Chad Joseph Bergeron was born on August 28, 1978, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He grew up in New Bedford and has a deep-rooted connection to the fishing industry through his family. His grandfather, a fisherman for over thirty years, was the one who introduced the family to the industry. Bergeron's father also worked in the industry, initially helping his grandfather by lumping boats. Bergeron continues the family tradition, working in the New Bedford fishing industry.

Scope and Content Note:
This oral history interview with Chad Bergeron, conducted by Fred Calabretta on June 23, 2017, provides an in-depth look into the life and work of a shoreside worker in the New Bedford/Fairhaven fishing industry. Bergeron discusses various aspects of his work, including the differences between loading fish and off-loading scallops, the impact of seasons on his work, and the process of grading fish for auction. He also talks about the challenges of his job, such as dealing with different boat captains, some of whom may try to take advantage of them, and the conflicts that arise due to everyone's desire to make money. Bergeron also discusses the multicultural nature of dock workers and his methods of communicating with workers who don't speak English. Bergeron provides insight into the demanding nature of his work schedule, which often lacks break time due to the importance of getting seafood off to market while it's fresh. Despite the challenges, he describes the best part of his job as working with people and the connections he makes with others in the fishing industry. The interview concludes with Bergeron's thoughts on whether or not this job is a good one for younger guys to get into. This interview is part of the Workers on the Waterfront Oral History Project conducted by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, funded by an Archie Green Fellowship from the Library of Congress.