Coalition Blog

Seattle shipyard tracks growth amid uncertainty, Maritime library takes shape, NOAA fisheries hosts open listening session, Port has big changes for 2026, Stones Throw hosts Good Neighbor Night for Coalition, Waterfront Wednesdays change schedule.

November saw the Coalition starting to plan for 2026 and involved in several more events.

Have a seafood thanksgiving, wave & tidal power concerns fishermen, Glosten unveils carbon-fiber all-electric ferry, Menace & Seafood Producer's Cooperative launch Collaborator, Tide Talk at CBC to highlight restoration in Bellingham Bay, there's a new seafood liaison at USDA, Ecology progresses on clean up of I&J Wate

The Port of Bellingham expands, the Community Boating Center talks bioluminescences, Dockside market notes a schedule change for December, the Annual Holiday Port festival approaches, Legato Maritime launches Fire Cat Red Lager with Beach Cat Brewing, and the Commercial Fisherman's Convention is coming up in December.

This is a brief of the expansion from 3 to 5 commissioners for the Port of Bellingham in 2025.

Hullwork - November, 2025

Blue Schools initiatives grow, SAIL Catalyst Mentorship program coming soon, Whatcom CEDS in planning and review, Port releases draft budget for review, Fisherman's Convention with Sea Grant, Master Mariner tells tales, Sound Industrial Alliance launches, and Navigator's Night coming up.

Port presents Pt. Roberts development plans, Derek Long retires from Sustainable Connections, local fisherman presents poetry and writers' classes, Port plans future of 800 Cornwall Ave, the WA Commercial Fisherman's Convention happens in December, the Great Shakeout happens this week, and a Master Mariner tells tales.

Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley talks about the statue being created for Lummi Island the San Juans called "The Protector", and what it means for Lummi youth to recognize their home.

Hullwork - October, 2025

This week, Fish Tales & Ales and Bellingham SeaFeast draws crowds, Commissioner Candidate Forum approaches and voter's guide published, local paddling company seeks sponsorship for film festival, SeaGrant delivers value to watefronts, and WA Fisherman's Convention set for December.

This week, the Port Commissioner Candidate Forum is coming up, Alaska harvests total near 185 million, Level 4 apprentices start their final year in the NW Maritime Apprenticeship Program, Blue Drinks Meet Up is happening next week, and a VIP Experience comes to Bellingham SeaFeast.

Hullwork - September, 2025

This week, NOAA Fisheries seeks input on seafood consumption, fishermen observe ocean-alkalinity tests, fall issue of "On the Waterfront" releases, and waterfront events abound around the sound.

This week, Buoyant Beginnings graduates their first cohort, the Vessel Turn In program is a success, Seattle op-ed highlights working waterfronts, Westport hosts MSC open forum, Whatcom Museum features Salish Sea, a slammin' social comes to Bellingham, and Port of Bellingham releases an Industrial Lands Study.

Hullwork - August, 2025

This week, the Blaine Seafood Bash is coming up in October, San Juan Cruises gets featured in My Bellingham Now, Buoyant Beginnings Pre-Apprentices move into work experience, the Pumpout Nav App is your friend, and NW Maritime offers a look into do's and don'ts of maintenance for first-time boat owners.

Waterfront Tours w/ Kolby LaBree This week, Susan chats to our friend Kolby LaBree about the Waterfront Tours available with the Good Time Girls this summer. These tours highlight Bellingham's connection to the waterfront with unique history, mystery, and lore. Get excited to go on Shore Leave with Bellinghistory's Good Time Girls! Shore Leave Bellinghistory Tours

This week, Race Week kicks off, LFS host the 1st annual Squalicum Block Party, the Port moves 5 commissioner proposal to ballot, SeaFeast unveils feature artist Jim Dixon, Coast Guard renames districts, the Port ships chips, and a historic fireboat visits Bellingham.

Hullwork - July, 2025

This week, Dept. of Ecology opens comments for Weldcraft Steel & Marine site clean up, Northwest Seaport Alliance publishes a Maritime Economic Impact Study, the Governor selects the contract for building WA state ferries, Barlean's Fishery officially opens their Squalicum store front, Buoyant Beginnings begins,

This week, the Port of Bellingham welcomes a new Interim Director, the annual Maritime Workforce Forum is set for August 7, the Whatcom Vessel Turn-In Program is featured in Love Your Waterfront, the Working Waterfronts Act is re-introduced, and LFS announces their annual Customer Appreciation Day on July 23.

The Working Waterfront Foundation starts Buoyant Beginnings pre-apprenticeship program, the WTA expands the waterfront line, Good Time Girls and Bellinghistory offer "Shore Leave" tours, and a new Vessel Turn-in Program is coming up - Dan chats with Dana Oster from NW Straits Commission on how the program works.

Hullwork - June, 2025

This week, the Port parted ways with the Executive Director, Merchant Mariner Credentialing modernization is proposed, a free vessel turn-in program is happening in Whatcom, waterfront tours are more accessible with WTA and Bellinghistory, Whales in our Waters helps mariners, Bosun's Workshop has upcoming courses, and our Blue Drinks Q2 event is coming up!

Dan and Kevin talk big news on the Whatcom Waterfront, and Kolby LaBree shares a historical perspective on the newly refurbished Little Squalicum Pier.

This week, several sign on letters have made rounds to save funding for critical agencies and maritime organizations, NW Explorations celebrates 20 years of the Mother Goose Flotilla, Salmon Run forecasts for 2025 are out, Alaska fishermen write op-ed on NOAA services, the Port officially terminates the Master Development Agreement with the controversial developer, Harcourt, the next Blue Drinks is coming up, and our On the Waterfront print newsletter is hot off the press.

Hullwork - May, 2025

This week, MTCA funding is threatened at the state level, America's Boating Club of Bellingham hosts a Day of Learning, Tide to Table '25 gives a strong finish, Ocean Conservancy seeks support to maintain NOAA funding at the federal level, and MarineLink publishes a marine alternative fuels overview.

This week, AMSEA is under threat for termination, MERIS project is in planning, two bills cause concern in the WA legislature, the Whatcom Maritime Heritage Museum gets new hours, this week celebrates marine service professionals, and the Tide to Table auction opens!

Paul Meyer sits down with Austin Rose from the Marine Resource Committee to talk about the marine sanctuary proposals that have led to the MRC's creation, and what the MRC does here in the region.

Dan and Kevin discuss the look ahead for 2025, including a brand new event, called Race Week, coming to Bellingham in 2025. Kevin also chats about all the upcoming events for Bellingham Seafeast that you can track at www.bellinghamseafeast.org Dan discusses all the amazing excursions available to our region, and gets hyped for our upcoming summer.

This week, a regulatory freeze disrupts U.S. fisheries, A local fisher is featured in Women on the Waterfront, "The Last Reefnetters" ep. 1 is featured on Cascade PBS, Tide to Table Sponsor highlights go out to Vigilant and AltaGas/ALA Energy, The Pacific Marine Expo puts out call for speakers, Tide to Table ticket sales are going fast and close April 18th, Beach Clean Up and Bivalves events for Bellingham Seafeast happen in Blaine, and Backcountry Medical guides offers maritime first aid and CPR training.

Tide to Table Sponsor Highlight - Vigilant

Hullwork - April, 2025

AltaGas/ALA Energy Sponsor Post

This week: Northline Seafoods returns to Bristol Bay for 2025 A Pathway to Protect Working Waterfronts webinar is available to view CBC launches their new Hearing Loop programming, along with hosts Tide Talks this evening Seattle City Council votes on controversial re-zoning of transitional light-industry zone, The Puyallup Tribe sets to open their own shipping terminal in Tacoma, Green initiatives for fishermen stall with funding cuts, Island Opportunity Charters & San Juan Sailing offers summer adventures, Pacific Halibut fishery opens with uncertainty, WA Sea Grant offers FFAST Skills and Drills Beautiful Bivalves abound in Blaine

Hullwork - March edition. Tide to Table, tariffs and funding, business networking, and events planning.

This week: - Bull kelp bill passes house to designate state marine forest - Maritime Institute hosts Mariner Boot Camp - Race Week comes to Bellingham - Economic Futures Through Ports recording available to watch - "The Last Reefnetters" features local fisherwomen - Maritime Safety Days Event approaches - SE Alaskan Fisheries face misinformation and lawsuits - Tide to Table ticket sales are up!

Dan travels to the National Working Waterfront Conference in San Diego and speaks with organizations and individuals from around the nation about working waterfronts, and the efforts underway to save them.

Georgia Pacific Story, Pt. 2 with Anna Booker & Kolby LaBree Dan and Kevin chat with Kolby LaBree of Bellinghistory Good Time Girls, and Anna Booker, History Instructor with Whatcom Community College, about the Georgia Pacific plant and its effect on Bellingham and Whatcom County. Part 2 of 2.

This week, the Mosquito Fleet Act is in the WA House Legislature, Department of Ecology hosts their walkthrough of Fairhaven shipyard, and accepts comments on the clean up site, hybrid propulsion gains steam in ferries, Gig Harbor Boat Shop offers crew courses, and Tide to Table highlights our first round of sponsorships.

Dan and Kevin chat with Kolby LaBree of Bellinghistory Good Time Girls, and Anna Booker, History Instructor with Whatcom Community College, about the Georgia Pacific plant and its effect on Bellingham and Whatcom County. Part 1 of 2.

Dan and Kevin share economic news from the Port of Bellingham, and Beth Pielert, co-director of "Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life" discusses the new film by Children of the Setting Sun.

Dan visits Pacific Marine Expo and hears from the voices on the floor.

This guest submission post from Tiel and Phil Riise of Seaview Boatyard details new improvements to the Seaview Fairhaven location, and whats next for Seaview on the horizon.

This week, the Coalition wraps the National Working Waterfront conference in San Diego, Dept. of Ecology and the Port begin the clean up operations at the Harris St. Shipyard in Fairhaven, the Ballard Locks get some long-needed maintenance, the Port releases their economic Development Progress Report, Seaview Boatyard shares a highlight of what's next for their locations in Bellingham, Tide to Table tickets go on sale, and new proposed rules for the Dungeness crab fishery are open to public review.

Hullwork - February, 2025

This week, the Working Waterfront Coalition will be attending Maritime Day, Norwegian Delegation of Blue Tech innovators visits in Seattle, Maritime WA National Heritage Area posts Advocacy Workshop online, Bellingham Seafeast Vendor Applications are open, maritime education op-ed details local efforts, Alaskan fisheries op-ed details a sea of troubles, and several important dates to save are coming up fast!