Tag Archives: Fishing Heritage Center
Cuban-born net maker shares his journey from Havana to New Bedford’s working waterfront
When he had his chance, Cuban-born net maker Miguel Sanchez escaped his home country, jumping from a Cuban fishing boat aboard a ship heading to Canada. The young law student escaped to start a new life, far away from Cuba and its oppressive dictatorship, the only member of his family to escape. Sanchez left Havana abruptly on March 24, 1996, before heading to Canada, arriving in Nova Scotia on April 15, 1996. A year ago, after spending more than 20 years in Nova Scotia, he got a call to work at Reidar’s Manufacturing on the New Bedford waterfront. His skills as a net maker were in demand. Sanchez worked in Nova Scotia for more than 20 years for different fishing companies under the country’s International Mobility Program, teaching and working with wire rope, when he got the call to work at Reidar’s Trawl Gear. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:31
Fisheries scientist takes the spotlight in Fishing Heritage Center’s ‘A Day in the Life’ series
The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center’s A Day in the Life speaker series continues tonight, March 15, with SMAST fisheries scientist Crista Bank. Beginning at 7 p.m., Bank will share her story and discuss the cooperative research she is currently conducting with the commercial fishing industry. Admission to A Day in the Life is free for Fishing Heritage Center members, and $5 for non-members. The Center is handicap accessible through the parking lot entrance. Free off-street parking available. >click to read<22:33
A day in the life of a New Bedford scallop boat captain
“We’re really pleased to see such a great turnout,” Fishing Heritage Center Director Laura Orleans told the standing-room-only crowd filling the center on Jan. 11. Pleased, but not surprised at the big turnout. “It’s no surprise because Chris Wright is one of my favorite captains,” Orleans said. By the end of the interesting lecture on his life at sea, and a spirited question-and-answer session, Wright was the favorite scallop boat captain of everyone in the room. “Don’t be in awe of us” braving fierce winds and mountainous waves far offshore, Wright suggested modestly at one point in the question-and-answer period. “It’s just what we do.” What Wright does is skipper the Huntress out of Fairhaven, and the Nordic Pride, based in New Bedford. A shared captain is not uncommon these days, with each scallop boat limited by fishing regulations to a maximum of 75 days at sea, he noted. “I’m getting ready for my 29th year as a captain,” Read the story here 16:32
Feature from 1968 on Portuguese fishermen showing Friday Night in New Bedford – Free Admission!
The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on Friday at 7 p.m. with “The Lonely Dorymen,” a 1968National Geographic program about the Portuguese fishermen who fished for cod on the Grand Banks. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, and the Working Waterfront Festival. Read the rest here! 18:39
