Don DeMaria is a long-time resident of the Florida Keys, having moved there permanently in 1977, although he had been visiting the area since 1965. He initially lived in Key West before moving to Summerland around 1984. DeMaria is a college graduate and has been a commercial fisherman since 1972. His fishing experience extends to various locations, including Tortugas, Boca Grande, and Marquesas, with his work in Tortugas beginning when he moved to the Keys permanently. DeMaria's fishing methods include spearfishing and catching tropical fish. He has also been involved in fishery advisory councils, specifically the Reef Fish Advisory Panel for the Gulf and the Snapper-Grouper Advisory Panel for the Atlantic. His work with the Gulf started around seven years prior to the interview in 1993, and his involvement with the Atlantic began two years prior.

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Don DeMaria conducted by Karen DeMaria on April 3rd, 1993, provides a detailed account of DeMaria's life and experiences as a commercial fisherman in the Florida Keys. The interview begins with background information about DeMaria's residency in the Keys and his career as a fisherman. It then delves into his involvement with fishery advisory councils and his observations of changes in the marine environment over the years. DeMaria discusses the increase in monofilament waste, which he identifies as a danger to divers, and the decrease in nets. He also talks about the presence of crinoids in Tortugas and the disappearance of long spine urchins in the late 1980s. The interview concludes with DeMaria's observations of changes in jellyfish populations, attributing the increase in moon jelly and Cassiopeias to the rise in algae in the water. The interview provides valuable insights into the changes in the marine environment of the Florida Keys from the perspective of a long-time resident and commercial fisherman.