Early in February, Monique and Emerson attended the National Working Waterfront Network conference in San Diego. (I wish we could say sunny San Diego, but alas, the weather was rather gloomy and cold.)
While Emerson was able to attend some intriguing panels, Monique was busy presenting in five different sessions.
But before the conference kicked off, attendees were able to attend a field trip around San Diego's working waterfront. This, for Monique, was a highlight of the trip. Conference attendees visited the working waterfront adjacent to The Fish Market restaurant where, interestingly, a Northern-style Novi boat sat proudly tied up to a pier. After listening to Peter Halmay and another fisherman talk about working waterfront challenges, the group went to Driscoll Wharf where Tommy Gomes, The Fishmonger, shared stories of owning a seafood market — and sampled a thresher shark sausage.
Then the conference really got going. On the first day, Monique spoke on the plenary panel, sharing insights on the working waterfront from the perspective of a fisherman's wife. She also joined a panel discussing the January storms with colleagues from Maine, another with Jessica Joyce of Tidal Bay Consulting about current-use taxation, and a panel with NOAA where she spoke about discreet working waterfronts. On the second day, Monique participated in her final panel, where she joined industry advocates from across the country to discuss workforce development and the next generation of the fishing industry.
Emerson attended sessions covering a wide array of topics, scales, and geographies, all underscoring the importance of the working waterfront in each distinct community.
Emerson learned about collecting oral histories of fishermen and their vessels off the coast of Georgia, mapping the working landscape on Virginia's disappearing Tangier Island, documenting the challenges commercial fishermen in Florida face in preserving access to working waterfronts, leveraging local knowledge to create better local economic data closer to home in Maine — and so much more!
On the final day, Emerson worked with Stephanie Sun from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to guide conference attendees through "Planning Forward: Working Waterfronts," a scenario-based climate resilience and adaptation planning exercise. In this interactive session, participants contributed their unique community contexts, reflected on shared histories and values, and developed priority actions to respond to the given scenarios.
The National Working Waterfront Network conference provided a valuable opportunity for Monique and Emerson to connect with advocates, researchers, and industry leaders from across the country. From thought-provoking panels to immersive field trips, the week underscored the shared challenges and opportunities facing working waterfronts nationwide. Whether discussing policy solutions, workforce development, or the impacts of climate change, the conversations made one thing clear: protecting and sustaining these vital coastal spaces requires collaboration, innovation, and a deep respect for the communities that depend on them.
You can read more about the conference from National Fisherman — Keeping working waterfronts afloat: NWWN conference.
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