In History’s Wake exhibit
May 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will open “In History’s Wake” on May 14, a new installation tracing the lasting effect of the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act on the commercial fishing industry. The exhibit will remain on display through spring 2027.
The landmark law established a 200-mile fishing limit and prohibited foreign factory ships from entering U.S. waters. It is reshaping the fishing industry and the regulations that still guide it today. The presentation focuses on how those changes affected relationships among fishermen, government agencies, scientists, and environmental activists on New Bedford’s waterfront.
Displays also highlight the role local fishermen played in pushing for the 200-mile limit and how today’s fishing community continues to speak out on regulations, environmental issues, and management decisions.
A free opening reception will be held during AHA! Night from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on May 14. Related programming throughout the year will include panel discussions, talks, and film screenings.
