Saving Seafood

National Working Waterfront Network, Urban Harbors Institute set to Host 2022 Conference in Boston

January 31, 2022 — The following was released by the National Working Waterfront Network:

The National Working Waterfront Network (NWWN), a nationwide network of organizations committed to preserving and enhancing waterfronts and waterways, will be holding its 6th national conference in Boston from July 19 to July 21, 2022. The conference will be titled Working Waterfronts: Traditions and Transitions, and will be held on UMass Boston’s oceanfront campus.

For the event, the NWWN will be partnering with the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI) at UMass Boston, a research institute focused on promoting thriving ocean and coastal communities and sustainable natural resources. Working together, their goal is to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to address the sustainability, resiliency, and future growth of working waterfront communities at the local, regional, and national levels.

“The NWWN conference is an important event that promotes information exchange among people involved in all aspects of working waterfronts, from commercial interests to waterfront research, planning, and management, to policymaking,” said Kristin Uiterwyk, Director of the Urban Harbors Institute. “We are excited to bring the conference back to New England where working waterfronts have been and continue to be so central to our culture and economy.”

Co-hosted by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and Maine Sea Grant, the event will include keynote speakers and a series of presentations, panel sessions, roundtable discussions, and art installations. Session themes will cover the resilience of commercial fishing communities, developing waterfront industries, the threats of climate change, workforce development pertaining to maritime activities, and the impacts of COVID-19 on working waterfronts and new innovations for recovery.

“Coastal communities face many different challenges, such as how to protect our waterfronts from increased coastal hazards and guarantee space for industrial uses, how to balance old and new uses to include aquaculture and offshore renewable energy, and how to engage more young people in commercial fishing,” said Nicole Faghin, Chair of the NWWN, “This conference will bring together people to share tools, resources and connect with others interested in creating and maintaining healthy working waterfronts.”

In addition to a speaking program and discussions, the conference will include an evening at the New England Aquarium for a welcome reception, field trips for attendees throughout the conference, highlights of other NWWN initiatives including a podcast and webinar series, the NWWN internship, and a pre-conferencetraining by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Those interested in registering for the event, submitting an abstract, sponsoring the conference, and/or looking for more information can visit the conference website.

About the National Working Waterfront Network

The National Working Waterfront Network (NWWN) is a nationwide network of businesses, industry associations, nonprofits, local governments and communities, state and federal agencies, universities, Sea Grant programs, and individuals dedicated to supporting, preserving, and enhancing our nation’s working waterfronts and waterways. Participation in the NWWN is open to all individuals and organizations involved in working waterfront issues at the federal, state, and local level. Our mission is to increase the capacity of coastal communities and stakeholders to make informed decisions, balance diverse uses, ensure access, and plan for the future of their working waterfronts and waterways.

About the Urban Harbors Institute at UMass Boston

Founded in 1989, the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI), an institute within the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston, advances ocean and coastal management through collaborative research and planning at the local, regional, state, federal, and international level. Working closely with governments, marine industry representatives, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public, UHI develops solutions to issues confronting coastal communities, marine-based industries, and activities, and reduces human impacts on the environment. Additionally, UHI’s position within the University of Massachusetts Boston allows the Institute to draw from the legal, economic, policy, and scientific expertise within the University.

Dartmouth, MA is working with UMass Boston to map the future of Padanaram Harbor

April 4, 2018 — DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Several subcommittees studying a new harbor management plan being prepared for the town on Monday provided input to the consulting team from the Urban Harbors Institute at UMass Boston on issues dealing with docks, piers and seawalls, and the local, state and federal regulations of such waterfront structures.

The afternoon’s first discussion session dealt with the draft summary of communication and coordination issues between the various town boards, committees and appointed officials who exercise varying degrees of control over the public and private uses of Padanaram Harbor and its shoreline.

On the local level, those official entities include the Select Board, the Waterways Management Commission, the Harbormaster’s Office, the Shellfish Warden, the Conservation Commission, and the Planning Board. Representatives from many of those town departments and agencies were on hand to review draft portions of the plan.

Since the Parks & Recreation Department has two public parks on two different harbors, Parks Superintendent Tim Lancaster also attended the first review session. Lancaster noted that to complicate matters, both the town’s master plan and open space and recreation plan also address some harbor and waterways issues.

Marshall Marine Corp. owner Geoff Marshall was on hand to provide input from the waterfront business sector, and civil engineer Alan Heureux provided insights on use regulations from the perspective of a consultant who regularly deals with all town boards and departments involved in the oversight of waterfront development.

Consultant Steve Blevin told attendees that public input provided last year made it clear that there is no single agency or department in overall charge of harbor or waterfront uses. Survey results also pointed out that there is a public perception that all of the different entities involved in supervising or regulating those varied uses don’t always communicate with each other or coordinate their efforts.

At the state level, oversight over the harbor and coastal shoreline also comes from the Department of Environmental Protection and Division of Marine Fisheries. Federal government involvement sometimes includes the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

Tuna lab leaving Gloucester, Mass.

Lutcavage, colleagues to work out of UMass Boston

October 6, 2017 — For the first time in almost seven years, the highly-regarded Large Pelagics Research Center affiliated with the University of Massachusetts no longer has a Gloucester address.

The center, which has performed groundbreaking and internationally acclaimed research on the spawning habits and habitats of Atlantic bluefin tuna, closed up shop Thursday at its most recent home — the Americold-owned building at 159 E. Main St. in East Gloucester.

Americold has been actively shopping the site for months and recently informed the center it would have to vacate its office space by the end of October. Molly Lutcavage, the founder and executive director of the center, and Tim Lam, an assistant research professor, didn’t bother waiting until the end of the month.

“It’s sad to think that we won’t have a Gloucester presence anymore,” Lutcavage said. “For now, I guess we’ll be working out of our houses and garages.”

The center has been forced to navigate some rough seas in the past few years, changing its affiliation within the University of Massachusetts system and being forced out of its original facility at Hodgkins Cove, where it had been housed since 2011.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center to Open June 25th

June 8, 2016 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center: 

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center opens to the public on Saturday, June 25th. A Grand Opening Celebration is slated for 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.   A ribbon cutting and remarks will be followed by a mini-festival.  The event is free and open to the public. The Center is located at 38 Bethel Street in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The 3000 square foot space will accommodate changing exhibits, public programs, school groups, archives, and community gatherings.

“The commercial fishing community deserves a place to preserve and present its stories and artifacts, share its skills and knowledge, and educate the public about its rich traditions, heritage, and contemporary existence. We are excited to provide that opportunity.” Executive Director, Laura Orleans.

The Center’s inaugural exhibit From Boat to Table presents all aspects of the industry from the time a keel is laid on a vessel to the time the catch is landed and brought to market. A variety of interactive components include a net mending activity, dress up area, and Eastern Rig style pilothouse designed and built by Fairhaven Shipyard with electronics provided by Furuno USA.  The Center worked with Chris Danemayer and Neal Mayer of Proun Design to take the exhibit from concept to fabrication. A team of volunteer carpenters have assembled many of the exhibit components.

The June 25th Grand Opening is envisioned as a mini-festival with demonstrations of industry skills such as net mending, dredge making, shucking, and filleting, as well as safety demos, model boat making, author signings, fishermen-led walking tours, and hands on kid’s activities.  The Oxford Creamery will offer lobster rolls, chowder, and ice cream for sale and Center exhibits will be open free of charge during the event.

During 2016 the Center will continue to present Dock-u-mentaries, its monthly film/speaker series and Something Fishy, its free summer camp program presented in collaboration with the National Park and Whaling History Alliance. Weekly cruise ship programs and fishermen-led walking tours will be offered during the summer months.  A variety of public programs including author readings, talks, occupational demonstrations, and performances will be presented.  The Center is also working in collaboration with MIT Sea Grant, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Boston, and the New Bedford Free Public Library on a year-long initiative to create a digital archive of fishing community history with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Leases Downtown Space

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — March 8, 2016 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is pleased to announce its plans to lease space at 38 Bethel Street beginning on April 1st of this year. Located in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the 3000 square foot, handicap accessible space will accommodate changing exhibits, public programs, school groups, archives, and community gatherings.  Exhibits are under development with a public opening planned for late June.

“The commercial fishing community deserves a place to preserve and present its stories and artifacts, share its skills and knowledge, and educate the public about its rich traditions, heritage, and contemporary existence. We are excited to provide that opportunity.” Executive Director, Laura Orleans.

During 2016 the Center will continue to present Dock-u-mentaries, its monthly film/speaker series and Something Fishy, its free summer camp program, in collaboration with the National Park and Whaling History Alliance. Weekly cruise ship programs and fishermen-led walking tours will be offered during the summer months.  A variety of public programs including author readings, talks, occupational demonstrations, and performances will be presented.  In addition, an interactive website with digital exhibits, an industry timeline, and standards-based curriculum materials will be launched in April. The Center is also working in collaboration with UMass Dartmouth, UMass Boston, and the New Bedford Public Library on a year-long initiative to create a digital archive of fishing community history.

The Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. The Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org.

MASSACHUSETTS: NEW BEDFORD FISHING HERITAGE CENTER LEASES DOWNTOWN SPACE

March 2, 2016 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is pleased to announce its plans to lease space at 38 Bethel Street beginning on April 1st of this year. Located in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the 3000 square foot, handicap accessible space will accommodate changing exhibits, public programs, school groups, archives, and community gatherings.  Exhibits are under development with a public opening planned for late June.

“The commercial fishing community deserves a place to preserve and present its stories and artifacts, share its skills and knowledge, and educate the public about its rich traditions, heritage, and contemporary existence. We are excited to provide that opportunity.” Executive Director, Laura Orleans. 

During 2016 the Center will continue to present Dock-u-mentaries, its monthly film/speaker series and Something Fishy, its free summer camp program, in collaboration with the National Park and Whaling History Alliance. Weekly cruise ship programs and fishermen-led walking tours will be offered during the summer months.  A variety of public programs including author readings, talks, occupational demonstrations, and performances will be presented.  In addition, an interactive website with digital exhibits, an industry timeline, and standards-based curriculum materials will be launched in April. The Center is also working in collaboration with UMass Dartmouth, UMass Boston, and the New Bedford Public Library on a year-long initiative to create a digital archive of fishing community history. 

The Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. The Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org. 

Fishing Heritage Center Executive Director and members of the Board pose in front of the space they will lease in downtown New Bedford. (from the left: Phil Mello, Kirsten Bendiksen, Laura Orleans, Cassie Canastra, Madeleine Hall-Arber, and David Martins. Not pictured: Ann Jardin-Maynard, Stephanie Rafael-DeMello, and Jeff Pelletier)