Notes on a Great Day at the New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival

by Laura Orleans

Winner of the net mending contest at the New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival. One of a number of competitions in fishing industry skills at the annual festival.Vessel tours, foods, music, kids events, talks and demonstrations fill out the two days in the 10th year of the festival. © Photo by Sam Murfitt

The Working Waterfront Festival celebrated its 10th year on September 28th and 29th.  The Festival was a resounding success with record crowds and glorious weather.  Visitors enjoyed fresh local seafood, performances of traditional and maritime music and fisherpoetry, author readings, occupational demos, film screenings and more.  A number of vessels provided dockside tours including the F/V Roann, a fully restored wooden Eastern rig.  The Festivals ever popular contest stage showcased a variety of industry skills including link squeezing and wire splicing.  Prizes for the net mending and scallops shucking contests were provided by Latti & Anderson LLP.  First place winners took home $500, second prize was $250 and third prize was $100.   Shane Dolman, winner of the shucking contest donated his prize money back to the Festival.

Seafood Throwdown

In collaboration with the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, the weekend culminated with a Seafood Throwdown.  Chefs Greg Morton (Morton’s Fork Catering, Dartmouth, MA) and Margaret Curole (Executive Chef for Commercial Fishermen of America competed to create a winning dish using the surprise seafood ingredients of Pollock and Scallop Roe.  The chefs can bring three ingredients from home and once the secret seafood is revealed, they have 15 minutes and $25 to purchase their remaining ingredients from the on-site farmers market.  They then have one hour to prepare their dish and present it to the panel of judges. Chef Morton won by 3 points with his paella.  The contest which is all in good fun provides a platform to discuss fisheries issues and promote underutilized abundant species.