Portuguese-American Fishermen in New Bedford

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Maria Gloria De Sa
  • Collection of fifteen oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant.

Interviewee Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Luis M. Moço Portuguese-American Fishermen in New Bedford

This is one of a set of 15 oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant. In this interview Mr. Moço talks about his life in Portugal, including fishing and cultural traditions. He also describes routines aboard Portuguese fishing boats in the U.S. and the role of the union in the strikes of the 1980's as well as the impact of regulations in the livelihoods of those involved in the fishing industry.

M. Gloria De Sa New Bedford, MA University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, NOAA, Preserve America
António M. Palhais Portuguese-American Fishermen in New Bedford

This is one of a set of 15 oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant. In this interview, Mr. Palhais talks about his life in a small fishing village in Portugal, how he came to the U.S. and his experience living and fishing in New Bedford. Included in his history is a very detailed description of fishing techniques in the mouth of the Mondego River in Figueira da Foz as well as salt-making techniques in the same area and in Angola.

M. Gloria De Sa New Bedford, MA University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, NOAA, Preserve America
Manuel Pedro Pereira Portuguese-American Fishermen in New Bedford

This is one of a set of 15 oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant. In this interview, Manuel Pedro Pereira talks extensively about his childhood his Portugal, his military service in Angola and his involvement with professional soccer prior to emigrating to the U.S. and becoming a fisherman.

M. Gloria De Sa New Bedford, MA University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, NOAA, Preserve America
Antonio Santos Portuguese-American Fishermen in New Bedford

This is one of a set of 15 oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant. Maria Santos tells the story of her husband António Santos while he lies nearby, unable to tell his own story due to Alzheimer's disease. At times, their sons Mario and Joe Santos add details. António was born in 1929 in the fishing village of Gala, near the city of Figueira da Foz.

M. Gloria De Sa New Bedford, MA University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, NOAA, Preserve America