Lobster Days and More at New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center (38 Bethel St.) has a full slate of programs, films and fun scheduled for February and March, and all of them are free to the public.

Joe Ritter, the center's programs manager, stopped by Townsquare Sunday this week to give us a rundown.

A popular program for children returns during the February school vacation. Lobster Days will run Feb. 22 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. "It's our favorite time of the year," says Ritter. "February vacation week is when we always try to look at one of New England's favorite crustaceans, the lobster."

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Ritter says participants will meet local lobstermen, take part in kid-friendly art projects, science demos and much more.

Another highlight in February is the Center's Dock-u-mentary films, shown at the National Park's Corson Theater Building on William Street. On Feb.16 at 7 p.m., "Sustaining Sea Scallops," a film produced in 2016 by thkj-e Coonamessett Farm Foundation, will be shown.

Ritter says the film highlights how scientists and scallop fishermen along the East Coast worked together to ensure the survival of the Atlantic sea scallops.  "The work done by several groups, including SMAST (UMass Dartmouth's School of Marine Science and Technology) is highlighted in the film, along with local scallop fishermen," says Ritter. "Fishermen are conservationists, and will do they can to preserve the fishery. If that goes away, they're out of business."

Highlights in March include Unusual Catch Day on Saturday, March 2nd from 1-4 pm.  Fishermen are encouraged to drop by with their "unusual catches" and maritime archeologists will be on hand to analyze their finds.

On Thursday, March 14th at 6 pm, the Center will feature a panel presentation about Herstory, an ongoing oral history project highlighting women in all aspects of the New Bedford fishing industry.

Again, all programs at the Fishing Heritage Center are free and open to the public.

Townsquare Sunday is a weekly community affairs program heard every Sunday morning at 6 and 11 a.m. on 1420 WBSM and 99.5 FM, and at 6 a.m. on Fun107.

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