Paul Swain, a 74-year-old male, is a retired government port agent with a rich history in the fishing industry. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Swain is of Newfoundland descent. He began his career as a fisherman and later transitioned into various roles including an auctioneer and a lumper. Swain's home port was New Bedford/Fairhaven, MA. Swain's career in the government began in 1957 as a port sampler, a role that involved taking samples from fish catches for age and growth studies.

Paul Nosworthy, a retired shoreside business owner from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, possesses a wealth of maritime knowledge and experience. His career began with boat repairs and sailing on tall ships like Westward, Pride of Baltimore, and Clearwater. With a foundation in diesel mechanics, he established New England Marine Engineering, specializing in industrial refrigeration and electrical repairs for New Bedford's fishing fleet. 

Paul Lane is a seasoned professional in the fishing industry, currently serving as the Marine Operations Manager and Safety Officer at Fleet Fisheries Inc. Born in Fall River, he has spent his entire life in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Lane's family has a long history in the fishing industry, with his mother being from a Sicilian fishing family and his father alternating between the fishing industry and tug boats. Lane initially pursued a career with the Shell Oil Company but later returned to the fishing industry, where he worked in shore support .

Patricia Gerrior is a retired fisheries biologist with a career spanning over 35 years in the federal government. She has worked extensively in New Bedford and has seen significant changes in the field over the years. Gerrior has been involved in various aspects of fisheries science, including the Fisheries Observer Program, regulations, stock cycles/declines, and marine mammal/right whales research. She has also worked with the commercial shipping industry. Gerrior has been a strong advocate for women in the field, facing and overcoming discrimination during her career.

Myra Lopes is a writer, historian, and daughter of a fisherman. She resides in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Myra Lopes's father was Leo Powers, a captain on several fishing vessels. His fishing career began in the 1940s. Myra's ancestors are from Newfoundland and she has pride in her heritage and fishing occupation. Her father's fishing vessel, Venture I, was lost in a storm during the Cold War era, but he and another crew member were rescued by a Russian trawler.

Mike Bruce is a fifty-year-old commercial fisherman based in New Bedford. He was born in New Bedford on April 15, 1956, to parents who emigrated from Newfoundland in the 1940s. His father was also a fisherman, continuing a family tradition that dates back to the 1600s. Bruce is of Canadian (New Foundland), Irish, and Scottish descent. He has served in various roles on fishing vessels, including as a skipper and a mate. Bruce is currently considering retiring from the fishing industry due to the prevalence of drug use among the available crew members.

The father and son duo, Paul and Mathieu Lemieux, have run the successful New Bedford, MA shoreside business, Blue Fleet, for over twenty years. Throughout their lifetimes working with the fishing industry, the two have drawn upon their optimistic outlooks, values of respect, and continual adaptability for support and strength within a frequently changing and challenging industry. Paul Lemieux is a seasoned shoreside business owner and operator hailing from the coastal town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He is the founder of Blue Fleet Welding.

The interview conducted on September 25, 2005, features two individuals: Mike Yortson and Mary Yortson Sylvia. Mike Yortson is the son of Mary Yortson Sylvia. Mary was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1911 and had two sons. Mike was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1955 but grew up in New Bedford after his father's death. Mary's family immigrated from St. Michael's in the Azores, and she worked in a doctor's dining room in Providence, where she met her first husband, Manny Cruz. Manny was lost at sea when Mary was 29 years old.

Marty Olsen is a retired fisherman. He was born in New Jersey and later moved to Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Marty joined the Army and started fishing in 1961, primarily out of New Bedford and briefly in Boston. Olsen's children did not follow in his footsteps, with his son becoming an electrician and his daughters marrying shore people.

Mark Phillips is a seasoned fisherman and boat owner based in Greenport, New York. Born on December 7, 1956, Phillips has been involved in the fishing industry since he was eight years old. His family has a long history of involvement with the sea, with his great grandfather being a coastal trader. However, Phillips is the only member of his family to become a full-time fisherman. He owns and operates an 83-foot dragger named F/V ILLUSION, fishing out of Greenport, Long Island, New York, and New Bedford, Massachusetts.