Tag Archives: Fairhaven
Fairhaven Fire Department and Harbormaster responds to diesel fuel spill in harbor
The fishing vessel F/V Jack M reported an equipment malfunction that spilled an unknown quantity of diesel fuel into the harbor. The spill located at Union wharf extended as far North as the Seaport Inn and Marina. The spill impacted Fairhaven Shipyard, Blue Harvest Seafoods, Pease Park Boat Ramp, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Seaport Inn. The vessel’s owner is cooperating and has contracted with Frank Corp Environmental, located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to complete the cleanup. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Coast Guard Pollution Control is investigating the cause of the malfunction.” >click to read< 07:11
The Rise and Fall of Pacific American Fisheries: Fairhaven’s Historic Salmon Cannery
Before becoming part of Bellingham, Fairhaven grew up along railway lines. The town boomed with the region’s industries — fishing, lumber, and mining — into the 1870s, seeking the Northern Pacific Railway terminus. After the railway instead went to Tacoma, in 1873, multiple economic panics drove Fairhaven into a depression by the 1890s. However, Fairhaven soon found economic revitalization in what would become the largest salmon cannery in the world: Pacific American Fisheries. Whatcom County’s early settlers viewed the salmon crowding every stream as an almost inexhaustible resource. Fisheries would prepare salmon fresh, dried, salted, or smoked, but turned most into hog feed and fertilizer. Whatcom County had 11 large canneries by 1899, but many shuttered within years due to mismanagement. >click to read< 18:10
Commercial Fishing Captain Malvin Kvilhaug of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, has passed away
Malvin Kvilhaug, 83, of Fairhaven passed away peacefully on May 26, 2022 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was at home surrounded by his family. Malvin was born in Aakrehamn, Karmoy, Norway, and was the son of the late Martin and Hulda (Grodem) Kvilhaug. Malvin began his life in Fairhaven in 1961 and made a large impact on the tight-knit Norwegian community. Captain Kvilhaug was a successful scallop captain and fishing was a major part of his life. Malvin made his way in the fishing industry through hard work, determination, and a ‘never give up’ mentality. Malvin was a captain for many years and enjoyed time on his boats – FV Michigan, FV Contender, FV Concordia and the FV Sandra Jane all out of Fairhaven. In addition, he was one of the five co-founders of the Fishery Survival Fund. >click to read< 11:53
Martin Olsen, a Commercial Fisherman
Martin O. Olsen, 82, of Fairhaven passed away Thursday, September 10, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford after a brief illness. He was the husband of 58 years to Mary T. (Best) Olsen. Born in Wildwood, NJ, son of the late Andrew and Mary A. (Brunner) Olsen, he was a lifelong resident of Fairhaven and communicant of St. Joseph’s Church. Martin served in the Army towards the end of the Korean War and then worked as a commercial fisherman for 32 years most prominently on the Valkyrie and the Narragansett. He is survived by his loving wife, a son, two daughters, and four grand children,,,>click to read< 15:51
Captains hope to replace coronavirus-related restaurant closures with direct customers
With their normal markets shrinking amid the coronavirus outbreak, South Coast fishermen are coming up with creative ways to sell their catch directly to consumers. Troy Durr created the Facebook group “South Coast Direct Source Seafood” “A lot of the fish houses are not buying from the boats, which left them in a situation to stop working or figure out their own way to sell,” (Troy) Durr said. The new way to sell is directly off their boats.,, Two boats went out on April 4 and sold lobsters at Union Wharf in Fairhaven for $6 per pound. “Today we had our first sell date,” Durr said in a post, “Two locally owned and operated lobster boats sold out of 600 lbs of lobsters in an hour and a half right at Union Wharf in Fairhaven.” >click to read< 17:03
Fairhaven fire crew rescues fisherman, extinguishes fire
Fire Department rescuers saved a lobster fisherman from downed power lines at Union Wharf during Tuesday’s powerful nor’easter and later extinguished the resulting fire. At 7:38 p.m., the firefighters received a report of power lines down with a lobster fisherman trapped on his boat at Union Wharf, according to Deputy Fire Chief Todd Corriea. An utility pole cracked in half at the end of Union Wharf, likely from the combination of strong winds and heavy wet snow, Correia said. >click to read< 09:24
Fairhaven officials cite fishing boat’s bilge in harbor oil spill
State and local officials, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, are investigating a “significant oil spill” in New Bedford Harbor, Fairhaven fire officials said. The Fairhaven Fire Department received a call from town Harbormaster Timothy Cox who reported a significant oil spill on the Fairhaven side of the harbor in the area of the Steamship Authority pier and Warren Alexander wharf. Crews were advised that the Fishing Vessel Ocean Princess had pumped its bilge out overnight while making repairs, Fire Department spokesman Wayne Oliveira said in a news advisory about the spill. An unknown quantity of bilge oil was pumped into the harbor causing a floating oil slick, he said. Crews immediately used booms to contain the floating oil and keep the slick from spreading any farther. Read the rest here 09:40
With Sadness: The passing of fishing vessel Captain Lars Sovik of Fairhaven, Ma
Lars Sovik, 75, of Fairhaven died March 3, 2014 at home, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Sonja (Jacobsen) Sovik. Born and raised in Norway, the son of the late Torleif Johannes Sovik and Sofie (Hansen) Sovik, he lived in Fairhaven since 1958. He was a commercial fisherman for many years and captain and owner of F/V Valkyrie and F/V Endurance. Read more here 08:22
