Hullwork - September, 2025

Hullwork - September, 2025

Hullwork is a monthly digest from the Coalition's Executive Director on the work that goes on 'beneath the waterline'  of our programming to maintain it, and keep it all afloat.

Fresh planking along the hull of a ship in Seaview North Shipyard. Work completed by Dave Hartford. Photo: Dan Tucker

Hullwork – September 2025

The fall is shaping up to be full of events, and August was busy as we set about post-processing our first-ever pre-apprenticeship program, and our upcoming fall event line up.
 
Tasks this month included:

1. Connecting with Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell’s office in preparation for potential visits with our commercial fishermen in the early Spring. Stay tuned, if you’re a commercial fisherman – our state leadership wants to hear from you directly, and we’ll be providing and hosting space for those meetings.
2. Connecting with our Port Commissioner Candidates – we have an upcoming candidate forum and pamphlet going out soon that will highlight the Port Commissioner candidates running for District 1 and 2 for Port of Bellingham.
3. We’ve also published a pro/con one-page sheet on expanding the Bellingham port commission so that discussions can see both sides of the current proposal going to ballot in November. You can find it in our most recent On the Waterfront.
4. Coordinating with Bellingham SeaFeast – We’re helping to host a fundraiser workshop, as well as helping to coordinate the festival for our commercial fishermen to be showcased at the sawtooth docks during the event. Are you a commercial fisherman who wants to have your boat on show at the sawtooth during SeaFeast? Reach out to our staff *asap*.
5. We also helped market the brand-new LFS Squalicum Block Party event this summer, and hosted the debrief of it for planning more fun, and more hotdogs, for next year!
6. We compiled and printed our fall edition of On the Waterfront, our tri-yearly print newsletter. Look for it all around the harbor!
7. We continue to track impacts from trade policy changes and discussions. Please continue to provide your input via the link HERE
8. Continued working with Port of Bellingham on an upcoming working-waterfront highlight project. Stay tuned for details, but we’re very proud to be working on this public-facing project that showcases our working waterfronts.

Overall, August was full of pre-event planning and setting the groundwork for future lobbying and advocacy efforts centered around further protections for our seaports and marine industrial lands. We’ll have more information at the end of next month on that effort.
 
There are many events to keep track of, as well, this fall. We invite all of our membership to attend these events with us, and help us promote the economic vitality and benefits of our working waterfronts:
 

1. Wooden Boat Festival - Sept 5-7 - Port Townsend

• Experience the craft and beauty of wooden boats at North America's largest wooden boat festival! Learn from experts, and create unforgettable memories with your family at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. 
• The Coalition will host a booth all weekend, stop by and say hello!
  

 2. Pinks to the People - Sat. Sept. 6 - Bellingham Dockside Market

• During September's Eat Local Month, celebrate the large Pink salmon run in the Salish Sea. Pink salmon are delicious, nutritious, and tend to be more affordable than other species of salmon. Think pink! Come down, learn how to fillet these salmon and how to cook easy menu ideas for your family!
   
  

 3. Slammin' Salmon Social - Sept 14 - Bellingham

• FREE, family-friendly celebration as Northline Seafoods and Bellingham SeaFeast welcomes Puget Sound pink salmon, Northline Seafoods' vessel, the Hannah, and salmon processing back to Fairhaven's docks!
• The Coalition will host at booth at the event, stop by and say hello!

 4. Bellingham SeaFeast - Sept 27-28 - Bellingham

• Visit Squalicum Harbor to celebrate our local seafood, maritime heritage and culture, and rich tapestry of arts in Whatcom County with this unique and delicious waterfront festival!
• The Coalition will host a booth both days of the event, and has helped plan and coordinate the sawtooth docks fishermen activities.

5. Blaine Oysterfest - Oct 11 - Blaine

• Don’t Miss the Food, Fun, and Festivities by the Sea on October 11th in Downtown Blaine! Get ready to experience the ultimate family-friendly celebration at the OysterFest & Seaside Bash in Blaine--by-the-Sea. This vibrant event welcomes guests from both sides of the border for a weekend packed with laughter, community, connection, and seaside fun.
• The Coalition will have a booth – stop by and say hello!

6. One-Ocean Week - Oct 20-26 - Seattle

• One Ocean Week Seattle is a region-wide, international gathering of ocean leaders, innovators, researchers, startups, policymakers, artists, educators, and communities to accelerate solutions for a sustainable, inclusive maritime future.
• The Coalition will be featured in a presentation on Port/Community collaboration, and connected local Bellingham trades stakeholders to participate in other working waterfront discussions that week.
  
  

7. Pacific Marine Expo - Nov 20-22 - Seattle

• Explore the latest gear, technology, and education for our commercial maritime and seafood industries at the annual expo in Seattle. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors, free educational workshops, and key industry panel discussions.
• The Coalition will be visiting the Expo again this year to meet new companies who may be eligible for our Health Trust and to promote our shared working waterfront vision with our friends and colleagues from all over the state.

I hope all of our members reading this have a fantastic close of summer and beginning of fall. I hope to see you all at some of these upcoming events!

Dan Tucker
Executive Director
Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition