The fishing docks of New Bedford, Massachusetts, are a little quieter these days. Lars Vinjerud II, the founder and chief executive of Fleet Fisheries, has passed away, leaving behind a community that is still coming to terms with the loss of one of its most influential and beloved figures.
From a single fishing vessel in the 1980s to one of the most recognized commercial fishing operations on the East Coast, Vinjerud built something that few people in the industry ever manage to achieve, and he did it with a work ethic and personal warmth that earned him respect far beyond the harbor walls.
His story began the way many great ones do, with a single bet on himself. Starting with one boat, Vinjerud slowly and deliberately expanded Fleet Fisheries over several decades until the operation grew to include more than 25 modern vessels.
Those boats, built from steel and measuring between 70 and 90 feet long, became a staple of the New Bedford waterfront. Well-maintained and regularly updated, they reflected the standards he held himself and his crews to throughout his career. The fleet covered scallop harvesting, long line fishing, and, in later years, Area 3 offshore lobster operations.
The American Eagle, the newest vessel added to the Fleet Fisheries lineup, was constructed in 2024 and represented his continued commitment to growing and modernizing the business even in his final chapter.
Scallop lovers across the country likely ate seafood pulled from the ocean by one of his boats at some point without ever knowing it. His reach into the national seafood supply was that significant.
But Vinjerud never stopped at just catching fish. He built a seafood market, a marina, and a restaurant, expanding his footprint across New Bedford and into Fairhaven and helping anchor the waterfront economy that the region depends on.
He also made his mark as an innovator, developing safer techniques for hoisting and offloading the heavy drags of scallops that his crews worked with daily, improving conditions for fishermen across the fleet.
The Man Behind the Fleet
Those who knew Lars Vinjerud II outside of business will tell you that the boats and the buildings were only part of his story.
He was a man who picked up the phone when a friend was hurting. Phillip Torrey, a longtime friend who first met Vinjerud through mutual connections, described a bond rooted in a shared love of English Bulldogs.
The two would call each other without hesitation when either lost one of their dogs, a small gesture that spoke volumes about the kind of person Vinjerud was. He paid attention to people. He remembered what they cared about and showed up for them when it counted.
The New Bedford Port Society honored his memory by highlighting his generous support of local organizations, including his contributions to the restoration of the historic Seamen’s Bethel.
Port Society President Phil Oliveira called him a respected leader whose impact on the fishing industry and on individual lives would endure long after his passing. New Bedford has lost a builder, a pioneer, and a genuinely good man.
