Waterfront Wednesday News

March 27, 2024

Bornstein Seafoods to Close Bellingham Location

Colin, Kyle, and Jay Bornstein with BTC former President, Patty McKeown,
at the BTC Perry Center for Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences Grand Opening - Nov. 2013.

Local Seafood Processor Bornstein's Seafoods, a long-time tenant of the waterfront in Bellingham, announced it will close its Bellingham operations and consolidate production to Astoria, Oregon. 

The Coalition would like to extend the Bornstein team our best wishes for the future. Read more about the closure and hear from Pete Granger, long-time commercial fisherman and former Bornstein's employee, via the link below:

Port of Bellingham and ABC Recycling

Agree to Terminate Lease

Recycling being loaded at the Shipping Terminal.

ABC Recycling will permanently close operations on Bellingham’s waterfront due to four lease default notices regarding ABC’s ability to comply with the terms of their lease and environmental standards. The Port Commission unanimously approved a lease termination agreement with ABC Recycling in a Special Meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024.

“We are unhappy to lose any employer which supports union labor and family-wage jobs,” said Port Executive Director Rob Fix. “But metal is a challenging cargo which requires expensive engineering controls to protect water quality. While ending a lease is never an easy decision, safeguarding the environment will always remain our top priority.”

ABC Recycling has until June 30, 2024 to remove all scrap metal from the waterfront. The metal will be loaded onto two cargo vessels and the Port will enforce enhanced environmental measures to protect water quality.

“We value our relationship with the Port of Bellingham,” said Andy Anthony, Vice President of US Operations for ABC Recycling. “We met with Port leadership last week and had a candid conversation about the future. We mutually agreed it would be in the best interests of both parties to terminate our lease.” Anthony said ABC is working to reassess its approach to export bulk shipping strategy now that we will not have a facility in Bellingham. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Port and its leadership,” he added. “I know this was a difficult decision for both parties, but we think it’s the right decision as well.”

The two leases held by ABC will expire in the Fall of 2024. The sites will be clean by the time those expirations come, according to Port Commissioners, and any mitigation efforts will be taken care of by that time. To read more about the agreement and the action, see the attached Port of Bellingham Press Release regarding the meeting today, linked below:

M/V David B to host Open House

M/V David B, operated by Christine & Jeffrey Smith of Northwest Navigation. Photo courtesy NW Navigation

The M/V David B, owned and operated by Christine & Jeffrey Smith, and their company 'Northwest Navigation', will be hosting an Open House on April 14th.  The public is invited to visit the boat and learn about the trips and adventures that Northwest Navigation has to offer. The vessel will be berthed at Squalicum Harbor.

Afternoon time slots available on Saturday, April are:  2:00, 2:40, 3:20, and 4:40 p.m.

Each session is limited to 6 guests for these 30-minute tours. The M/V David B, a wonderfully-restored vessel with a classic design, offers unique excursions in SE Alaska. Whales, bears, and the majestic ruggedness of the Southeast Alaskan wilderness are yours to experience on these intimate and fun trips. Gourmet meals are also provided.

To reserve a time to view the vessel, please email Sarah Kirkish - Sarah@northwestnavigation.com
To learn more about Northwest Navigation, Christine & Jeffrey Smith, and the M/V David B, visit their website below:

Tide to Table Tickets Going Fast

Want to win a tropical getaway? This could be you!

Tickets for the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition's annual gala dinner and auction are going fast. This year we're pleased the dinner will take place at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal (Alaska Ferry Terminal) in Fairhaven. Our auction this year will be hosted by Shannon Day, a professional auctioneer, joins us this year. Auction items include a chainsaw art piece by Proud Squirrel Art, a stay at the Hotel Leo with a kayak adventure, and a Hawaiian getaway. There will be opportunities for dining at Bellingham's favorite restaurants, vacation-stays in the San Juans, private cooking classes, and more! Bidding on some items will start the week prior to the event online, but to bid on our live-auction items, you'll need to roll up to this red-carpet event. 

Tickets are running out quickly - get your tickets via the button-link below!

Interested in being a Sponsor, Item Donor, or Volunteer?
We are always accepting sponsors, silent and live action items, and volunteers to help us produce 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 programs, 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.

New Modeling Details Sea Level Rise Impacts to Whatcom

High Tides at Gate 5 of Squalicum Harbor. Photo: Pete Granger

[WA Sea Grant] - From rising seas to eroding shorelines and more frequent, intense storms, the hazards faced by coastal communities are only projected to grow. Recognizing these threats, planners and managers around Washington are assessing the vulnerability of their communities and planning for impacts – in particular, the impacts of coastal flooding due to storms, sea level rise, and river flooding. But planning for coastal flooding can be difficult when so many different, compounding factors affect where water flows and how high it gets. 

The Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS), now expanded to include Puget Sound, is one tool that can help. CoSMoS is a numerical modeling system uniquely capable of interpreting the physics of compound flooding – coastal storms, sea level rise, and river flooding – down to the local scale. As a result, planners, managers and residents can use the new system to help them understand the impacts of coastal flooding to county property, homes and businesses. Whatcom County is the first in Washington state to receive specific projections and results from the tool. And while Whatcom County results were published first, location-specific CoSMoS data will soon be available statewide.

To read more about this new tool and the impacts, follow the link to WA Sea Grant's recent article below: 

New Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Grants Available

The Maritime Washington National Heritage Area (MWNHA) is pleased to offer the Maritime Washington Grant Program. This grant program supports the Heritage Area's mission of supporting work that strengthens, maintains, and shares maritime heritage in Washington.

This program will award funds to nonprofit organizations, local governments, Tribes, regional educational institutions, and other entities that support our region’s maritime heritage for a wide range of projects related to Washington’s water-based cultures, stories, and resources. We encourage you to learn more about eligible projects and organizations, scoring criteria, and program requirements in the MWNHA Program Guide and FAQs.

Applications will open March 20, 2024, and remain open until 5:00 pm on May 1, 2024.

The Scow Presents on Fishing Vessels and Methods

Learn about different types of commercial fishing vessels and methods while enjoying the beautiful and detailed art of Tom Crestodina (The Scow). Tom's presentation will feature his new drawings as well as photos, articles, and videos. You'll come away with a greater understanding of fishing vessels, how they differ, and the gear they use to catch different species of fish and other sea creatures. A must for fans of Tom's book, Working Boats!

The presentation will take place during Bellingham Dockside Market on April 6th. Bring the whole family!

Spring Edition of On the Waterfront Available

The Whatcom Working Waterfront's Spring 2024 edition of our print newsletter, On the Waterfront, is now available at various locations, such as the HarborMaster's office in Squalicum, and our new gate-5 bulletin board.

If you'd like to view the edition digitally, follow the link below:

Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events