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Formed in 1969, the GFWA is a non-profit organization
which promotes the New England fishing industry,
helps preserve the Atlantic Ocean as a food supply
for the world, and assists active and retired fishermen
and their families live better lives.
GFWA has become a strong voice expressing the
concerns of the fishing industry at local, regional,
national and international levels.
- Promoted enactment and reauthorization of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management
Act (200-mile limit)
- Advocated new laws to stop ocean dumping
- Advocated fair and equal regulations for all
fishermen at the New England Fisheries Management
Council for 26 years
- Sponsored an international conference for fisherwomen
and fishermen’s wives
- Supported establishment of the Stellwagen Bank
Marine Sanctuary
- Undertook joint projects with fishermen and
scientists to bring their worlds together
- Fought oil drilling on Georges Bank, both in
the U.S. and Canada, and won
- Advocated legislation banning factory trawlers
in the U.S.
- Stopped the placing of a tire reef outside
Gloucester harbor
- Erected and dedicated in August 2001 a 12-foot
high monument to memorialize the faith, diligence,
and fortitude of the wives of fishermen and mariners
everywhere.
GFWA is making a difference. Partnerships are
the key.
- Helped organize fishermen's wives groups in
Alaska, England and Cape Cod
- Provided administrative support to the Gloucester
Fishermen's Association
- Convened the Vision 2020 community planning
process which resulted in a plan of action for
the Port of Gloucester
- Helped found the Massachusetts Fishermen’s
Partnership
- Became the U.S. East Coast representative to
the World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers
- Assisted eastern Canadian fishing communities
in advocacy activities to protect their fishing
industry.
Education and Economics are high priorities with
GFWA.
- Established the Mentor Program to inspire new
career choices for young people
- Published The Taste of Gloucester
cookbook to promote the use of all species of
fish (over 100,000 copies sold)
- Collected an oral history of where Gloucester
boats caught fish and entered this information
into a Geographical Information System (GIS)
database
- Worked with the Massachusetts Fishermen’s
Partnership to create the Fishermen’s Partnership
Health Plan
- Promoted safety training in partnership with
the U.S. Coast Guard
- Provided scholarships for higher education
for children of fishing families
- Submitted, upon request, archival material
for storage at the Schleslinger Library at Harvard
- Created a narrative quilt honoring the history
and faith of the fishing industry and celebrating
its future
- GFWA commissioned the production of the video,
Faith, Diligence and Fortitude,
which tells the story of the GFWA and its incredible
journey of political and social activism
- Initiated the request for funding from the
Dept. of Labor to establish 3 fishermen’s
centers in Massachusetts for retraining and employment
services for fishermen and their families
GFWA's future visions, objectives and goals are
clear. GFWA is:
- establishing an emergency assistance fund to
aid families whose fishermen have perished at
sea
- creating an environmental protection fund to
support research for the continued protection
of the marine environment
- forming an educational program fund to increase
public awareness of fishery issues, scholarships
for fishermen children and exchange programs
among fishing communities worldwide
- assessing, promoting and marketing common and
less used fish species
- in the process of writing a book of short stories
about the lives and experiences of fishermen's
wives
GFWA will continue to be a strong advocate for regulations
which ensure a healthy ocean and healthy fishing
communities in Gloucester and around the world.
Senator Edward Kennedy, in a letter to Angela
Sanfilippo, President of the GFWA, wrote in
part:
"You and the members of the Gloucester Fishermen's
Wives Association should be very proud of your
years of hard work and dedication to the causes
we share."
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