“I did have the opportunity of spending those hours with [my kids] on the boat, which to me is one of the best things that ever came out of it.”

Gary Anderson is a Port Commissioner in the Port of Port Orford, Oregon. He is a retired Port Manager and a retired commercial fisherman as well. He is married with three grown children. Gary started fishing in Port Orford in 1977 after moving there in 1973. He raised three kids off a 28-foot boat, and all three of them worked on the boat at some point. He talks about the work ethic you learn from working in the fisheries and how it’s an important skill that pays off. He also recalls the difficult decisions that had to be made as a Port Manager, including the intentional sinking of a boat. Gary also discusses the community of Port Orford, and his experience with the changing in principle throughout the years. He speaks on how the environmental movement affected the fishing industry and the people within it, not only in Port Orford but in places as far as Belize as well. 

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Gary Anderson provides insights into the fishing industry on the West Coast, particularly in Port Orford. Anderson shares his personal experiences as a former port manager, retired commercial fisherman, and current port commissioner. He discusses the challenges and rewards of working in the fishing industry, emphasizing the family-based nature of the business and the physical demands it entails. The interview covers topics such as the aging population of fishermen, the impact of environmental movements on the fishing community, and the potential future of the industry. Anderson also reflects on his time as a port manager, detailing the day-to-day challenges he faced. The interview offers a firsthand account of the fishing industry's evolution, the experiences of family-based businesses, and the desire to preserve the industry's traditional values.