The Massachusetts Port Authority Board (Massport) last week approved $2.2 million to replace the fenders on Boston's historic Fish Pier. The new fenders will be installed along the edge of the pier and are necessary to protect fishing vessels that land at the Fish Pier as well as to attract more vessels to the pier.

These infrastructure improvements are important to the fishing vessels who regularly use the Boston Fish Pier, said Mike Leone, Massport's director of the port. And, as the fishing industry grows, so too does the opportunity for increased landings in Boston. This new fender system will provide additional space to accommodate more vessels to offload their catch in Boston.

The fender improvements will help to modernize Boston, making it more attractive to vessel owners and competitive with neighboring ports such as New Bedford and Gloucester.

Massport has been meeting with stakeholders in the fishing industry in support of a revitalized commercial fishing industry on the waterfront. Massport recently held a town meeting for fishermen, vessel owners, processors and other interested parties to discuss policies. The Boston Fish Pier is the oldest working fish pier in the country.

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