Mike Bruce is a fifty-year-old commercial fisherman based in New Bedford. He was born in New Bedford on April 15, 1956, to parents who emigrated from Newfoundland in the 1940s. His father was also a fisherman, continuing a family tradition that dates back to the 1600s. Bruce is of Canadian (New Foundland), Irish, and Scottish descent. He has served in various roles on fishing vessels, including as a skipper and a mate. Bruce is currently considering retiring from the fishing industry due to the prevalence of drug use among the available crew members.

On September 30, 2012, Markham Starr interviewed Hans Davidson as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project. Davidson discusses his early experiences in the industry, his progression from a newcomer to a captain, and the various boats he worked on. He also shares his perspectives on the challenges of the fishing industry, including struggles against regulations, the impact of the job on family life, and the dangers of the work.

Roland Gailitis was born in Raga, Latvia, in 1936. At the age of three, the Russians occupied Latvia, and Roland and his family lived under their rule for a year. Then, during World War II, the Germans took over Latvia until November 1944. In order to escape the turbulent situation in Latvia, Roland's family embarked on a perilous journey to Sweden in an 18-foot whaling boat with 18 people, including children. They lived in Sweden for 3.5 years until the Russians demanded the return of Latvians to their own country.

Geno Leech is a seasoned fisherman and poet hailing from Chinook, Washington. Born in Oregon City, Oregon, Geno's early life was far removed from the sea, with his family involved in farming in the Midwest. However, a chance encounter with a merchant seaman during a hitchhiking adventure sparked his interest in seafaring. He obtained his seaman's papers and embarked on his first voyage on a T-2 Tanker in December 1969. Over the years, Geno has served on almost every type of vessel, from merchant steamers to draggers, drawing inspiration from his experiences at sea to fuel his poetry.

Jennifer Mitchell, also known as Jennifer Demalo, is part of the Mitchell family business. She grew up in New Bedford and attended Bishop Stang High School before graduating from Emmanuel College. Initially working as a business manager at a preschool in Boston, Jennifer joined the family business after her father asked her to work with him. She has been involved in bookkeeping and similar administrative tasks. Jennifer has been with the business for around eight years and is married with two children.

John Reardon is a former fisherman turned General Manager for IMP Fishing Gear Limited in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born in Boston, MA, Reardon entered the fishing industry in the early 1980s, starting out on a dragger and retiring from fishing in 1999. He began working for IMP Fishing Gear, also known as Industrial Marine Products, in November of 1999. The company, which started out selling fishing gear in Newfoundland, now has 15 branches in Canada and the United States.

Manuel “Manny” Vinagre, a retired fisherman and boat owner, was born on December 17, 1940, in Buarcos, a village in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. He began working on the water at the age of 8, unloading sardine boats in his hometown. Manny comes from a long line of fishermen, including his father, grandfather, and uncle. His father tragically lost his life at sea while on a Gloucester dragger. Manny spent ten years fishing as part of the Portuguese “White Fleet,” dory fishing for cod off the coast of Newfoundland.

On September 26, 2009, an unknown interviewer interviewed Edward Barrett as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project.

On September 25, 2010, Madeleine Hall-Arber interviewed Bernice Calnan as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project.  Bernice was born into a fishing family, her father immigrating to the US from Newfoundland. She retells stories she grew up hearing about her father’s youth and work as a boat cook, providing a good sense of the New Bedford fishing community of the 1960s.

Shareen Davis is a fifty-year-old woman from Chatham, Massachusetts. She is a 13th generation Cape Codder with a rich history in the fishing industry. Davis owns a weir fishing business and provides shore support. She has also been a fisherman in the past and is a community activist. Her home port and hail port are both in Chatham, MA, specifically Stage Harbor. Davis comes from a fishing family, with her grandfather and uncles being fishermen and her mother working in the industry. She met her husband, Ernie, in a coffee shop where a group of fishermen would come in for breakfast.