The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has installed a striking new landmark in the heart of the City's Seaport Historic District. Catch the Tradition captures the spirit and enduring legacy of New Bedford, the nation’s most valuable fishing port, and invites visitors to explore the story of commercial fishing, one of the world’s oldest industries, through the Fishing Heritage Center. The public is invited to attend an official unveiling and dedication of the installation on Thursday, September 12 (AHA Night) at 6:00 PM. 

Catch the Tradition features an authentic fishing net draped across the entire facade of a historic building at 38 Bethel Street and seven massive documentary images ranging in size, with the largest being 17 feet tall. The images, captured by four emerging and established local photographers (Shareen Davis, Phil Mello, Leia Onofrey, and Peter Pereira), provide a window into the lives of those who work to bring seafood from boat to table. 

The net and frames were designed and fabricated by Reidar’s Trawl Gear & Marine Supply in collaboration with local creative producer Matt Moyer Bell, who conceptualized the project to bring visibility to the often unseen world of commercial fishing and connect people to the fascinating story told by the Fishing Heritage Center.

Catch the Tradition is supported by New Bedford Creative, a Storefront Improvement Grant from the City of New Bedford, LaFrance Hospitality, and BayCoast Bank. Reidar’s Trawl Gear & Marine Supply donated the labor and materials to produce the net and frames, making this project possible. 

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is at 38 Bethel Street in New Bedford’s Seaport Historic District. It is dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of the fishing community's past, present, and future.