Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: Salted, Pickled & Smoked: an exhibit of fishing community artifacts to open on Thursday, November 10th

November 1, 2016 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

New Bedford, MA – The Fishing Heritage Center is pleased to announce the opening of Salted, Pickled & Smoked: Preserving the Cultural Heritage of new Bedford’s Fishing Community, an exhibit of fishing community artifacts.

Co-curated by FHC Executive Director Laura Orleans and New Bedford Free Public Library Art Curator Janice Hodson, the exhibit will be on display on the 3rd floor of the New Bedford Free Public Library (613 Pleasant Street) from November 10, 2016 through January 7, 2017.  An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, November 10th from 6-8 p.m.  Maritime Anthropologist Madeleine Hall-Arber will present a short talk about the project at 7 p.m. that evening.

The Fishing Heritage Center has been busy digitizing photographs and artifacts from the local fishing community as part of a year-long project.   Salted, Pickled, & Smoked: Preserving the Cultural Heritage of New Bedford’s Fishing Community is an exhibit highlighting some of the most interesting photographs, documents, objects, and stories that have been shared.

The project is a collaboration involving the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, University Archives and Special Collections at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Clair T. Carney Library at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MIT Sea Grant, the New Bedford Free Public Library, and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The project is funded by a Common Heritage grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

New Bedford again tops nation for dollar value of fishing catch

October 31st, 2016 — The city’s port has again topped the country for dollar value of its fishing catch, NOAA Fisheries reported this week, citing 2015 landings worth $322 million.

That marks 16 years in a row that New Bedford has held the top-value title, which is thanks largely to scallops. Dutch Harbor, Alaska, again was tops for total volume of catch, landing 787 million pounds last year.

New Bedford’s catch was much smaller: 124 million pounds, good for only 11th in the country and far behind Dutch Harbor. But Dutch Harbor’s catch had a value of $218 million — second-highest in the country — reflecting the strong commercial value of New Bedford’s scallop industry.

“The scallop industry has put New Bedford at the top of the food chain, as it were, of fishing ports for the last 16 years — that’s a very impressive streak,” said Ed Anthes-Washburn, port director for the city’s Harbor Development Commission. “It really shows the impact of scallops but also the impact of cooperative research.”

In the 1990s, SMAST scientists Brian Rothschild and Kevin Stokesbury pioneered innovations in counting scallops, with cameras tested and used on local scallopers. The resulting data affected stock assessments by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ultimately leading to larger catch quotas and helping secure steady catches for waterfront businesses.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times 

Fisheries science center gets new director

October 28th, 2016 — Some might think it fitting that Jonathan Hare will take the reins as the new science and research director of the Northeast Fisheries Science Research Center in Woods Hole on Halloween. After all, he faces the daunting task of overseeing the research and data at the heart of the rebuilding of fish stocks in a region with the largest numbers of overfished species, in an ocean experiencing one of the fastest warming trends in the world, with fishermen who remain skeptical of the science used to manage fisheries.

“It’s a challenging time,” Hare said. The science center in Woods Hole that Hare will oversee provides scientific research and data on fish stocks from Canada to Cape Hatteras, N.C.

The $1 billion commercial fishery in the Northeast is home to the country’s No. 1 port, New Bedford, in terms of the value of species landed, but also has the highest number of overfished fish stocks in U.S. waters by far, including the region’s iconic species like cod and several species of flounder. The South Atlantic region is a distant second with only four overfished species, compared with the Northeast’s 14 species.

The demands placed on fishery managers to rebuild those stocks, some of which have not recovered despite decades of drastic cuts to fishing, are high. Plus, a new management system relies on accurate and timely estimates of fish populations, something increasingly difficult to accomplish given changing environmental conditions and tight federal budgets.

Read the full story at The Cape Cod Times

New Bedford fishermen net sea scallops—and the richest catch in the country

October 28th, 2016 — Who knew a such a tiny mollusk could turn such a hefty sum?

According to a federal report Wednesday, the city of New Bedford retained its pole position as the nation’s most-valued port in 2015, pulling in a total catch worth $322 million.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual fisheries report, New Bedford’s total haul weighed 124 million pounds.

While that amount wasn’t even enough to land New Bedford in the top 10 ports for total quantity (Dutch Harbor, Alaska topped that list with 787 million pounds of mostly pollock and cod), it yet again made the Massachusetts port the richest—by more than $100 million. They were first by even a wider margin in 2014.

Why? Sea scallops.

According to the Associated Press, the pricey seafood delicacy (the larger counterpart to the bay scallop) accounted for more than three-quarters of New Bedford’s catch. More than 60 percent of the 35.7 million pounds of sea scallops were caught in Massachusetts, according to the NOAA.

The NOAA put the price of sea scallops at $12.26 per pound in 2015, slightly down from $12.55 per pound in 2014. But that’s still more than double the market price during the mid-2000s.

As The Boston Globe reported in 2013, the New Bedford scallop industry has buoyed the lives of fishermen in an otherwise struggling city.

Read the full story at The Boston Globe 

MASSACHUSETTS: Learn first hand about the fishing industry

October 25th, 2016 — The following was released by the Fishing Heritage Center: 

The Fishing Heritage Center is pleased to announce the launch of “A Day in the Life” a speaker series about all aspects of the fishing industry. The first program will take place on Wednesday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m.  Programs are presented free of charge for members and volunteers, there is a $5 fee for the general public. The Center is wheelchair accessible and located at 38 Bethel Street in New Bedford’s historic downtown.  Free off street parking is available. 

At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2, veteran fisherman Rodney Avila will talk about the groundfishing industry.  Rodney has spent over 50 years working in the fishing industry. He began fishing at the age of nine. He was the fourth generation in his family to fish out of New Bedford.  He fished offshore for swordfish, tuna, and groundfish for 47 years before taking work on shore as the director of the Fishermen’s Family Assistance Center. He now works as a marine safety instructor, teaching other fishermen the skills they need to be safe at sea. In 2007 he received the National Fisherman Highliner award. Today, Rodney’s son and five of his grandsons continue to earn their living as commercial fishermen.  Rodney will talk about the fishery, the gear, and daily life at sea, providing a rare firsthand look at the work and life of a fisherman.  

For more information please contact the Fishing Heritage Center at: info@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894.

Fairhaven man dies of apparent drug overdose on New Bedford fishing boat

October 21, 2016 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — State and local police are investigating the apparent fatal overdose of a man, who was found unresponsive on a fishing boat docked at Pier 3 in New Bedford.

The 49-year-old Fairhaven man was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital Thursday night after being found on the fishing vessel Saint Jude.

The death appears to be an overdose, police said, but the state’s medical examiner was investigating.

Signs of drug use were found. A co-worker on the boat attempted CPR before police, fire and EMS arrived at about 8:38 p.m. The victim was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Toxic algae outbreak halts shellfishing in Buzzards Bay, Mount Hope Bay

October 11, 2016 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The state’s Division of Marine Fisheries has banned shellfishing in the west side of Buzzards Bay and in Mount Hope Bay because of a breakout of toxic algae late last week.

The ban affects all SouthCoast towns and cities. “As a result of the closure, digging, harvesting, collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish, and the possession of shellfish, is prohibited in Bourne, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Falmouth, Gosnold, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Swansea and Westport,” the state said in a press release.

The trouble concerns a toxic kind of phytoplankton termed Pseudo-Nitzschia.

This algae can produce domoic acid, a biotoxin that concentrates in filter-feeding shellfish.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

US scallop prices expected to rise with little relief in sight

September 27, 2016 — US scallop prices look set to fluctuate but generally trend upwards throughout the fall, with no alternatives at reasonable prices, sources told Undercurrent News.

After the July 4 celebrations, prices for fresh scallop raw materials took an unusual dip in pricing, several sources said – though this quickly corrected and prices are now high again.

“Pricing started off very strong at the beginning of the season; ex-vessel prices of $18.50 per pound for U10s and U12s, and $12+ for both 10/20s and 20/30s,” said Joe Furtado, executive vice president of Eastern Fisheries.

“But, over the last 60 days, we have actually seen a reduction in ex-vessel pricing, where it is trending about $1/lb less than April/ May pricing.”

“It’s actually the first time that I have seen post July 4 pricing trend downward,” he added.

However, two other sources suggested this dip was only temporary, and that more recently prices were right back up again.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

MASSACHUSETTS: SMAST celebrates expansion with topping off ceremony, hardhat tours and bay views

September 27th, 2016 — Officials from across the state talked about what a game-changer the new marine sciences expansion will be for UMass Dartmouth and the region during a topping off ceremony in the South End on Monday.

The 76,000-square-foot building will double the capacity of the School for Marine Science & Technology on South Rodney French Boulevard and create a marine campus for the state when it opens next year. It will continue to provide responsible research to support fisheries, marine life, environmental stewardship and confront issues related to climate change, officials said.

The event represented the completion of the steel framework with the unveiling of the final beam signed by several in what Dean Steven Lohrenz called “a unique partnership.”

The $55 million project is on track and and under budget, he said, thanks to the cooperation between the the UMass Building Authority (UMBA), project manager Hill International, construction manager Bond Brothers, architect Ellenzweig Associates, and the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) that will have space on the third floor.

Read the full story at The New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Sunset Cruise to Benefit Fishing Heritage Center

September 26, 2016 — 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, October 8 from 5-7 pm. Passengers will enjoy live music, a cash bar and light refreshments. Musical entertainment will be provided by Joanne Doherty and Jon Campbell.

Tickets are $40 and may be purchased at the Fishing Heritage Center. Tickets may be reserved by calling 508-993-8894 or sending an email to info@fishingheritagecenter.org. 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.

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.

Jon Campbell owned a workboat before he owned a car. In those days, bay scallops, clams and quahogs, flounder and lobsters were abundant in the coastal ponds and Narragansett Bay. Regulations were few and the commercial fisheries were still represented by independent men in wooden Eastern Rigs. For the past 25 years, Jon has been writing and performing music based on the wide range of experience available to those people living in coastal regions, the tourists, the cuisine, the fisheries, cranky Yankees and an assortment of humorous and poignant characters.

Jon has been a recognized Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Folk Artist since 1982, and he has been involved in a large number of recording projects both as performer and producer. He is presently retired from a 25 year career in the motion picture industry, and yes he did work on the Perfect Storm, in addition to many more major releases. To fill in the blanks, Jon’s musical activities in the last year have ranged from Camden, Maine to Kodiak Alaska.