[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10981-10982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      MAYOR'S PROFESSIONAL MARINERS AWARDS AWARDED ON JUNE 9, 2010

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                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2010

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, the Mayor's Professional 
Mariners Award is sponsored by the City of New Bedford, Professional 
Mariner Magazine and Commercial Marine Expo. This award honors an 
individual or organization who has made a significant contribution to 
the marine industry. This year's award recipients are Harriet 
Didriksen, Martin S. Manley and Howard W. Nickerson.

                  Mayor's Professional Mariners Awards


                           Harriet Didriksen

       Harriet Didriksen is constantly fighting for fishing 
     families, the fishing way of life, and the American dream. 
     She steadfastly attends New England Fisheries Management 
     Council meetings from Connecticut to Maine, and never misses 
     a gathering where she can help fishermen oppose government 
     bureaucrats' undue interference. She is a regular at hearings 
     in Washington--which she attends at her own expense--and is a 
     tireless advocate.
       Harriet owns the F/V Settler. She owned the F/V Bagatell, 
     which is now an educational vessel at Stony Brook University. 
     She is owner and operator of New Bedford Ship Supply, one of 
     the oldest ship chandleries on the East Coast.
       Mrs. Didriksen's father dragged in the winter and scalloped 
     in the summer. He emigrated from Norway to Brooklyn and moved 
     to New Bedford to be closer to George's Bank. Her uncles were 
     also fishermen. Her brother is a shore-side business and 
     vessel owner. She is the mother of two.
       New England fishermen are fortunate to have her on their 
     side.


                            Martin S. Manley

       The late Capt. Martin ``Marty'' Manley was a commercial 
     fisherman for 38 years, and

[[Page 10982]]

     at the age of just 19, was one of the youngest skippers out 
     of the Port of New Bedford.
       Captain Manley was a tireless advocate for the commercial 
     scallop fishing industry. He was recognized as an industry 
     leader and received numerous awards and accolades, including 
     Helmsman of the Year from the Port of Gloucester. He was a 
     member and former President of the Offshore Mariners 
     Association.
       During his career, he owned and operated several scallopers 
     along the eastern seaboard, the last being the F/V Mary Anne, 
     which he designed, built, and operated with great pride. He 
     served as the director of the City of New Bedford Harbor 
     Development Commission, and later served as manager of the 
     Popes Island Marina until his retirement in 2007. The 
     building of that marina was one of his life's 
     accomplishments.
       He served as a member of the New Bedford Redevelopment 
     Authority and the Economic Development Commission.


                          Howard W. Nickerson

       The late Howard Nickerson watched over the New Bedford 
     waterfront for 65 years. He began his career as a young man, 
     tub trawling in a sailing vessel, moving to commercial 
     fishing on George's Bank as vessel engineer. Through the 
     decades, Mr. Nickerson participated in the industry from 
     every angle, as a fisherman, representing fishermen, seafood 
     dealers, seafood workers, boat owners and directing state and 
     municipal agencies, always fighting for fairer regulations.
       He served as head of the Harbor Development Commission, the 
     State Pier, the Seafood Dealers Association, the Seafood 
     Workers Health-Pension Fund, the New England Fisheries 
     Steering Committee and the Offshore Mariners Association.
       A strong advocate of seafood marketing, Mr. Nickerson was 
     involved in organizing the New Bedford Seafood Council and 
     the New Bedford Scallop Festival in the 1950s and '60s, which 
     helped build the market demand that allowed the scallop to 
     become the port's cash leader.

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