Waterfront Wednesday News

Feb 14, 2024

Alaska Salmon Market Faces Difficult 2024

The 2024 market for salmon continues to face a tough glut of supply as the forecasts for this year are issued. All species of salmon and other fish and seafood as well (pollock, shrimp, etc.) are currently facing lower prices. Large U.S. runs of salmon in 2022 and 2023, combined with very large production from Russia, bring a perfect storm to the U.S. fish and seafood sector.  Forecasts for Alaskan salmon runs this year remain high leading to an uncertain future for the vessels, crews, and companies that harvest, process, and market our fish and seafood.

We can all assist with this crisis by eating more fish and seafood! Supporting our commercial fishing families is important.

Read about the forecasts and current market dynamics in the National Fisherman article linked below:

The US Seafood trade deficit also hit 20.3 billion dollars in 2023. A recent article in SeafoodSource.com details the numbers for our nationwide seafood economy:

Bellingham Seafeast Kicks Off the 2024 "Keep It Simple Seafood"  

(Participants train on CPR. Photo courtesy Backcountry Medical Guides)

Join Bellingham Seafeast at Dockside Market this Saturday, February 17, 12 p.m. at Fisherman’s Pavilion, as Terry Phair of Lummi Seafood Market shows us how to make battered sea cucumber tacos with guacamole and sea urchin salsa. 

Keep It Simple Seafood (KISS) at Bellingham Dockside Markets throughout the year showcases local fishermen demonstrating their favorite recipes, tips, and tricks on taking your seafood dinner to the next level. Join Seafeast Director Kevin Coleman and a guest each month as they show you how to expertly prepare heart--healthy dishes that anyone can prepare.

This Valentine's Day, give your heart some love with a KISS demo! Check out the event page on Facebook for this Saturday's demo below:

Tide to Table Tickets On Sale Now

The Annual Tide to Table Dinner & Fundraiser is approaching. This year, we're rolling out the red-carpet in Old Hollywood style to celebrate our marine trades, our waterfronts, and all the people who make them work.

Join us for an evening of fantastic seafood expertly prepared by Crave Catering and Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, bid on exciting auction items and desserts, and raise your paddle to help support the Working Waterfront Foundation and Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship Program.

Tickets are on sale at the link below, or through the Tide to Table main page.

Interested in being a Sponsor, Item Donor, or Volunteer?
We are always accepting sponsors, silent and live action items, and volunteers to help us throw a fabulous event. If you're interested in helping out, please email Info@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org to learn more and get involved. Your sponsorships, donations, and participation all go to help support our programming, outreach, and advocacy on behalf of the over 6,000 individuals who are directly and indirectly sustained by our shores and waters. Thank you for your support.

Check out the link below for more information, or visit our website. We hope to see you Sat., April 20 in Old Hollywood style at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Love Your Waterfront - Your Waterfront, Your Stories

(This month, Love Your Waterfront was excited to hear sea stories from Master Mariner & Columbia Bar Pilot Deb Dempsey at the KMRE recording studio. Photo: Susan Lindsey)

"Love Your Waterfront" is a new monthly radio show on KMRE 88.3 Community-Powered Radio. Hosted by the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition, Bellingham Seafeast, and the team at KMRE Radio, Love Your Waterfront presents a monthly show about local waterfront-related news, events, interviews, and stories from around our diverse and vibrant shorelines and waters.

Tune in on the first Thursday (and, starting in March, the 3rd Thursday as well) at 5:30 p.m. to hear all about how our community loves its waterfront. You may also listen to previous airings and find more information on each edition of the show via the link below:

Port of Bellingham Details Shipping Terminal Modernization Project

(Bellingham Shipping Terminal. Dredging the channel per federal-regulation requirement to be a navigable waterway is currently in progress. Photo: Port of Bellingham)

Port of Bellingham - The Port of Bellingham has started a transformative two-year project to modernize the Shipping Terminal to meet the infrastructure needs of the modern shipping industry. This $27.5 Million project will fortify the main dock to allow heavy cargo and equipment, increase the navigation depth to allow a much wider range of potential cargo, install a state-of-the-art stormwater management system to protect Puget Sound, and create family-wage jobs throughout the region. Tacoma-based American Construction will begin dredging in front of the terminal in January 2024. 

Note: American Construction was also the lead contractor on a successful Port-led project in 2016 to clean-up historic contamination from Bellingham Bay in what was one of the largest clean-up projects in state history.

The current Bellingham Shipping Terminal Modernization Project is supported by a $6.85 Million federal grant.

You can read the specific details of goals for the project and stages here:

Bellingham City Club Presentation:
Fishing in all the Usual and Accustomed Places

(The Bellingham City Club is a non-partisan civic organization with over 300 members that fosters dialogue and debate on imporant issues facing our community.)

Bellingham City Club - Fishing in all the Usual and Accustomed Places

Those eight words in the 1855 Treaties with Washington tribes have changed the fishing industry in the Northwest and continue to be consequential for many. The Boldt Decision, named after U.S. District Court Judge George Boldt, brought about far-reaching societal changes as it reinforced tribal sovereignty and began to remedy decades of racial injustice.

Judge Boldt’s decision, along with subsequent cases, confirmed that the 20 treaty tribes had the right to harvest half of the catch in Puget Sound in all of their traditional fishing areas. 

Bellingham City Club speakers will explain the history of this momentous decision and its effects that are still resonating in our land and water-use planning today. They will explore the politics and challenges behind the Boldt decision and bring us up to date on the present state of the harvest and fishery.

At 12:00 p.m., February 28, the Bellingham City Club hosts this program (with lunch) in-person at:

Bellingham Yacht Club
2625 S Harbor Loop Dr.

Purchase of tickets in advance is required; click here to register.

Member price is $25; non-member price is $30; youth under 25 is $10; program only tickets (no meal or table) are $10
Attendance is limited to 150.

Registration closes at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, February 25.  Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

All-American Marine to Present on Next-Gen Construction

Join Ron Wille as he describes the modern construction techniques used and the features incorporated into new vessels being constructed by local Bellingham boat builder, All American Marine. Vessels and features discussed will include catamarans, hydrofoils, hybrid boats and the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered passenger vessel.

42nd Legislative District In-Person Town Hall

Olympia WA - Invitation from our legislators:

Please join us, your lawmakers from the 42nd Legislative District, for a town hall meeting from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Horizon Middle School in Ferndale. This is our chance to hear from you as well as update you on our work in Olympia on your behalf.

The 42^nd district represents most of Whatcom County, including Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Sumas, and part of Bellingham, and extending east to Mt. Baker, North Cascades National Park, and Ross Lake.

WHO: Sen. Sharon Shewmake, Rep. Alicia Rule and Rep. Joe Timmons

WHAT: 42nd Legislative District town hall meeting

WHEN: 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17

WHERE: Horizon Middle School, 2671 Thornton Rd., Ferndale, WA 98248

Please submit questions in advance here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HPB6W53

Find or List a Waterfront Job

The Coalition Job Board lists waterfront jobs for anyone seeking a job in the marine trades, maritime and at-sea posts, and other supporting industries.

Are you a commercial fishing family with need for crew for the season? List your job quickly and easily with our submission form. Your job is posted in 15 minutes, with no need to contact the Coalition - just enter the details and contact information and submit! Posting a job online has never been easier.

Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events