full story at WBSM

Blue Harvest Makes Good on Commitment to New Bedford Fishing Community with Launch of Refitted Groundfish Vessels

August 28, 2020 — The following was released by Blue Harvest Fisheries:

This week, Blue Harvest Fisheries launched the Carrabassett, the second of three refitted groundfish vessels the company is launching this year. Our investment in these vessels, which were purchased in February from the family of Carlos Rafael, demonstrates Blue Harvest’s continued commitment to New Bedford’s rich fishing culture, and our investment in the city’s waterfront community.

The Allagash, an 83-foot trawler previously known as the Southern Crusader II, was the first to enter Blue Harvest’s growing fleet with its launch in July. The Carrabassett is a 78-foot trawler previously known as the Cowboy. The Schelvis, an 85-foot trawler previously known as the Glaucus, is scheduled to launch later this fall.

“We promised when we acquired these vessels that we would be keeping them in New Bedford, and that we would be investing in this city’s historic fishing industry. Those weren’t just words to us,” said Keith Decker, President and CEO of Blue Harvest. “We’re proud of the improvements we’ve made to these vessels, which will provide good jobs here in New Bedford, and high-quality seafood around the country.”

In addition to being renamed and repainted in Blue Harvest colors, all three vessels are being completely reoutfitted with new fishing gear and updated electronics. The Allagash and Carrabassett have also had their decks reconfigured so catch can be more quickly sorted, cleaned and stored.

The Schelvis is undergoing far greater changes that will allow catch to be stored in superchilled tanks of water that will help keep the fish fresher, longer.

Read the full release here

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford about to become hub for offshore wind

August 24, 2020 — New Bedford is about to become home to the first port in North America built specifically for the staging and installation of offshore wind projects.

The state has announced lease agreements with Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind at the facility from 2023 to 2027, and are worth more than $32.5 million.

“These are the two first projects that Massachusetts is involved in and they’re going to be staged their construction project from New Bedford,” New Bedford Port Authority Director Edward Anthes-Washburn said.

The two 800 megawatt offshore wind projects will be over 15 miles off the East Coast, but the turbines and equipment needed to build them will be set up at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, a 9-acre plot of remediated tideland that was filled in for this purpose.

Read the full story at WPRI

MASS. REP. CHRIS HENDRICKS: Why I am with Ed

August 19, 2020 — When I endorsed Senator Ed Markey for re-election in August of 2019, I did so mainly because of one reason: his record on climate issues. Today, that list of reasons has grown exponentially as Ed has proven himself a true leader for the SouthCoast.

Since the Reagan administration, Ed has led the effort to bring meaningful policy change to mitigate the effects of our warming planet. His work as a young congressman resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions nationwide, directly benefiting middle-class and low-income communities. When President George W. Bush refused to take climate change seriously, it was Ed who pressed the administration to take action. The Speaker of the House at the time referred to Ed’s knowledge on climate policy as “dazzling” and his work resulted in better fuel-economy standards and more electric vehicles.

As the Senate co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, Ed understands that we have a unique opportunity to kick-start an entirely new labor market here in Massachusetts. Ed’s vision sees a renewable energy industry that “creates high-quality union jobs that pay prevailing wages, hires local workers, offers training and advancement opportunities, and guarantees wage and benefit parity for workers affected by the transition.” The SouthCoast is the center hub for renewable energy jobs, more than any other part of the Commonwealth, and Ed’s continued leadership in the Senate will allow us to fully realize that.

Read the full story at WBSM

COUNCILMAN SCOTT LIMA: Kennedy Will Bring NFSC to New Bedford

August 17, 2020 — As America’s most valuable commercial fishing port, New Bedford should be the site of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NFSC).

Congressman Joe Kennedy III recognizes the need to site the NFSC in New Bedford and as a candidate for the U.S. Senate representing Massachusetts, Kennedy has publicly expressed his willingness to work toward that end.

I’ve personally questioned Congressman Kennedy about his willingness to work toward siting a new NFSC in New Bedford and I’ve personally reminded him of the need to do so. If elected to the U.S. Senate, it is my sincere hope that Kennedy will make this one of his first orders of business.

Here’s why.

The Port of New Bedford is a global seafood hub handling millions of pounds of seafood annually. The net result – no pun intended – positions New Bedford at the forefront of America’s commercial fishing industry.

Read the full opinion piece at WBSM

MASSACHUSETTS: Northern Wind Seafood ammonia leak prompts hazmat response

August 5, 2020 — Northern Wind Seafood’s facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts, suffered an ammonia leak prompting an evacuation of the building on 4 August, South Coast Today reported.

The New Bedford Fired Department announced via a Facebook post that the facility had been evacuated for an ammonia leak at around 9 a.m. on 4 August. The leak, according to local media, elevated to a “Tier 2” hazardous response and required a state hazmat team to investigate.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

MASSACHUSETTS: Mobile COVID-19 unit goes where New Bedford people need it

July 20, 2020 — Free mobile testing for COVID-19 is popping up all across the Whaling City.

Southcoast Health started the trend back in May when it partnered with the city and The Port of New Bedford to offer testing for commercial fishermen on the waterfront.

On Thursday, thanks to funding from wind energy developers, the program was able to relaunch and will continue for several weeks, according to Southcoast Health Public Information Officer Shawn Badgley.

The Port of New Bedford is scheduling the testing appointments for fishermen and Executive Director Edward Anthes-Washburn called the testing wonderful.

Anthes-Washburn said there is no real social distancing on a fishing vessel because you cannot operate safely without having the crew within six feet of each other.

“This testing will allow fishing crews peace of mind during a pandemic so they can focus on what they do best — safely harvesting and landing sustainable fish for consumers around the world,” Anthes-Washburn said.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Markey Touts Fisheries Aid, Hedges NOAA Question in New Bedford

July 20, 2020 — In a New Bedford campaign stop on Friday U.S. Sen. Ed Markey touted his work to procure coronavirus aid for the fisheries and to secure federal port infrastructure funding for the city’s working waterfront.

He also spoke of upcoming battles on Capitol Hill, blasted Republicans, and hedged when asked by local reporters if he would support construction of a new NOAA Fisheries science center in New Bedford — a federal investment Mayor Jon Mitchell and other local officials have long been pushing for.

Markey, 74, is facing a Democratic primary challenge from 39-year-old U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III of Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Kennedy, in visiting New Bedford last week, made NOAA the cornerstone of his stump speech, insisting that the government scientists who conduct stock assessments central to the regulation of the commercial fisheries should share geographic proximity with the industry, and that as such the brand-new lab should be built in the Whaling City.

Fisheries scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been headquartered in the seaside scientific community of Woods Hole since the 1960s, and plans are afoot to replace their aging lab facility. Mitchell has been a strong advocate for building the center in New Bedford, saying it could help heal the uneasy relationship between commercial fishermen and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service while bringing economic development and jobs to the city. However, communities on Cape Cod have pushed back, saying NOAA should stay in Barnstable County.

Read the full story at WBSM

MASSACHUSETTS: Markey touts $15 million he steered to New Bedford’s North Terminal

July 20, 2020 — Senator Ed Markey brought his senatorial campaign to New Bedford Friday afternoon, touting his efforts to secure waterfront infrastructure and fisheries disaster assistance funding for the city.

Markey made the stop in the Whaling City as part of the launch of his statewide bus tour, the “Leads and Delivers Tour,” designed to spotlight the accomplishments the senator says he has made for the state on Capitol Hill. The focus of the stop at City Pier 3 was highlighting the $15.4 million in Department of Transportation funding to improve the New Bedford port’s infrastructure and the $28 million in fisheries disaster assistance from the CARES Act that Markey says he advocated for.

“In the last few months, COVID-19 has transformed our cities and towns across Massachusetts as many of our small businesses have been forced to close or turn to online sales. Usually bustling Main Streets are quiet as our residents choose to safely practice social distancing. Beaches and parks have emptied, and many cities and towns are unrecognizable,” said Markey, who described how the economic impact of COVID-19 has squeezed New Bedford’s fishing industry.

“With restaurants shut down, the fishing community has lost a major consumer. Despite this lack of income, these fishermen must still put food on the table at the end of the day, find a way to cover their boat costs and search for ways to make ends meet,” he said “These brave men and women need to feel like their government has their back, and that’s why I fought so hard in the CARES Act to include a historic $20 million U.S. Department of Agriculture procurement of Atlantic Seafood.”

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times