A new center for the preservation and presentation of New Bedford’s fishing industry will open with MIT Sea Grant specialist as a founding member.

MIT Sea Grant Marine Anthropologist Madeleine Hall-Arber is one of the founding members of a newly established non-profit organization, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, Inc. The mission of the Center will be: To educate the public about the history and culture of New Bedford’s commercial fishing industry by engaging them in authentic experiences, to document that culture and history for future generations, and to honor and support the men and women who make their living from the sea. Hall-Arber, a longtime researcher of the New England fishing industry and advisor to fisheries managers is excited about the new center. She notes that while the fishing industry is a highly complex occupation and among the first European businesses established in the region, little has been done to preserve and present its rich history to current and future generations. “Since I was a grad student (over 30 years ago) going out on the day boats from Provincetown,” Hall-Arber says, “I’ve heard people talk about wanting to start a museum. . .before it all disappears or changes beyond recognition“. She adds, “What I like about the New Bedford Heritage Center is that its goal is to be a living museum, to reflect on the past, but also to acknowledge and support the adaptation of fishing to today’s world”. For more information, or to become involved To get involved, contact the Center at nbfishingheritagecenter@gmail.com.