Ellsworth High School - Maine

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Joyce Whitmore
  • These interviews were conducted as part of Ellsworth High School's participation in the NOAA Fisheries Service  (NMFS) Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project 2003-2005.  All 10th graders participated in this interdisciplinary project that involved English, History, Social Studies, and Biology classes. To read about the LFK Project, go to http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/lfkproject/.

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Heath and Lee Hudson Ellsworth High School - Maine

Heath and Lee Hudson are mussel fishermen and entrepreneurs based in Maine. Heath Hudson owns a thirty-three-foot dragger named the Ms. Daisy, which was originally a lobster boat converted into a dragging vessel for mussel harvesting. The Hudsons operate the Frenchmen Bay Mussel Company, which was initially started by Heath's father. After his father retired, Heath purchased his boat and continued the family business.

Amanda Close, Kellie Gonyea Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Brian Langley Ellsworth High School - Maine

Brian Langley is a a culinary arts teacher and local restauranteaur.  Langley learned the restaurant business from his father and discovered his passion for cooking when he took a culinary program in high school. His seafood-centered restaurant, the Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth, Maine, is based on the lesson that you have to sell what people want to buy, not what you want to sell. Langley serves a variety of fish but the top sellers are salmon, halibut, scallops, shrimp, and clams.

Matt Homich, Rick Trombley, Zac Lutz, Candice Macbeth Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Jane Langley Ellsworth High School - Maine

Jane Langley is the co-owner of Union River Lobster Pot, a seafood restaurant located in Ellsworth, Maine. Born in Michigan, Jane moved to Southwest Harbor at a young age and later settled in Ellsworth. With a background in the restaurant industry, Jane and her husband operated the Oak Point Lobster Pound for ten years before deciding to venture into something new. In 2005, they purchased a property on South Street and built the Union River Lobster Pot.

Chris Johnston, Felicia Hill, Jessica Carter, Steve Weisman Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Theodora Beal Ellsworth High School - Maine

Theodora Beal, affectionately called "Gram," grew up in West Tremont, Maine, in a large family of six brothers and six sisters. Her father was a fisherman, and they lived by the water, surrounded by boats and the fishing industry.

Evan Beal, Cassandra Engstrom, Deanne Daigle, Zach Cravens Ellsworth Falls, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Kevin Lynch Ellsworth High School - Maine

Kevin Lynch is a seasoned boat captain and fisherman with extensive experience in various types of fishing. He has been involved in the fishing industry for approximately fifteen years, primarily focusing on scallop fishing, dragging industry, tuna fishing, and elver fishing. Kevin's fishing ventures have taken him to different locations, including Maine and New Jersey.

Pat Nabozny, Shawna Lunch, Janna Piazza Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Russell Boynton Ellsworth High School - Maine

Russell Boynton, born on June 4, 2005, is a resident of Ellsworth, Maine. He has been involved in worming for nearly 50 years, starting during his high school years in 1957. Russell's interest in worming sparked when he observed people carrying buckets of worms and realized its potential for earning money. Initially balancing worming with college and a grocery store job, Russell soon discovered that worming was more lucrative. He gradually transitioned to full-time worming during summers and part-time while teaching and coaching.

Jeremy Grant, Hillary Camber Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Jamie Perry Ellsworth High School - Maine

Jamie and Annie Perry are a husband and wife who reside in Ellsworth, Maine. Jamie has been a lobsterman for approximately fourteen to fifteen years. His decision to become a lobster fisherman was influenced by his family's long-standing tradition in the fishing industry. The couple has children, and Mrs. Perry has had to adjust to the seasonal nature of Jamie's work, as lobster fishing provides income for only about five to six months of the year.

Chris Archer, Emily Edgecomb, Amy Hodge, Brian Jordan Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Paul Brayton Ellsworth High School - Maine

Paul Brayton is a multifaceted individual who has pursued various occupations throughout his life. Born and raised in Ellsworth, Maine, Brayton began his career as a commercial fisherman after serving in the Navy as a pilot. He was drawn to the excitement and freedom of fishing, spending long hours at sea, and enjoying the financial rewards that came with it, especially during the less regulated times of the 1970s. However, as he started a family, Brayton realized that the demanding nature of offshore fishing was not compatible with being present for his loved ones.

Will Buckingham Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Michael Rioux Ellsworth High School - Maine

Michael Rioux is retired scallop and urchin diver and lobsterman.  He lives in Surry, Maine, and worked out of Blue Hill Bay and Stonington, Maine. Rioux started in the fishing industry by driving a dive boat for other divers before getting into scallop and urchin markets, and then lobstering. He fished in various areas, ranging from Milbridge to Vinalhaven, North Haven, Isle Au Haute, and Swan’s Island.

Julie Whitcomb, Tiara Woods, Erik Korver Surry, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project
Wes Bunker Ellsworth High School - Maine

Wes Bunker is a part-time lobster fisherman and sea urchin diver in Hancock County, Maine.  

Becca Silsby, Mario Pinaro, Hernan Rave, Ashton Romer Ellsworth, ME NOAA/NMFS Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project