Lummi Nation’s tribal fishing fleet is set to receive a new pier and docking equipment to support treaty fishing operations for salmon, halibut, crab and other shellfish.
The tribe was awarded nearly $11 million in federal funding in November for the coming upgrades, called the Fisherman’s Cove Dock Replacement Project. The project includes demolition and replacement of a pier at Lummi’s Fisherman’s Cove Marina, as well as installation of a new electric lift and four cranes.
The funding is part of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law package distributed through the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program.
Lummi Chairman Anthony Hillaire said the Fishermen’s Cove infrastructure upgrades will directly support Lummi fishers and improve their continued access to the Salish Sea.
“This project not only safeguards our fishing practices but also aligns with our values of protecting and sustaining the natural resources that support our way of life,” Hillaire said.
The current pier is inadequate for serving Lummi’s 450-plus fishing boats—regarded as the largest tribal fleet in the world.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-WA, who helped secure the federal funding for the pier replacement project, said the new Fisherman’s Cove infrastructure will be equipped for larger vessels and will add rail access so that fishers can more easily move their catches from the waterfront to market.
Above: The Lummi Island ferry dock and neighboring piers are seen from across Fisherman’s Cove along the Lummi Reservation. Lummi Nation will soon replace its infrastructure adjacent to the ferry dock in order to better support its tribal fishing fleet. Photo and story by Kimberly Cauvel.
