This narrator was in his early fifties at the time of the interview. The interviewee is an experienced commercial fisherman from a fishing family with multiple generations involved in the industry. Born and raised in Cape May, the interviewee has been fishing since a young age and learned the trade through practical experience. With a family business focused on fishing, they have been actively involved in the industry, making business decisions and handling bookkeeping responsibilities from a young age. The interviewee's children have also shown interest in fishing and have accompanied them on fishing trips. The interviewee shares their experiences during a challenging period in the late 1990s and early 2000s when regulatory changes impacted their fishing operations, causing financial difficulties. They discuss the shift in their fishing efforts and geographic locations due to quota reductions and the need to explore new markets. Despite the challenges, the interviewee remains committed to the industry and emphasizes the importance of adaptability and perseverance.

Scope and Content Note
This interview, conducted in 2005, provides a comprehensive exploration of the experiences and challenges faced by an experienced commercial fisherman from Cape May, New Jersey. The interviewee shares their family's multi-generational involvement in the fishing industry and their personal journey from a deckhand to a skipper. The interview focuses on the impact of regulatory changes during the late 1990s and early 2000s, including quota reductions and shifting market dynamics, and emphasizes the need for adaptability and the significance of family engagement in their business. The interviewee also offers insights into the future of the fishing industry, highlighting the involvement of the next generation and the importance of resilience in uncertain times. Additionally, personal anecdotes are shared, including the interviewee's decision to pursue fishing over other educational opportunities, experiences with obtaining loans and facing financial struggles, and their family's innovative approaches to fishing, such as using larger mesh nets and introducing net drums for increased efficiency. The interviewee also discusses their transition to pelagic fishing, challenges faced during their shift towards mid-water trawling for squid, and successful adoption of innovative fishing techniques and equipment. The conversation sheds light on the efforts made to adapt to changing regulations and market conditions, such as investing in vessel upgrades and shifting focus to mackerel fishing for financial viability. The narrator also expresses concerns about potential future regulations and the exclusion of historical fishing records in determining fishing quotas or allocation methods. The interviewee discusses various aspects of the fishing industry, including vessel capacity, regulations, the impact of fishing on the local community, changes in fishing practices, and environmental concerns. The interviewee provides explanations on the complexities of vessel capacity and regulations, highlighting limitations imposed by gross tonnage, carrying capacity, and vessel dimensions. He shares personal experiences of adapting to quota reductions and changing fishing plans, and emphasize the significance of commercial fishing for the local economy and tourism in Cape May. The interviewee also addresses the changing dynamics of fishing families, the emergence of small boat fishing for scallops as an alternative opportunity, and concerns about declining fish stocks, accuracy of fish population counts, and the impact of regulations and special interest groups on the fishing industry.