University of Maine

Interviewee Sort ascending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
William R. Modden Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Interview with William R. Modden, born July 21, 1934 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Modden began fishing commercially in 1952 at the age of 18. He participated in the scallop and groundfish fisheries in Maine and Massachusetts.

Sara Randall Bar Harbor, ME University of Maine
William Kirk Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

William Kirk, born in 1947, is a lifelong resident of Rockland, Maine. He is the first member of his family to work in the fishing industry, having entered the lobstering fishery independently in 1967 to supplement his income from working at a clothing factory in town. Despite the significant increase in the cost of bait and other operating costs over the years, Kirk continues to actively lobster, selling his lobsters locally throughout his career. He has two sons, one of whom works with him in the lobstering business while the other works for a fishing company.

Cameron Thompson Rockland, ME University of Maine
Stanley Sargent Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Stanley Sargent, born in 1965 in Stonington, Maine, is a seasoned commercial fisherman hailing from the rugged coastlines of Maine, a state renowned for its rich maritime heritage. Born into a family with deep roots in the fishing industry, Sargent's life has been inextricably linked to the sea from an early age. His forebears were among the hardy souls who braved the Atlantic's capricious moods to haul in the bounties of the ocean, passing down their knowledge and passion for the craft through generations.

Sara Randall Milbridge, ME University of Maine
Russell Wright Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Russell Wright, born in 1960, is a lifelong resident of Lubec, Maine. He has been serving as a marine patrol officer since 1999. Prior to joining the Marine Patrol, Wright had a brief stint in the logging industry before returning to his roots in the fishing industry. He has three brothers who are actively involved in the fishing industry. Wright's decision to join the Marine Patrol was influenced by his love for water and dealing with people.

Anna Henry Lubec, ME University of Maine
Roger Freeman Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Interview with Rockland lobsterman Roger Freeman, born April 22,1949 in Rockland, ME. At the time of the interview, Mr. Freeman was still living in Rockland. The interview contains information about Mr. Freeman's career fishing for lobsters. He describes his entry into the lobster industry in 1973 and the changes that he witnessed in gear, species fluctuations, prices and regulations.

Cameron Thompson Rockland, ME University of Maine
Richard Bridges Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Richard Bridges is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Stonington, Maine. He began his fishing career at a young age, setting 150 traps when he was just seven years old, alongside his best friend who was eight at the time. His family, originally from Swan's Island, moved to Connecticut for work during the war but returned to Maine when Bridges was born, believing it was a better place for a boy to grow up. Bridges started groundfishing commercially in 1964, and gill-netted out of Stonington from 1974 until 1984.

Sara Randall, Mike Kersula Stonington, ME University of Maine
Richard A. Whitman Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Richard A. Whitman is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in Rockland, Maine, where he has spent his entire life of 48 years. Born into a family with Italian and Sicilian heritage, Whitman's connection to the sea and fishing is a product of both his lineage and his environment. From a young age, he was drawn to the waters that have long provided sustenance and livelihood to the people of Rockland. Over the years, Whitman has gained extensive experience in various sectors of the fishing industry, mastering techniques for catching herring, salmon, scallop, lobster, and shrimp.

Cameron Thompson Rockland, ME University of Maine
Paul Molyneaux Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Paul Molyneaux was born in 1958 and has lived in various parts of Maine, including East Machias, Trescott, and Eastport. He began his career in the fishing industry in 1975, initially working in Key West, Florida, where he was involved in shrimp processing. In 1981, he moved to Maine and started fishing out of Rockland on groundfish and sword fishing draggers [4]. He also worked on scalloping during the wintertime. In 1986, Molyneaux moved to Eastern Maine to run the fish processing plant, Passamaquoddy Quality Seafood and Fillet, located on the Passamaquoddy Reservation.

Kevin Athearn East Machias, ME University of Maine
Lynn Bowden Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Lynn Bowman was born on December 20, 1938, in Eastport, Maine. She is a third-generation Eastporter who lived in the city until her high school graduation. Like many young people from Eastport, she moved away after graduation to pursue opportunities in larger cities. She relocated to Portland, where she lived for approximately forty-eight years. During her career, Bowman worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and she is now retired. In her youth, she was involved in the fisheries, working in a factory during the summer when she was fifteen.

Anna Henry Eastport, ME University of Maine
Leonard E. Young III Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Interview with fisherman Leonard E. Young, III, born September 9, 1944 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Young describes his entry into the commercial fisheries and discusses both lobstering and groundfish fishing.
 

Sara Randall, Mike Kersula Bar Harbor, ME University of Maine