On September 12, 2013, Josh Wrigley interviewed Brian Bichrest in Harpswell, Maine, for the Maine Coast Oral History Initiative, a collaboration between the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association and the Island Institute. Bichrest, a lifelong Harpswell resident, discusses his multigenerational fishing career, emphasizing the evolution of local fisheries and gillnetting practices. He reflects on his early introduction to lobstering at the age of five, family traditions in fishing, and transitions to other fisheries, including shrimping, groundfishing, and swordfishing.

Interview with Bruce Dyer, a stop seine herring fisherman and lifelong resident of Cliff Island, ME.  Interview contains information on Mr. Dyer's career in the stop seine herring fishery and lobster fishery, his observations on herring behavior, fishing methods, locations, fishing techniques and island life.

This interview was produced with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.

Fisherman Edward Thorbjornson of Tenant's Harbor, ME recalls his career fishing with the 40 Fathom redfish fleet, shrimping and groundfish dragging.

This interview was produced with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.

Eva Cushman, born in 1924 in Camden, Maine, was a long-time resident of Port Clyde, Maine. She moved to Thomaston with her parents shortly after her birth and attended Thomaston schools where she met her future husband. Her husband worked on the mailboat Nereid, which traveled from Thomaston to Monhegan to Boothbay Harbor and back. They married in 1941 and had seven children together. In 1946, they moved to Port Clyde where her husband worked as a lobsterman, fisherman, and clam digger.

This is an interview with fisherman Frank Bichrest of Cundy's Harbor, ME. Interview contains descriptions of the groundfish fishery, shrimping, lobstering and the community of Harpswell. 

This interview was produced with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.

On September 9, 2013, Joshua Wrigley interviewed Fred Viola in South Portland, Maine, for the Maine Coast Oral History Initiative. Viola, a lifelong resident of Portland, grew up in a fishing family but preferred shore-based work. He worked in construction for most of his career while intermittently engaging in fish unloading, or "lumping," at the Portland Fish Exchange. Viola describes his early work in the fishing industry, starting as a teenager in a whiting factory before transitioning to lumping, which provided higher earnings.

Gary Hatch, a lifelong resident of Owls Head, Maine, comes from a lineage of fishermen. His formative years were spent learning the intricacies of lobster and flounder fishing, a tradition within his family. Hatch's career in fishing expanded when he was introduced to seining by an older fisherman, a method that deepened his connection to the sea. His affinity for the coastal environment was not only a source of livelihood but also a passion that led him to explore the shorelines and waters of Maine.

Gary Libby is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in Port Clyde, Maine, a town with a rich maritime history. Born into a family with a longstanding connection to the sea, Gary's lineage includes coasters and merchant captains, and his family has been an integral part of the area for generations. His life has been shaped by the ebb and flow of the ocean and the fishing industry that has sustained his community for decades.

Gladden Schrock is a multifaceted individual with a diverse professional background. He has established himself as a herring fisherman, author, and playwright. His life's work has been significantly influenced by his experiences in the herring stop-seine fishery, which he began in the 1960s. Schrock's career has been rooted in South Bristol, Maine, where he has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of coastal life. His insights extend beyond fishing to encompass the sociocultural transformations within his community, including the interactions with Amish and Mennonite groups.

Kelo Pinkham is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in the fishing industry, tracing his family's involvement back through generations. His career spans various facets of the industry, including flounder, cod, shrimp, and lobster fishing, primarily in the Gulf of Maine and the Sheepscot River. Pinkham's mother contributed to the family's fishing legacy by working in a fish processing plant. Throughout his career, Pinkham has witnessed significant shifts in fishing practices, the introduction of regulations, and the fluctuation of fish populations.