Coalition Wraps Up 2024

As we close out 2024, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our members, partners, and friends for your engagement, enthusiasm, and support. Here’s a snapshot of what we accomplished together this year and what’s ahead:

2024 Highlights

• Waterfront Advocacy:
• Advocated against broad policies that could have unduly impacted waterfront businesses.
• Hosted ~12 stakeholder meetings with councilmembers and government representatives to inform decision-making, helping to craft compromises to avoid harmful ordinances and moratoriums.
• Future Planning:
• Preparing for the comprehensive plan review to ensure maritime trades have the zoning, infrastructure, and housing they need to thrive.
• Advocating for integrated zoning to support a skilled workforce living close to work and essential services.
• Collaboration with Local Leaders:
• Strengthened ties with Mayor Lund and Whatcom mayors through Small Cities Partnership presentation.
• Holding bi-annual meetings with the Mayor’s office to address maritime trades concerns and keep the Mayor and her office informed of industry developments.
• Community Engagement:
• Expanded our radio broadcast, Love Your Waterfront, in collaboration with Bellingham Seafeast to share our maritime heritage, and waterfront news and stories.
• Hosted panels at Seafeast with support from local leaders, highlighting maritime heritage and trades.
• Environmental Impact:
• Partnered with the Port of Bellingham to secure Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant funding for our fishing fleet, reducing emissions and improving efficiency. Applications are still available – contact our staff if you’d like more information!
• Advocated for an ADA-accessible dock at the Community Boating Center, with funding now scheduled for 2026.
• Events & Partnerships:
• Supported Eat Local Month with the first ‘Day on the Bay’ celebration, promoting local seafood.
• Partnered with Bellingham Seafeast to host a welcome booth, and speaker series events, as well as hosted a new Fisher Poets Gathering here in Bellingham.
• Participated in the Drayton Harbor Oyster Festival and Bellingham Seafeast with interactive booths and activities.
• Hosted our quarterly networking meets – Blue Drinks

Looking Ahead to 2025

• Key Initiatives:
• Engage in Port Commissioner elections, providing a platform for candidates to share their vision.
• Collaborate with the Port on waterfront property developments and terminal upgrades, with the Port asking us for consultation on both projects and proposals.
• Advocacy & Outreach:
• Attend Washington Maritime Day in Olympia to promote funding for waterfront renovations and fishing fleet preservation.
• Present at the National Working Waterfront Conference in February, showcasing our community-driven efforts.
• Engage in advocating for no less than 5 different national-level working waterfront bills.
• Community Support:
• Host ‘Crew Connections: A Social Hour Mixer’ with Wild Seafood Connection and Bellingham Dockside.
• Help expand marine service technician training through the Northwest Apprenticeship Program and our sister-organization, the Working Waterfront Foundation, with plans to launch a pre-apprenticeship program in 2025 and gain state-wide approval for the Apprenticeship to operate anywhere in the state, with Port Townsend looking to host the first satellite.

We're continuing to grow our outreach and advocacy and we encourage all of our members to engage with us on issues that are important to you!  Please feel free to reach out to us any time and let us know how you think we could help make our working waterfronts even better.

Stay tuned for these upcoming events

Blue Drinks Q1-25

Join us on January 8th, 2025 at 5:30pm in Blaine, at the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, for our first-quarter Blue Drinks of 2025! This open networking event helps you to connect, share, and learn about your waterfronts. The event is free to attend.

Annual Member Appreciation Night

January 15th is our upcoming annual Member Appreciation Night!  If you're a member, or if you're considering becoming one, join us as we lay out our upcoming year, help us to plan our engagement programming, and celebrate your fellow members with a fun event, and great food, at the Squalicum Boathouse in Zuanich Point Park, Bellingham.  All members are welcome to attend, and the event is free.

Crew Connections Mixer

If you know anyone interested in becoming a crew aboard a fishing vessel - or if you're a Captain or operator yourself who wants to connect with interested crew, come out to our Crew Connections Mixer on February 26th, 5:30pm at Structure's Brewing on Holly. The event is open to anyone 16+ (Structure's is all-ages), and the event is free to attend. Please pass the word around your networks and we hope to see you there!

Tide to Table '25

Mark your calendars this year for April 26th at the Bellwether Ballroom - Tide to Table returns!  This annual fundraising event is full of seafood, sea-family, and fun. We'll have auction items up for bid, masterfully prepared seafood buffets, and an all-round good time. All the proceeds go to support our mission and program to promote the economic vitality and diversity of our working waterfronts. Tickets will be on sale in the new year - stay tuned!



From our Board of Directors, our staff, and everyone at the Working Waterfront Offices, we wish you a fun and happy holiday, and a happy new year!