In the Bendiksen family kitchen, framed photos of the fishing boats they have owned hang on the wall. For Captain Reidar Bendiksen and his wife, Kirsten, these boats are like family members.

The most cherished memories of the Bendiksens’ lives — the day they first met, the births of their children — are deeply intertwined with the fishing industry.

Over the centuries, generations of fishermen and their families have passed down sea stories, weaving them into the rich tapestry of New Bedford’s history. The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has been at the forefront of preserving the fishing industry’s past, present, and future through exhibits, programs, and archives.

In collaboration with the Fishing Heritage Center, The Light introduces “Sea Stories,” a collection of testimonies from individuals in the fishing industry who have enriched New Bedford’s cultural heritage through their experiences.

Email multimedia reporter Eleonora Bianchi at ebianchi@newbedfordlight.org