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In fishing, hauling back is the process of retrieving fishing gear from the water after it is deployed. And just as fishermen haul back their nets to bring in the catch, so too do fishing families pull knowledge and skills from the past to share with future generations.
While many of the families featured in this project are not located in New Bedford, all of the families share a connection to the commercial fishing industry and the working waterfront. Those waterfront legacies are still alive to this day.
Turk’s Seafood in Mattapoisett was established as Big Turk’s Seafood Market in 1983 by Richard “Turk” Pasquill, his wife Judith, and his son Richie. In 1989, Turk’s moved to its current location on Route 6 in Mattapoisett. Since then, the business has continued to grow from a small, family-owned seafood counter into a full-fledged seafood market, restaurant, and sushi bar with a staff of 80. Richie is in the process of passing the business and its traditions to the next generation, his cousin Kaylen and her husband Aaron.
Over the years, Turk’s has never forgotten its ties to the New Bedford waterfront. Both Richard and his son Richie worked on the docks, unloading fishing vessels when they returned to port. Richie carries on the tradition today, traveling to New Bedford’s seafood auction several times a week in order to provide fresh, locally caught product for his customers.
Turk’s founder Richard “Turk” Pasquill (pictured left) worked on the New Bedford waterfront as a lumper, unloading fishing vessels of their cargo when they returned to port and filling their fish pens with ice.
Turk’s remains proudly family owned. Richie’s cousin Kaylen and her husband Aaron both work at Turk’s and are primed to take over the business when Richie retires.
More Family stories coming soon!
