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.

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.

Kenneth Walker is a seasoned professional affiliated with NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, where he plays a pivotal role in addressing the complexities of coastal conservation and utilization. His career trajectory has been marked by a deep commitment to the stewardship of coastal resources, reflecting a personal connection to the working waterfront that has been both a driving force and a source of insight in his professional endeavors.

Matt Campo is a senior research specialist at Rutgers University, where he has dedicated his career to the study and advocacy of sustainable urban planning, with a particular focus on waterfront communities. His expertise encompasses a broad range of issues related to coastal areas, including industrial development, commercial fishing, recreational use, and the challenges posed by climate change and sea level rise. Campo's work is characterized by a deep understanding of the complex dynamics that shape waterfronts and the diverse needs of the populations that depend on them.