Chellie Pingree, a United States congresswoman from North Haven, ME, whose work focuses on fisheries policy issues, speaks about her work speaking to local lobstermen and how this year’s conversations have focused on concerns about the future of the fisheries with warming temperatures. She describes her own concerns for the future of her island community and the values and necessities of island life.

Marcia Beal Brazer, from Ogunquit, ME, shares a personal story about her husband Norman Brazer, a lobsterman, who got tangled in a lobster buoy rope and fell overboard while fishing near Boon Island, ME. N. Brazer was lucky that he was carrying a knife and was able to untangle himself; however, when he surfaced, he could not find his boat. Luckily, another lobsterman, Mark Sewell, noticed N. Brazer’s body floating and took him to the hospital. After three rounds of CPR, N. Brazer finally responded. He is still a lobsterman. M.

Marina Cucuzza, a marine researcher from Boston, MA, is currently working on her thesis which assesses the capacity for sustainability in coastal communities. She discusses buzz words such as resilience and sustainability which she finds important to define and what she has come across in her projects so far.

From initially moving to Traverse City, Michigan, to open a dive shop, Mike Wills has worked in a variety of waterfront-related jobs, from working on boats, operating two marinas, opening a community sailing program, and developing three waterfront real estate in downtown Traverse City. Wills serves as the chair of the Discovery Center Great Lakes, a prominent organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the working waterfront in Traverse City, Michigan.

Nicole Faghin is a coastal management specialist affiliated with Washington Sea Grant, an organization dedicated to fostering sustainable use of marine resources. Her professional endeavors are primarily centered around the Puget Sound region, where she engages with waterfront communities. Faghin's work encompasses a broad spectrum of issues, including the preservation of working waterfronts, the mediation of land use conflicts, the addressing of environmental concerns, and the advancement of workforce education.

Stephen Train is a seasoned commercial fisherman hailing from Long Island, Maine, a tight-knit community deeply rooted in maritime traditions. Born into a family with a rich legacy of fishing, Train has spent the majority of his life navigating the waters of the North Atlantic, harvesting the sea's bounty. His intimate knowledge of the local marine environment, coupled with years of hands-on experience, has made him a respected figure among his peers.

Bill Needelman is a professional deeply rooted in the waterfront community of Portland, Maine. He serves as the Waterfront Coordinator for the city of Portland, working within the Department of Economic Development. His role involves policy and development related to the preservation of the working waterfront and the industries that rely on it. His constituents include property owners, their tenants, and the city itself, which owns significant port-related properties and the city's fish pier.

Dave Lemberg is a professor of Geography at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His work and research have been primarily focused on water trails in Michigan for the past twenty years. Lemberg's interest in outdoor recreation initially revolved around underground caves, but upon moving to Michigan for his university job, he shifted his focus to water due to the state's extensive navigable waterways. He has been instrumental in developing a Heritage Water Trail program for the state of Michigan and a linear coastal trail on Lake Michigan from Indiana to Wisconsin.

Donald McCann is a marine surveyor by trade, hailing from Virginia, where he has resided for nearly three decades. He is associated with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, although not on a full-time basis. McCann has been instrumental in assisting Tom Murray in creating an inventory and transforming it into a functional tool. His efforts have contributed to the enactment of a working plan by Virginia, which he believes is the first comprehensive master plan for the working waterfront in the United States.

Hattie Train is a young woman hailing from Long Island, Maine, with a rich family history deeply rooted in the fishing industry. Born and raised in a family of fishermen, she has been actively involved in the fishing industry from a very young age. Her family's fishing activities are not confined to a single area but span from the cove near their house, between Mariners and Cleaves Landing, to offshore federal permitted areas and behind the island. Her father, in particular, is known to fish further offshore.