Waterfront Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Waterfront Wednesday News
November 26, 2025
Katie Hinton with Bellingham Pasta Co, and Kevin Coleman, Director of Bellingham Seafeast, showcase a Clam Linguine dish. Photo: Bellingham Seafeast
Have a seafood Thanksgiving
The holiday season is coming up and we're fortunate to live in a region that is rich with good seafood to feast upon. Do you need ideas for your upcoming family and friend gatherings?
Kevin Coleman and Bellingham Seafeast have you covered! Scallops, halibut, oysters, salmon - if you have a particular seafood you enjoy, there's a recipe for it that will offer a great alternative to turkey, and highlight our uniquely delicious region.
Featuring local chefs, local restaurants, and their favorite recipes, check out Keep It Simple Seafood on the Bellingham Seafeast website, via the link below.
We hope all of our waterfront community and members have a fantastic holiday this week. If you have one of these recipes at your gathering, let us know what is at your table for the holiday on our Facebook page.
Wave & tidal power have
fishermen concerned
Harnessing the power of tidal forces may seem like a moon-shot to some, but technology is advancing in the field of both tidal and wave power, which has some fishermen concerned over the impacts to commercial fishing grounds, safety at sea systems, and lack of available information.
Read more about what fishermen need to know of these new technologies via the National Fisherman article below:
King Tides in Squalicum Harbor. Tidal energy technology aims to harness the power of tides. Photo: Deb Granger
Image: Glosten
Glosten unveils carbon-fiber
all-electric ferry
Glosten, a Seattle-based firm, recently revealed a new all-electric 75-passenger ferry with a carbon-fiber hull that reduces energy use, resists corrosion, and simplifies the layout of systems onboard.
The ferry will have ability to swap battery systems out easily to meet operator's needs, and highlights an example of maritime manufacturing adapting to new innovations and processes.
Developing in a time of new fuels, new hulls, and Bellingham's own All-American Marine with their innovative vessels and electric systems as well, it is a time to be excited about the future of maritime technology.
You may read a bit more about the carbon-fiber ferry below:
Celebrate collaboration with 'Collaborator Brew' at Menace
Join Seafood Producer's Cooperative, Alaskan Gold Seafoods, the Working Waterfront Coalition and our good friends at Menace Brewing in Bellingham for a special release of 'The Collaborator', a joint brewing between Seafood Producer's Cooperative and Menace Brewing!
Happening
December 6th, from 3-6pm, with live music from the Monk Slippers starting at 4pm.
Proceeds from the launch party will benefit the Working Waterfront Coalition and the collaboration of our waterfront in all the projects we see happening upon it.
Come raise a glass to what we build and brew together!
Jim Johannessen on site. Photo: Community Boating Center
Tide Talk:
Coastal Beach Restoration
in Bellingham Bay & Beyond
Jim Johannessen, coastal engineering geologist and member of the CBC board, will summarize how Bellingham Bay’s coastal ecosystems have changed since early settlement and review major restoration and enhancement projects completed in recent decades.
He’ll highlight early Puget Sound restoration examples, discuss project goals and design challenges, and provide a brief history of the former GP waterfront site.
Before-during-after images of key waterfront parks—Little Squalicum Estuary, Waypoint, Boulevard, Marine Park, and others—will be shown, along with plans for the upcoming Salish Landing Park at the former Bellingham landfill and RJ Haley wood-treatment site.
Tide Talk: Coastal Beach Restoration
December 9th, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Community Boating Center
555 Harris Avenue, Bellingham
New Seafood Liaison at USDA
As part of the legislation to reopen the government, lawmakers were able to add a few additional provisions through a last-minute Senate amendment—and included a major priority for the U.S. seafood industry: establishing a new seafood liaison position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The liaison would support domestically harvested and processed seafood and coordinate efforts across USDA, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
I & J Waterway cleanup site. (Photo: Port of Bellingham)
Ecology clean up progresses
at I & J Waterway
[Dept of Ecology] Cleanup construction at the I & J Waterway site is moving forward. The dredging of contaminated sediment is now complete. Installing new piles and building a new dock are underway. Pile driving will take place between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., so you may hear noise during these hours. The construction is on schedule to be completed by February 2026.
If you have any questions about the I&J Waterway cleanup site or the Bellingham Bay cleanup, please feel free to reach out to the Dept. of Ecology, with email kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov or call 425-240-4353
Photography workshop
with M/V David B
There are still spots available to join M/V David B next week for their preview of the photography workshops they have scheduled on the boat for 2026. Join Jeffrey and Christine along with their instructors John and Alan, as they share the different types of Photography workshops that they offer in Alaska, Glacier Bay and the San Juan Islands.
It is a chance for you to ask your questions of the instructors and crew in a live Zoom event. But even if you can't join them that evening, feel free to register and they can send you the replay.
Zoom Event Details
Date: Wednesday, December 3rd
Time: 5pm PT/6pm MT/7pm CT/8pm ET
RSVP: email for the Zoom link invitation - Sarah@northwestnavigation.com
Brown Bears at Pack Creek - photo by Alan Sanders
Port Commission Meetings
Port Commissioners Open Meetings are held at the Port Admin Offices and are open to the public. Check the Agenda Center (Linked on each meeting time below) for posted agendas. Agendas typically get posted a week in advance of the scheduled meeting. Two periods of public comment occur each meeting before and after the agenda items, as well as special public hearings as designated on the agendas.
Location: Port Admin Offices, 1801 Roeder Ave, Bellingham
Port of Bellingham Agenda Center (check here for updated agendas)
Upcoming Meetings:
Dec 9th - Board of Commissioner's Special Public Hearing - Redistricting
Dec 16th - Board of Commissioners Open Public Meeting
Past Meeting Information
YouTube Link:
Nov 18 - Board of Commissioner's Open Public Meeting
Recent Minutes Posted:
Nov 4 - Board of Commissioner's Minutes
Want to get the highlights from each meeting on our maritime trades and marine-related topics? Join the Coalition as a member to get access to Commissioner meeting briefs, available on the member page of our website! Join us and add your voice to the waterfront discussion HERE.
Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events
Waterfront Events:
Dec 6-7th - Bellingham Cruise Terminal
The Port of Bellingham celebrates another year of Holiday Port at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal with performances by over 30 local bands, orchestras, choirs and performance groups and includes more than 700 performers. The festival includes visits and photos with Santa Claus, as well as the annual Gingerbread Contest.
Dec. 4-8, Westport, WA
The Washington Fishermen’s Convention aims to unify and celebrate our state’s fishing industry, with something to offer everyone in the community. The Convention will be an up-to five-day learning and networking opportunity for both new and experienced fishermen.
Tide Talk: Coastal Beach Restoration
Dec. 9, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Community Boating Center B'ham
Jim Johannessen will summarize how Bellingham Bay’s coastal ecosystems have changed since early settlement and review major restoration and enhancement projects completed in recent decades. He’ll highlight early Puget Sound restoration examples, discuss project goals and design challenges, and provide a brief history of the former GP waterfront site. Before-during-after images of key waterfront parks—Little Squalicum Estuary, Waypoint, Boulevard, Marine Park, and others—will be shown, along with plans for the upcoming Salish Landing Park at the former Bellingham landfill and RJ Haley wood-treatment site.
Coalition Events:
Are You Hiring? Use the Coalition Job Board
The Coalition's
Job Board is free, contactless, and easy! We designed this board for our commercial fishermen, marine trades industries and other waterfront jobs in mind, to act as a digital bulletin board for crew positions, contract hires, or regular employee spots that you want to have a digital space for.
If you have any questions on using it, reach out to our staff, info@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org. To submit a job posting, use the link below:
Affordable Health Benefits
for Statewide Maritime Companies
The Working Waterfront Health Trust provides affordable pooled insurance health plans for qualifying marine-trades businesses -
state-wide. The Trust launched two years ago, has grown steadily each year and provides a range of health plans to consider through Premera Blue Cross.
If you'd like to know more about the Health Trust, contact your insurance broker today and ask them about the Working Waterfront Health Trust. Fall is the peak time to meet with your broker to discuss options for your employees for 2025.
This newsletter sponsored by:
Alta-Gas
Premera
Copyright 2025 Waterfront Wednesdays by Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition
Waterfront Wednesday is a publication
of the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition.
www.whatcomworkingwaterfront.org
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