Saving Seafood

Scallop Industry Legend will be Dearly Missed

August 22, 2024 – The following was released by Seatrade International – East Coast Seafood:

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ross Paasche, a cherished member of our team for over 20 years. He was not only a dedicated and exceptional employee but also a beloved friend and mentor to many. Ross’ unwavering commitment, kindness, and humor left an indelible mark on our Company and the lives of those who had the privilege to work alongside him. Our hearts go out to his family, and we will forever honor his legacy through the values he embodied. Ross, you will be greatly missed, rest in peace.

– Bob Blais, Friend and CEO

MASSACHUSETTS: Cabral hopeful lobster bill will finally get passed, bring new jobs to New Bedford

April 3, 2017 — It was billed as a legislative lunch with the likes of U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, but much of a March 24 “legislative luncheon” at Seatrade International was actually about trying to hammer out an agreement on a bill governing the way you can sell lobsters in Massachusetts.

Other topics focused on policies that will govern the growth of the Port of New Bedford.

The luncheon had two parts, one public and one private. And the initial closed-door part, which besides Warren and Markey included the five members of New Bedford’s all Democratic House delegation, began with a heated debate over a lobster bill.

The bill (House Bill 2906) was co-sponsored by 13th Bristol District Rep. Antonio Cabral, who represents the downtown, South End and much of the waterfront. His proposed legislation would allow for the sale, processing and transport of lobster parts, which is already legal in Maine and New Hampshire but not Massachusetts.

“We’ve been trying to resolve this issue for some time,” Cabral said. “There was a bill during the last session, but we’ve made some progress.”

The packet handed to the attendees of the legislative lunch included two letters, one signed by Mayor Jon Mitchell and the other by Ed Anthes-Washburn, the executive director of the Harbor Development Committee. The letters supported two previous lobster bills that failed.

Anthes-Washburn’s letter, addressed to the State House, voiced support for Senate Bill S469 in 2015. After three readings and being passed to be engrossed by the Senate, the House sent it to the Committee on Ways and Means in 2016, where no further action was taken.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Warren, Markey speak on port of New Bedford

March 27, 2017 — Behind closed doors, politicians from around the state discussed how to improve the Port of New Bedford Friday afternoon at Seatrade International.

“We want to make sure the 21st century is just as prosperous and even more so than the 20th and 19th centuries were for New Bedford,” Markey said. “We’re going to work down in Washington every day to advocate for the commercial fisherman of New Bedford.”

Senators Markey and Elizabeth Warren, along with state representatives Bill Strauss, Paul Schmid, Christopher Markey, Robert Koczera and Antonio Cabral joined Mayor Jon Mitchell, City Council President Joe Lopes and Ward 4 Council Dana Rebeiro, discussed policies affecting the port.

The meeting lasted about an hour and according to Ed Anthes-Washburn, the executive director of the Harbor Development Commission, about two-thirds of the discussion revolved around dredging.

“We heard example after example of what it will mean if we could get proper dredging for new businesses, expanded businesses, more opportunities,” Warren said. “That’s what we want to see in New Bedford. That’s what we want to see here in Massachusetts.”

The New Bedford Harbor Development Commission predicts the dredging would create  898 permanent jobs, $65.1 million in wages and $11.5 million in state and local taxes.

“We have a number of docks in the harbor that are on very shallow water,” Mitchell said. “There are businesses that want to pull boats up to those docks but can’t because of the shallow water.”

According to Washburn, who attended the meeting, lawmakers agreed that Phase V dredging would be most beneficial for the port in terms of cost and reward.

Read the full story at The New Bedford Standard-Times