Dick Grachek, born on November 11, 1944, in Queens, New York, is a seasoned commercial fisherman with a deep-rooted passion for the sea. Despite not coming from a fishing family, Grachek's love for the ocean was instilled in him by his grandfather, who owned a fish store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and had a stand in the Fulton Fish Market. Growing up on the south shore of Long Island, Grachek was exposed to the cycles of fish and the intricacies of marine life from a young age.

Donald Clattenburg is an 81-year-old retired boat owner from Fairhaven, Nova Scotia. Born in Port Midway, Nova Scotia, he moved to New Bedford in 1941 with his three brothers. His father owned four fishing boats in New Bedford, and DC began his career in the fishing industry at the age of fifteen, working in Homers Filet House. He was drafted into the Navy at eighteen during WWII and participated in the invasion of the beach at Okinawa. After the war, he returned to fishing, working with his uncle on the Two Brothers and later on his father's boat.

Donald F. Clattenburg, born on September 5, 1925, in Port Midway, Nova Scotia, is a retired commercial fisherman with a rich history in the industry. His father, also a fisherman, moved to the United States before Donald was born, visiting his family in Nova Scotia annually . Donald moved to the United States in August 1941, just before World War II, and settled in New Bedford. He began his career in commercial fishing shortly after returning from the war, following in his father's footsteps.

Donald Spooner is a former Navy man who has worked in a variety of jobs before finding his place in the fishing industry, where he specialized in making "doors" for trawlers. Born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Spooner has lived in the same house all his life. His parents were originally from Boston, but his mother was from New Bedford. After his parents divorced when he was just six months old, he was raised by his great aunt in Hope Beach, a section of Fairhaven. Spooner's connection with the fishing industry began in his youth.

Donna Cunio is a 51-year-old woman from Norwell, Massachusetts. She is the wife of a retired merchant marine captain who now serves as the manager of the New Bedford State Pier. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Donna has a deep appreciation for the maritime industry, particularly the hard work of longshoremen and fishermen. Despite not being raised near the water, Donna has a strong connection to the sea through her husband's career. She occasionally joined him on his trips, experiencing first-hand the hard work and dedication of the crew.

Donna Goodwin is a seasoned professional in the fishing industry, specifically in the area of splicing. Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, she comes from a long line of fishermen, with her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all having been involved in the industry. Donna was taught how to splice three-strand ropes at the age of seven by her father. She later worked for New England Ropes for about 20 years before starting her own splicing business, the Splice Girls, with her daughter.

Edward Barrett is a seasoned commercial fisherman with over three decades of experience in the fishing industry. Born in Boston in 1955, Barrett grew up in the coastal town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, where he was exposed to the ocean and fishing from an early age. His first role models in the industry were his older cousin and his friends, who were involved in mossing. Barrett's career in fishing began after he completed college. He initially worked as a sternman and crewman on boats before attending a fishing school at the University of Rhode Island.

Edward "Eddie" Fortes, a former fish cutter, worked on the New Bedford waterfront for 35 years. Eddie's father was a sword fisherman and his family owned three fishing boats. His taught Carlos Rafael how to cut fish and was once the fastest fish cutter in the city.  Eddie has two daughters, one is a school teacher in the New Bedford High School system and is also a gymnastics teacher for the city of New Bedford, while the other is a veterinarian in New Jersey who used to be a New England Patriots cheerleader.

Eugene Connors is a former commercial fisherman and fishery researcher who worked in the industry from 1960 to 1981. He was involved in scalloping and dragging in New Bedford, having originally come from a small fishing community in Stonington, CT. After his fishing career, Connors worked for the New England Fishery Development Foundation as the vessel site coordinator for a project called "Quality at Sea," which aimed to improve the quality of seafood being landed in New England ports by applying Scandinavian methods of handling product at sea.

Eva Liput is a fishing vessel captain and a Polish immigrant who moved to the United States in 1986. She grew up in Poland, where her father worked as a fisherman on George's Bank. Eva developed an interest in sailing at a young age, influenced by her older brother who was a sailor. After immigrating to the United States, Eva first settled in Newport, Rhode Island, before eventually moving to New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1986, she started working as a deckhand on the fishing vessel Michigan, a scalloper.