Paul Nosworthy
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Laura Orleans
Paul Nosworthy, a retired shoreside business owner from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, possesses a wealth of maritime knowledge and experience. His career began with boat repairs and sailing on tall ships like Westward, Pride of Baltimore, and Clearwater. With a foundation in diesel mechanics, he established New England Marine Engineering, specializing in industrial refrigeration and electrical repairs for New Bedford's fishing fleet.
Scope and Content Note
In an interview with Marilyn Belmore on September 27, 2009, during the Working Waterfront Festival in New Bedford, Nosworthy shares insights into his career and the fishing industry. He recounts offshore fishing adventures, close calls at sea, and stormy weather experiences. Nosworthy discusses workplace dynamics, learning the trade, and his involvement in boat buyback initiatives. He highlights the importance of regulations, contrasting scalloping with groundfishing, and addressing pollution concerns, including an outfall pipe in Boston Harbor. Refrigeration emerged as a pivotal topic, with Nosworthy emphasizing the significance of proper icing on swordfish boats and discussing refrigeration systems on clam and herring vessels. He expresses concerns about climate change's impact on sea water temperature, affecting both refrigeration systems and marine life. Throughout the interview, Nosworthy underscores the fishing industry's vital role in the local economy and discusses challenges related to waterfront development. He emphasizes the value of involving fishermen in regulatory processes. A tugboat symbolizes his company's support for the fishing industry, embodying his values of respect and humility. Finally, Paul reflects on the interconnectedness of the industry and the significance of the Working Waterfront Festival.
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