Dan Whittle was born on October 10, 1962, in Glasgow, Kentucky. He grew up in a small farming town in western Kentucky named Ridgefield. After his parents divorced when he was in third grade, he moved to New England, New Hampshire, where he spent the school year in Manchester and the summers on their farm in Kentucky. Whittle attended Manchester public schools and later decided to go back South for college. He attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Richard "Dick" Brame was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, but grew up in eastern North Carolina. He has a long history of working for not-for-profit organizations, including the Izaak Walton League, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation, and the Coastal Conservation Association (C.C.A.). Brame joined the C.C.A. in 1989 and served as its first Executive Director until 1999. He then transitioned to the role of Fisheries Director, representing the C.C.A. at Atlantic States and South Atlantic council meetings.

B.J. Copeland, born on November 20th, 1936, in a country home near Mannsville, has had a significant impact on the fisheries of North Carolina. He has an extensive educational background and has served in the Zoology Department at North Carolina State University. Copeland was initially appointed to the Marine Fisheries Commission in the 1980s under Governor James G. "Jim" Martin's "Egghead Commissions." Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous public hearings and has worked to foster communication and interaction between different stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

Mac Currin, born in 1950 in Henderson, North Carolina, has had a diverse professional background, primarily centered around marine biology and fisheries. After completing his undergraduate studies, he began his career as a school teacher before transitioning to a research role at N.C. State University, where he worked with Dr. John Miller for approximately 16-17 years. During this time, he also earned his Master's degree. Currin's work focused primarily on research related to small marine fish.

Jess Hawkins is a seasoned Marine Biologist who has dedicated his career to the management and conservation of marine fisheries. Born and raised in Bath, North Carolina, Hawkins developed a love for the outdoors, fishing, and hunting from a young age. This passion led him to pursue a career in marine biology. Hawkins began his career as a Fisheries Biologist with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, initially working as a Field Biologist in Little Washington before transitioning to an administrative role in Morehead City.

Robert Lucas, former Chairman of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission led efforts to pass the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act. In this oral history, Lucas discusses his law career and how he became involved in fisheries issues in the mid-1990's. He provides insight into how the law was shaped through public meetings and negotiation with stakeholders.

Pam Davis Morris was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1962. Her father was an engineer and her mother was a medical technician. The family moved to Beaufort, North Carolina when she was five years old, and later, Smyrna, North Carolina. Morris began her career in the seafood industry at a young age, working at a fish house and heading shrimp when she was just fifteen. She attended college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned degrees in Art and Art Education.

Beverly Perdue is a prominent figure in North Carolina politics, having served as the state's Governor. She has been actively involved in various legislative initiatives, particularly those related to fisheries and environmental issues. Perdue's political career began with her interest in the Democratic Party and her first experiences with politicians in Raleigh. Throughout her career, she has been involved in numerous coastal-related legislations, including the Fisheries Reform Act, which she describes as 'consensus legislation'.

Willy Phillips is a seasoned professional in the commercial fishing industry, with a particular focus on crabbing. He has spent a significant portion of his life in fish houses and has been deeply involved in fisheries legislation. Phillips has been an advocate for the crab fishery and has worked towards the development of a crab management plan. He has also been a vocal critic of the commercial fishing industry, proposing a complete shutdown and rebuild of the industry in North Carolina.

Sandy Semans Ross is a retired newspaper editor and freelance writer who has a deep connection with the coastal communities and seafood industry. Born in a coal mining town in West Virginia, Ross moved to coastal communities due to her father's Navy service, where she developed a love for seafood. Ross's professional career includes working as a newspaper editor and doing freelance work for various publications. She is also the Executive Director of Outer Banks Catch, an organization dedicated to promoting locally caught seafood and supporting the local fishing industry.