New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The following is an opinion sent to New Bedford Guide. It does not reflect the opinion of New Bedford Guide, nor is it an OP-ED. In fairness and objectivity, we share opinions from our readers whether we agree or disagree with their opinion.
“This was a really sad day for us. After 24 years of docking our lobster/fishing boats at Marine Hydraulics, the City of New Bedford has decided to eliminate 15 small commercial fishing berths to build the North Terminal.
Ironically, the mayor said the project will add much-needed commercial fishing berths. Please explain??!
I understand the need for the City to expand and adapt to future technologies but don’t totally displace the industry that put us on the map for the last 22 years and longer, especially small family businesses. Mayor Mitchell constantly brags about New Bedford’s number one fishing port status, but then contradicts himself with projects that hurt the fishing industry.
We were told for the past two years that they would relocate our boats, but they bailed out at the 11th hour and now we have nowhere to go. To quote the NBPA, “You’ve had it too good for too long.”
We are currently not allowed to keep our boats at recreational docks. Please share if you feel New Bedford needs more commercial fishing dockage for these small family businesses.” -Jarret Drake.
“Before.” Photo by Jarrett Drake.
New Bedford isn’t only about fishing! Pollution from boats, destruction of the environment, domination and commercialization of the shoreline, the elimination of species, that’s the fishing “industry”! New Bedford is made up of many people, people that can’t fish and could use a job. Mayor Mitchell is doing the RIGHT action. All the fishing “industry ” does is complain while they keep adding multimillion dollar boats, fish plants, Audis, BMWs and Mercedes!
What a very biased viewpoint of fishing. Clearly you know nothing about it or have ever participated in any form of it. My story is about the struggling small family owner/operator fishng businesses that are being displaced by big corporate entities. Mayor Mitchell is knowingly squeezing us out for these big corporations to have access to the waterfront. We were promised a spot to move to for two years, but the City canceled those plans last minute and left us high and dry with no place to go. Marine Hydraulics had one of the last small commercial boat docks in the City. The irony is that Mitchell told the public like you that this was going to help commercial fishermen. It does not.