Saving Seafood

Safety training is a must for all who go to sea

May 14, 2018 — On December 20, 2004 the 75-foot New Bedford scalloper Northern Edge went down in the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area. Five men perished. It was a loss that rocked the city. Pedro Furtado, the only survivor, was a 22 year-old man who had been through safety training in his native Portugal before coming to the United States. He had the presence of mind to jump into the wintry sea while the other men froze. It was this disaster that prompted the city to introduce safety training for those who earn their livelihood from commercial fishing, the most dangerous occupation in the United States.

It has been very successful, according to Ed Dennehy, director of safety training for the Fishing Partnership which runs these one and two-day programs in fishing harbors up and down the coast. “We’ve been all over, from Jonesport, Maine to Jones Beach, Long Island, he said. “We like to bring the program to where the fishermen are and it has grown over the years.”

In response to the loss of the Northern Edge the city received some funds from National Marine Fisheries in 2005 in order to develop safety and survival training. At the time Dennehy, a retired Coast Guard captain, was running New Directions in New Bedford and with the help of SMAST and others, like Rodney Avila, along the waterfront the program began. Since then more than 3500 fishermen have taken the safety classes which are offered free. The Fishing Partnership began running the program in 2012.

I had the opportunity to participate in the training myself on Thursday last. It was held at UConn’s Avery Point campus in Groton and there were 40 participants, a testament to the growing awareness and demand for this vital service.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

New Bedford Standard-Times: Building trust with fishermen is key for wind energy companies

February 26, 2018 — There’s a lot of buzz in New Bedford these days about the offshore wind industry — and for good reason.

Blowing in with the massive turbines will be the promise of good-paying jobs; new activity along the waterfront; and even the prospect that SouthCoast could become a training center for those interested in offshore wind careers.

Indeed, New Bedford could once again become the city that lights the world (or at least much of Massachusetts) with clean, renewable energy.

Amid the hubbub, however, we can’t lose track of the industry that has made New Bedford the most lucrative seafood port in the nation for 17 years in a row. The city’s hard-working fishermen — beset by changing regulations, dwindling catches, competition from foreign fleets and the ever-present hardship of storm-tossed seas — must be given serious consideration in any changes that could affect the waters where they ply their trade.

If both industries are to thrive together in the marine economy, they must communicate openly in the months and years ahead.

At a Feb. 12 meeting with wind energy developers, some members of the fishing community expressed frustration that little progress has been made to date.

But “it’s not too late,” noted David Pierce of the state Division of Marine Fisheries. And thankfully, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has structured its wind application process to give fishermen a voice.

Each company bidding for a wind-energy contract must have a representative to the fishing industry, as well as a fisheries liaison. The fisheries liaison for DeepWater Wind, for instance, is longtime fisherman Rodney Avila, while the city’s Harbor Development Commission is acting as the company’s fishing representative.

HDC Director Edward C. Anthes-Washburn explained the importance of keeping fishermen engaged. There are legitimate concerns, he said, and “we’re committed to making sure they (fishermen) understand what’s happening.”

Anthes-Washburn admitted such details as precise turbine locations have been scarce, but much more information will be forthcoming throughout the design phase. And fishermen will need to make their concerns known before construction, he said.

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: 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.