NOAA Preserve America Initiative

Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Sherrie Miller Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project


Biographical Note:
Sherrie Miller is a resident of Panacea, Florida born on December 19, 1961. She works in her family’s restaurant, Posey’s Restaurant, and serves as the Vice- Chairman of the Panacea Waterfronts Florida Partnership.

 Anna Hamilton Panacea, FL National Working Waterfront Network, National Sea Grant Law Center, NOAA Office of Coastal Management, Maine Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Preserve America Initiative
William Needelman Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project

Biographical Note:
William “Bill” Needelman is the Waterfront Coordinator for the City of Portland, Maine. He was born in Portland, Maine on April 3, 1964.

 Kristen Grant Portland, ME National Working Waterfront Network, National Sea Grant Law Center, NOAA Office of Coastal Management, Maine Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Laurie Sommers Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project


Biographical Note: Laurie Kay Sommers is a freelance folklorist and historic preservation consultant based in Okemos, Michigan. She has been writing about Michigan history and culture since the 1970’s.

 Amanda Holmes Leland, MI National Working Waterfront Network, National Sea Grant Law Center, NOAA Office of Coastal Management, Maine Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Charlie Albertson Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project

Charlie Albertson, born in 1932, is a former North Carolina Senator from Beaulaville, North Carolina. He grew up on a farm in Eastern Duplin County during the Great Depression, where he learned farming chores and purchased his first guitar at the age of 11. His interest in public service was influenced by his father's involvement in the community, serving on the School Board in Duplin County.

 Barbara Garrity-Blake Beaulaville, NC National Working Waterfront Network, National Sea Grant Law Center, NOAA Office of Coastal Management, Maine Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Larry Collins Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project

Biographical Note:
Larry Collins is President of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association. He was born on July 28, 1957.

 Carrie Pomeroy San Francisco, CA National Working Waterfront Network, National Sea Grant Law Center, NOAA Office of Coastal Management, Maine Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Shey Conover Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project

Biographical Note:
Shey Conover is the Chief Operating Officer at the Island Institute in Rockland, Maine. She was born on March 5, 1980.

 Julia Beaty Rockland, ME National Working Waterfront Network, National Sea Grant Law Center, NOAA Office of Coastal Management, Maine Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Hugh Akagi Maine Sea Grant Alewife and Eel Oral Histories

Hugh Akagi is the chief of the Passamaquoddy on the Canadian side of the border. He lives in Canada and is deeply connected to his family and relatives on the reserve. Akagi is committed to preserving cultural heritage and advocating for the rights of Indigenous fishers. He has a background in fisheries research and has participated in Species at Risk talks and aboriginal advisory committees, demonstrating his dedication to protecting the natural environment and its species.

 Julia Beaty Pleasant Point, ME NOAA Preserve America Initiative, Maine Sea Grant
Brian Altvater Maine Sea Grant Alewife and Eel Oral Histories

Brian Altvater, Sr. is the chair of the Schoodic River Keepers. He played a key role in establishing the committee to restore the St. Croix River. Altvater is proud that the committee is grassroots and non-politically motivated despite being involved in political matters due to the involvement of different countries, the Tribe, the state of Maine, and the International Joint Commission. He was particularly upset about the denial of ancestral habitat to alewives above the Grand Falls dam, which prevented them from spawning and breeding for 22 years.

 Julia Beaty Pleasant Point, ME NOAA Preserve America Initiative, Maine Sea Grant
Ed Bassett Maine Sea Grant Alewife and Eel Oral Histories

Ed Bassett describes in this interview the importance of alewives to the Passamaquoddy tribe in Downeast Maine. The interview contains his recollections of how the marine ecosystem appeared to prior generations and the challenges facing alewives right now.

 Julia Beaty Perry, ME NOAA Preserve America Initiative, Maine Sea Grant
Randy Bushey Maine Sea Grant Alewife and Eel Oral Histories

Randy Bushey, an elver buyer and fisherman, describes his role in the industry and the politics of elver fishing in Downeast Maine. The interview includes opinions on federal regulations, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and eel behavior and biology. Bushey discusses his attempts to import eels from Caribbean island nations.

 Julia Beaty Steuben, ME NOAA Preserve America Initiative, Maine Sea Grant
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