Barbara McCarthy is a retired boat owner and fisherman's wife deeply rooted in the fishing industry. Barbara  grew up in a family with a strong fishing background.  As a mother of seven, she balances family responsibilities with active involvement in the Fishermen’s Wives association, the Blessing of the Fleet Fair, and various market ministries.

Betsy Pye, a New Bedford native, has been a steadfast presence in the ocean-oriented community of New Bedford. Born and raised in the heart of the coastal city, she has a deep connection to the maritime heritage. Her husband’s ancestors were also from the area.  She is an active advocate for the fishing industry.

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.

Arne Ole Andersen is a retired boat owner. He was born in 1929 in Denmark and grew up in a fishing and farming village. He began his maritime career at fourteen, working on Baltic traders and later on larger ships, including Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish vessels. He sailed on American ships during the Korean War and settled in New Bedford, where he fished primarily out of the port. Throughout his career, Andersen faced various challenges, including shipwrecks and adverse weather conditions. He engaged in different types of fishing, including ground fishing and swordfishing. 

Sarah Broadwell is a female fisherwoman from Montauk, Long Island. She is of European American ethnicity. Broadwell was born in Denville, New Jersey, and spent her childhood visiting her grandparents in Sag Harbor, Long Island. She has been working in Montauk for five to six years and has built a close-knit community with fellow fishermen, who she considers as her family. Despite being small in stature, Broadwell is known for her hard work and dedication to her profession. She has a strong sense of respect and boundaries, and is not afraid to assert herself when necessary.

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.

Francisco Ferreira is a seasoned fisherman based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born in Portugal, Ferreira immigrated to the United States with his family in 1981 when he was still a baby. His father and grandfather were both fishermen, and Ferreira followed in their footsteps, starting his fishing career at the young age of thirteen. Over the years, he has worked on various fishing vessels and has gained a deep understanding of the fishing industry.

Malvin Kvilhaug, a Norwegian fisherman and boat owner, was born on October 21, 1938, in Karmoy, an island in Norway. He came from a fishing family, with his father and grandfather also engaged in fishing. Kvilhaug started fishing for lobsters on his own at the age of 10 or 11, using rowboats and dories. After enlisting in the Merchant Marines at the age of 16, he later joined the Navy in Norway at 18. In January 1961, at the age of 22, Kvilhaug arrived in the United States and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Richard McKnight is a seasoned fisherman with a twenty-year career in the King Mackerel fishery in South Florida and Louisiana. Born in Lake Worth, Florida, he now resides in Sebastian, Florida. Despite coming from a non-fishing family, McKnight developed a passion for fishing from a young age. He initially worked in construction after high school but always dreamed of a life at sea. He bought his first boat at the age of twenty-one and, despite initial struggles, he eventually found success in the fishing industry.

Bob Quinn and Helene Quinn and their ancestors have lived and worked on Eagle Island in Penobscot Bay Maine for generations. Bob got his start working on a pumper in the sardine industry and eventually began lobstering. Bob is now passing the torch to his grandson, Sam, who is eagerly embracing a life at sea. Helene Quinn is Bob's wife. She hails from Rockland, Maine, and has deep roots on Eagle Island. Samuel Quinn Russo, aged 12 during the interview, is Bob and Helene's grandson. He represents the younger generation that is actively embracing the family's fishing traditions.