Carlos Rafael was born on the island of Corvo in the Azores and immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1968. He is a prominent fishermen and the other of one of the largest fishing fleets on the East Coast of the United States and of Carlos Seafood, Inc. He is known for his dominance in the New England fishing industry and his role in shaping fisheries management policies.

Leslie Trott is a retired fisherman of European American descent, who spent a significant part of his life fishing from the port of New Bedford. Born in New Bedford but raised in Nantucket, Trott comes from a long line of fishermen, with his father and great grandfather both having been involved in the industry. Trott began his fishing career at the age of sixteen and continued for forty-three years, with a brief stint in the merchant marine and the Army.

Crista Bank, a fisheries research technician, has a diverse background in marine biology. She graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 1994 and gained experience studying coral reef ecosystems in Australia. She later worked as a marine biology instructor in the Florida Keys and participated in a distance learning project on a sailing ship. Crista's career then took her to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where she joined the sail training ship Ernestina and became involved in the fisheries observer program.

Herman Bruce, a retired fisherman hailing from New Bedford, Massachusetts, holds a legacy of 55 years within the fishing industry. With ancestral roots tracing back to Newfoundland, Herman's family immigrated to the United States during the 1930s. Herman's father initially cast his nets in New London, CT, before eventually anchoring in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Herman's earliest memories are of the sea, as he began his journey assisting in the maintenance of his father's fishing vessel.

Margaret Curole is a retired shrimp fisherman and a commercial fishing advocate from Galliano, Louisiana. She is of Cajun ethnic background. Curole did not come from a fishing heritage, but entered the industry after marrying a fisherman. Her husband's family has a long history in the Galliano area. Curole and her husband lived in a Louisiana marsh trapping camp where they engaged in shrimp fishing. Her husband quit his job the day before their daughter was born to build his first boat. Curole has been actively involved in commercial fishing advocacy.

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.

James William Lawler, born on February 26, 1960, in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, is a seasoned fisherman and owner of a shipyard. Raised in a small fishing village called Renews, about sixty miles south of St. John's. Lawler comes from a long line of fishermen, with his family's involvement in the industry spanning several generations. His early years were spent fishing for cod from small, open boats, a practice that was later replaced by crab fishing in the mid-80s.

Charlie Mitchell, born on March 5, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts, is a prominent figure in the maritime industry. With a childhood spent near the water in Fairhaven, he developed a deep affinity for maritime activities. After attending college and beginning law school, his plans were interrupted by the draft during the Vietnam War. He chose to join the Navy through the ROTC program and gained extensive sea experience aboard various ships, including destroyers.

Marco Randazzo is a retired fisherman and rope sculptor originally from Palermo, Italy. Born in 1945, he immigrated to Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1969 following an earthquake in Italy that worsened an already difficult economy. Coming from a family of fishermen, Randazzo continued the tradition in Gloucester, often working as the "twine man" in charge of maintaining and repairing the nets on the fishing boats. In his retirement, he has taken his skill with knots and rope and creates rope sculptures of figures and religious icons, many related to his life on the sea.

Amy Van Atten, born in 1968 in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a dedicated professional in the field of marine conservation. Growing up as the oldest of five children, Amy aspired to study whaling and marine mammals, particularly focusing on the impacts of whaling and the reasons behind it. Over time, her passion evolved to include fisheries and accidental interactions between marine mammals and fishing activities.