Saving Seafood

Low prices have arrived in New Bedford but where are the big scallops?

July 18, 2018 — The seafood fortune tellers got a lot of things right about the 2018 Atlantic sea scallop season, including a dramatic decline in prices for the largest sizes.

From April 1 through June 30, the first three months of the season, buyers paid an average of $10.13 for U-10 scallops at the Buyers and Sellers Exchange (BASE), the  seafood auction house in New Bedford, Massachusetts, BASE reports. That’s a 29% decline from the $14.37 paid for such scallops during the first three months of the 2017 season.

U-12s, meanwhile, went for $9.16 during the most recent three-month period, 37% less than the $14.58 paid during the same period in 2017, according to BASE.

Data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that just 516,840 (7%) of the roughly 7.6 million pounds sold at the auction between April 1 and June 30 were U-10s — the size designation for the largest scallops, meaning it would take 10 to fill a standard-size bucket. During the most recent period studied — the first 11 days of July — an average of $9.71/lb was paid for the 89,864 lbs of U-10s sold on the auction floor, all from the region known as Closed Area 1, according to the NOAA data.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Bristol sheriff’s captain convicted in ‘Codfather’ case

July 17, 2018 — A captain in the Bristol County sheriff’s office was convicted Sunday by a federal jury in connection with helping Carlos Rafael, the New Bedford fishing magnate, smuggle profits from his illegal overfishing scheme to Portugal, the US Attorney’s office in Boston said in a statement.

Jamie Melo, 46, of Dartmouth was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States and one count of structuring the export of monetary instruments. He was acquitted of one count of bulk cash smuggling. Melo was indicted October 2017.

Rafael, known as “The Codfather,” allegedly told undercover agents that he would conduct his smuggling schemes sometimes by himself and sometimes using others.

During the trial, evidence showed that Melo traveled with Rafael to the Azores in Portugal for a charity event sponsored by the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office. At the time, Melo was an administrative captain with the sheriff’s office.

Read the full story at the Boston Globe

MASSACHUSETTS: Fishing Heritage Center serving up a Seafood Soiree

July 17, 2018 — You are invited to enjoy a Seafood Soiree that will showcase the bounty of the sea with signature appetizers created by some of the area’s finest chefs.

Gypsy jazz music featuring Hot Club Cheese Roll, live and chance auctions, complimentary champagne, and a cash bar are all part of the gala evening.

“We invite the community to join us for this fun and delectable evening, a showcase of seafood from the nation’s most valuable fishing port,” said New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Executive Director Laura Orleans. “We are grateful to all our chefs, restaurants, seafood companies, and sponsors for their role in helping us promote the local seafood industry.”

The cocktail hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. will feature sushi from Turk’s Seafood in Mattapoisett; shrimp cocktail from Kyler’s Catch in New Bedford; and a cheese platter donated by The Pasta House in Fairhaven.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

‘How are we going to get paid?’; fishing ban continues to suffocate local businesses

July 9, 2018 — Anne Jardin-Maynard is an accountant. She doesn’t own a commercial fishing vessel. The New Bedford native works within an office on Centre Street.

Yet for more than seven months, a groundfishing ban implemented by NOAA has prevented Jardin-Maynard from receiving a paycheck. That doesn’t mean the owner of Jardin & Dawson, a settlement house, which handles payroll and accounting for fishing boats, has stopped working.

“If the boats aren’t fishing, how are we going to get paid,” Jardin-Maynard said.

NOAA announced the groundfishing ban at the end of last November as a result of Carlos Rafael falsifying fishing quota. It was also meant to delay operations for Sector IX, the fishing division where Rafael’s boats were associated, so it could draft provisions to prevent repeat offenses.

Since that time, though, the sector has assigned new board members multiple times, provisions have been drafted, and quota has been gathered as potential repayment, but the ban remains.

“I think they need to move it along,” said Jardin-Maynard, who is a new board member of Sector IX as well. “This has been a long time coming. The person that was involved in it (is penalized). It’s not fair for the other people to be involved in this. He’s paying his price.”

Rafael is serving a 46-month prison term in part for falsifying fishing records. While he serves his time in federal prison in Fort Devens, about 80 fishermen have been out of work sending a ripple effect throughout shoreside businesses from ice houses to processors to settlement houses.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

HANK SOULE: Revitalizing waterfront is still up to sectors and Carlos Rafael

July 9, 2018 — Carlos Rafael misreported his groundfish catch, and in its piece “Time for NOAA to let Sector IX fish again,” the Times is misreporting the facts.

First, NOAA didn’t calculate, as the piece states, that Rafael misreported just 72,000 pounds of grey sole. He openly admitted to stealing over 10 times that amount, of several different fish stocks. Rather, NOAA has apparently calculated that all but some remaining grey sole has been repaid, with quota seized earlier to cover the debt.

Second, neither Sector IX nor Sector VII has submitted a plan to return to fishing. Sector IX purged itself of nearly every vessel and permit enrolled there, retaining the bare minimum required to maintain legal status. It submitted an operations plan — which explains how a sector and its boats will track and report their quotas — which states that Sector IX has no immediate intent to resume fishing.

Sector VII is even more explicit. It absorbed the many Rafael vessels and permits shunted from Sector IX under the condition that they “will be enrolling as a non-active member and will not be authorized to fish” until Carlos Rafael sells them. In fact, Sector VII explicitly requested NOAA’s help to DENY those vessels permission to harvest.

Read the full opinion piece at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: 100 gallons of oil spilled into harbor Tuesday

July 5, 2018 — Residents living along the coast of New Bedford harbor and those enjoying a day in the water may have noticed the odor of diesel fuel to accompany their Fourth of July celebration as crews from Frank Corp work to clean about 100 gallons that spilled into the harbor on Tuesday.

The spill occurred in the area of Pearse Park boat ramp Tuesday night at around 8 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. Fairhaven Fire and EMS said the spill affected from the fishing vessel Pacific Capes, which is owned by Atlantic Capes Fisheries. The spill extended from Linberg Marine to the Seaport Inn Marina.

Fairhaven Fire and EMS was hopeful that as the temperature increased on Wednesday, the oily sheen would dissipate.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Congressman Keating says groundfishing ban is in ‘final stages,’ expects it to be lifted soon

July 3, 2018 — As calendars turned to July on Sunday, the new month represented the ninth in which about 80 local fishermen have been banned from groundfishing.

Congressman Bill Keating, who according to some on the waterfront, has most actively tried to return those fishermen to work said on Monday that he expects NOAA to release a decision soon.

“We’re just waiting for the final aspects going forward,” Keating said.

Last month, city, state and federal politicians met at the Whaling Museum to discuss possible scenarios to end the ban. Fishermen also met with the federal delegation in May.

The Democrat representing Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional District said “an administrative procedure” is separating the rule from being announced.

NOAA provided no comment on a timetable and said it would release a statement when an announcement is made.

NOAA has remained quiet throughout the groundfishing ban, which was imposed on November 20, 2017 as measures to force repayment of the fishing overages by Carlos Rafael and to prevent any recurrence of mislabeling.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Cooking class serves up less popular fish in delicious way

July 3, 2018 — If cod and haddock are your go to fish at the local fish market, you might consider venturing out and making some waves with other — just as delicious — species that are so much easier on the wallet.

Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the New Bedford Port Authority and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, a free cooking class was held recently demonstrating pollock and scup as the main entree.

The class was taught by Chef Henry Bousquet at New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School.

The next class on July 25 features red fish and whiting and will involve how to cook and serve a whole fish.

The final class is set for Aug. 15 is entitled “Crafting Sauces that enhance and highlight underutilized species.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Seafood Soirée to Benefit New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

July 2, 2018 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

Enticing seafood appetizers from some of the area’s finest chefs are on the menu for a Seafood Soirée, the first gala fundraiser to benefit the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.

Scheduled for the evening of July 19th at the Wamsutta Club at the James Arnold Mansion, a Seafood Soirée will feature the bounty of the sea with over a dozen dishes prepared by area chefs, as well as handmade desserts; live gypsy jazz by Hot Club Cheese Roll; and live and chance auctions.

“We invite the community to join us for this fun and delectable evening, a showcase of seafood from the nation’s most valuable fishing port,” says Executive Director Laura Orleans. “We are grateful to all our chefs, restaurants, seafood companies, and sponsors for their role in helping us promote the local seafood industry.”

The event is sponsored by BayCoast Bank, Eastern Fisheries, Farm Credit East, SouthCoast Media Group, and the Wamsutta Club at the James Arnold Mansion.

The cocktail hour from 5:30 to 6:30 pm will feature sushi from Turk’s Seafoodin Mattapoisett; shrimp cocktail from Kyler’s Catch in New Bedford; and a cheese platter donated by The Pasta House in Fairhaven.

From 6:30 to 7:30, signature seafood dishes will be offered by the following chefs (committed to date):

  • Clam Chowder donated by Blount Fine Foods;
  • Smoked Eel (or unagi), Deviled Egg, Pea Greens on crostini created by Chris Chronin of Farm and Coast Market, Pandanaram;
  • A red crab dish created by Chefs Arthur Dill and Helder Costa from Chartwells Dining Service at UMass Dartmouth featuring crab donated by Atlantic Red Crab Company;
  • Sea Scallops prepared on site by Eastern Fisheries Executive Chef George Korousos;
  • A Monkfish dish created by Chef Mike Mello of M&C Café featuring monkfish donated by Bergie’s Seafood;
    New Bedford Seafood Paella featuring clams, scallops, mussels & chorizo created by Chef Greg Morton of Morton’s Fork Catering;
  • Mini lobster rolls by Oxford Creamery;
  • A fish dish prepared by Sid Wainer’s Corporate Chef Chris Cordeiro;
  • A seafood dish prepared by the chefs at the Waterfront Grille in New Bedford, newly owned by Lafrance Hospitality.
  • For non-seafood eaters, Wamsutta Club Executive Chef Raymond Fonseca will offer assorted petite quiche, spanakopita, bruschetta, and chicken allouette.
  • Dessert from 7:30 to 8:30 pm will feature handcrafted chocolates by Life is Sweet, hand-painted sugar cookies by Sarah Joy, and coffee and tea.

From 7:30 to 8:30, WBSM radio personality Phil Paleologos will auction items ranging from Red Sox tickets to a scallop dinner for four in the galley of a working vessel. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy gypsy jazz by Hot Club Cheese Roll, and try their luck at a Fluke and Flounder chance auction. A complimentary glass of Blue Ocean Champagne and a cash bar will round out the evening.

Tickets are $75 per person; proceeds will benefit the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, the city’s newest museum. For tickets, visit the Center at 38 Bethel Street, call 508-993-8894, or email info@fishingheritagecenter.org. Tickets can also be purchased online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3437877

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to telling the story of the fishing industry past, present and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. The Center is free of charge and open Thursday-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org for more information.

MASSACHUSETTS: Scanning Day to Preserve Fishing Industry

June 29, 2018 — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will host its monthly Scanning Day on Saturday July 14 from 10 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.

Read the full story at WBSM