About Us
Trusted by seafood buyers and sellers across New Bedford, Southern New England and Boston. Learn more about us.
What is BASE?
The Buyers and Sellers Exchange (BASE) is a family-run electronic seafood auction based in New Bedford, Massachusetts—home to one of the most lucrative fishing ports in the United States.
Built to bring transparency to a once-opaque process, BASE connects seafood buyers and sellers through a structured, secure platform. Inspired by European auction models, particularly those in Iceland, our system combines accountability on the ground with digital efficiency. We run two auctions each weekday, offering scallops, groundfish and more—clearly displayed, tightly organized and fairly priced.
Over nearly three decades, BASE has helped shape a more reliable, equitable seafood market—giving everyone in the chain a fair shot.
Our History
In the early 1990s, New Bedford’s seafood market was unpredictable and disorganized. Transactions happened behind closed doors, with little structure or oversight. Fishermen were getting shorted. Buyers had no guarantees. And no one had a clear view of the full catch.
In 1994, Raymond and Richard Canastra stepped in to change that—founding the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction, now known as BASE. By 1997, they launched North America’s first electronic seafood auction, inspired by European models and built for fairness. The system allowed buyers from across the region to log in and bid in real time—bringing transparency back to the port.
Today, BASE remains a steady force in the industry. Now under the leadership of Cassie Canastra Larsen, the next generation continues to strengthen the auction’s role in New Bedford and beyond—honoring the family’s original vision while navigating the future with clarity and purpose.
SCALLOP AUCTION
Just three hours later, at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, we kick off our scallop auction. Like our fish auction, scallops are displayed in the cooler ahead of time and organized by count size to keep the process clear and the quality consistent.
FISH AUCTION
At BASE, the day starts early. Our electronic fish auction kicks off at 6 a.m., Monday through Friday. And before bidding begins, product is displayed in our cooler in lots ranging from 100 to 1,500 pounds—all organized by species and size for a clear, consistent sale.