Whatcom County residents will have the chance to learn where their seafood comes from during a new waterfront festival at the end of September.
Day on the Bay will feature tours of fishing vessels, waterfront industries and talks on how the environment and waterfront industry work together across Bellingham Bay. It’s the first year for the event and comes two weeks after the Whatcom County Farm Tour, meant to connect community members with a local farmer.
It’s that event that inspired the Day on the Bay idea last year around this time. Kevin Coleman, the executive director of Bellingham Seafeast, said he wanted an event to bridge Eat Local Month, all of September, and Seafood Week, the last week of September, ahead of SeaFeast on Oct. 5–6.
Jessica Gillis, the food and farming program manager at Sustainable Connections, worked with Coleman to get the idea off the ground.
“There’s been a lot of focus on the farming end of our lens and I really wanted to get into the fishing piece as well,” Gillis said. “It’s such a huge part of the food that comes into our county.”
The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at different locations across Bellingham and Fairhaven. Sawtooth Dock, Zuanich Point Park, the Marine Life Center, Seattle Marine, Taylor Dock, Village Books, the Community Boating Center and the Cruise Terminal will all host free events during the day. Events include fishing boat and Coast Guard vessel tours, a net mending station at LFS Marine and Outdoor, learning about water quality testing and learning about the Hannah Project, a fish processing vessel just returned from Alaska.
There are also two ticketed events: a $25 tour of the Bellingham Cold Storage Facility and a $75 Dragonfly Kayak Tour of the Bellingham Waterfront with Good Time Girls.
WTA will also be running a bus line to Squalicum Harbor, allowing people to ride the bus to Dockside Market where fishermen typically sell their catch. The market also accepts EBT and SNAP benefits allowing for families to access fresh seafood.
By offering tours of the waterfront, its industries and the fishermen who make their living off the water, Dan Tucker, the program manager for the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition, hopes Day on the Bay connects community members who don’t normally come down to the water with Whatcom County’s fishing heritage.
“A lot of our fishermen are facing market difficulties, they’re trying to direct market themselves more,” he said, noting there had been a flood of salmon on the market, meaning processors are buying cheaper fish. “So part of it is not only getting the public connected to the waterfront and what goes on here, but also getting them directly connected to the fishermen so they can help support those fishermen by coming down to Dockside Market.”
Tucker added that having the environmental activism theme at Taylor Dock allows people to learn about how environmentalism and industry work together.
“I do not know a single fisherman or woman that is not a conservationist,” he said. “They all recognize the need to not only be mindful of their impacts, but be active participants in rehabilitation of the ecology.”
“Folks understand when they’re buying local from [these fishermen], it makes a difference,” she said. “It helps our local community and people that they get to see and know in this community thrive.”
More events could be added ahead of Day on the Bay. Please check Sustainable Connections’s website for a list of events, the schedule and to register and buy tickets for the day.
What to know if you go to Day on the Bay
The mostly free, all-day event, features timed and self-guided tours across eight locations in Bellingham and Fairhaven. Visit Sustainable Connection’s website for more information.
- Sawtooth Dock: Tours of Alaska Sea Adventures at Gate 3 Dock, near Nicki’s Bella Marina, and net-mending station at LFS Marine and Outdoor, located at 851 Coho Way.
- Zuanich Point Park: Walk the Docks tours that last 45 minutes, led by Pete and Deb Granger. Tours start at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. There will also be U.S. Coast Guard vessel tours and chances to meet youth sailors at the southeast side of the park.
- Marine Life Center: Located at 1801 Roeder Ave., visitors can explore and watch feedings at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m..
- Seattle Marine: There will be knot tying demos and PDF safety at Seattle Marine Supply (1110 C St.) and in the parking lot, Gabriel Art Kids will offer a community art session centered around environmental activism.
- Taylor Dock: Join RE Sources for a water quality testing workshop.
- Village Books: Local authors, Todd Warger, Ann Kaiser and Tom Crestodina, will sign books and answer questions at Village Books, located at 1200 11th St.
- Community Boating Center: Located at 555 Harris Ave., staff will offer rides on the giant stand-up paddleboard, while local fishermen and Coast Guard crews will talk about their work.
- Cruise Terminal: People can explore the Whatcom Maritime Heritage Museum, located at 355 Harris Ave., and meet members of the Hannah Project at the Fairhaven Shipyard, located at 201 Harris Ave.
- Ticketed events: Tours of Bellingham Cold Storage cost $25 and will take place at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.. The Dragonfly Kayak Tours with Good Time Girls cost $75 and includes kayaks and gear. Participants will leave from the Community Boating Center, located at 555 Harris Ave., and tours start at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m..
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
