Rustin Taylor, from Somesville, ME, is an elver fisherman who fishes around Mount Desert Island and Ellsworth. He talks about the changes in the fishery over time and the environmental balances to consider when fishing. He explains some of the factors that affect this fishery, such as water level fluctuations caused by the Union River Dam and the quota system established after the 2013 season.

Sam Belknap, a project leader at the Island Institute from Damariscotta, ME. He is an anthropologist and climate scientist with a background in fishing. He currently works in the nonprofit sector because he wanted to engage in applied work that could bring about real-world change more quickly than academia or the policy world.

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Sam Ladley, who summered on Matinicus, ME, as a child, started to go lobstering with his father and fellow youngsters by the age of 8. Ladley shares stories from his childhood fishing with his family and friends including how he survived a sinking ship accident and how, another time, their boat’s engine broke in a thick fog.

Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2018 is a project of Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, and the Island Institute, with support from the Maine Fishermen’s Forum Board of Directors.

Sarah Madronal is a fisheries biologist from Cutler, ME. With a background in policy studies, she has focused her work on understanding the social structures and cultural significance surrounding fisheries, particularly alewives.

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Angus King, a United States senator from Brunswick, ME, speaks about the community of Maine and the cross-section of challenges and interests that are represented by people who attend the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. He focuses on the upcoming changes that the Maine community will need to face such as the recent Canadian trade deal with Europe, the Gray Zone, and climate change. Through a story about the implications of refrigeration in the 1920's, he highlights the importance Maine people remaining “resilient and creative.”

Sonya Corbett is a trap-maker with Sea Rose Trap Company in South Portland, ME.

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Stephen Train is a seasoned commercial fisherman hailing from Long Island, Maine, a tight-knit community deeply rooted in maritime traditions. Born into a family with a rich legacy of fishing, Train has spent the majority of his life navigating the waters of the North Atlantic, harvesting the sea's bounty. His intimate knowledge of the local marine environment, coupled with years of hands-on experience, has made him a respected figure among his peers.

Steven Burns is an experienced lobster fisherman from Bar Harbor, Maine. With a lifelong dedication to his craft, he has been actively involved in the industry since the age of 12. Steven's passion for the ocean, commitment to sustainable practices, and desire to pass on his knowledge to future generations make him a respected figure in the lobster fishing community.

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Steven Holler, a lobsterman out of Boston, MA, begins by talking about the flooding that was happening in Boston at the time of the interview and its effects on the fishermen and his family. He speaks about his experiences fishing out of Boston since he was 14 years old and about the different fishing communities in Maine. Holler shares his thoughts about the current whale entanglement issues and explains why he has decided to lobster only in summer and fall.

Tap Pryor, an aquaculturist through Maine Shellfish Developers from Brunswick, ME, is currently attempting to grow oysters more efficiently and sustainably by growing them onshore. He speaks about his experience being on the original commission that founded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), how NOAA was named, and his work growing oysters on land first in Hawaii and now in Brunswick.