Walter Blogoslawski was born in New Britain, Connecticut on February 8, 1943. He received his Bachelor's from Fairfield University, a Master's in Marine Science at Long Island University, and later a PhD. at Fordham University in 1971. He began working at Milford Laboratory in 1971 as a microbiologist and is retiring this year.

Anthony Calabrese was born in Providence, RI on February 25, 1937. Growing up, he was interested in fishing and the ocean. Dr. Calabrese earned his masters at Auburn University in Alabama, and later earned his PhD in Zoology/Ecology from the University of Connecticut. He began his career at the Milford Laboratory in 1963. His early research focused on the effects of pollution on shellfish and he brought his expertise to EPA committees he served on. He published over 70 reports and publications and founded the Flatfish Biology Conference in 1986.

Ron Goldberg was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 2, 1952. He moved to New Jersey at the age of 11 where his love of the ocean and its' mysteries developed. He credits inspirational teachers in high school and college with cultivating his interest in marine science . He returned to Boston to study at Northeastern University. Through the University's co-op program, he worked for the EPA, the Northeastern Lab, and the Milford Laboratory. He was hired at Milford in 1975 and retired after 40 years in 2015. He now lives in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Edwin Rhodes was born in Milford, Connecticut on March 4, 1943. During high school, he visited the Milford Lab to ask about a science project. He met Victor Loosanoff, the Lab Director, who became a mentor. Ed began working at the lab in 1959 as a high school junior and continued to work there until about 1970. After a brief break, he returned to the lab from 1971 to 1989. He rejoined NOAA as the Aquaculture Coordinator from 1997 to 2001. He has spent his entire career, both in the public and private sectors, working on aquaculture and shellfish. 

Dr. Sheila Stiles was born in Memphis, Tennessee. As a young child she developed a love for nature which led to her focusing on science in college. She majored in biology at Xavier University, New Orleans. After graduation, she had the opportunity to work at the Milford Laboratory for the summer and was asked to stay on at the end of the summer. She was the first full time African American woman to be hired at the Lab. She credits her many mentors and her love of biology as the reason for her long, successful career. Dr.

Gary Wikfors was born in Weehawken, NJ. After receiving his B.S. in biology at the University of Maine, Wikfors became interested in phycology. He began working at the Milford Laboratory in 1976 while earning his Master's at the University of Bridgeport. He later earned his PhD at the University of Connecticut while continuing to work at the lab. He is now the Branch Chief of the Aquaculture Sustainability Assessment Branch at the Milford Lab.

Sarah Fortin describes herself as “a Jane of all trades.” She’s now 29 and has been working at Reidar’s since she was in high school, first starting part time after school to learn specific skills, and then went full time and has been there ever since.

Peter Heleen, fifty-six years old, has been involved in the fishing and shipping industry since he was a teenager. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he worked for a variety of companies, including C.E. Beckman Company, a marine supply company, until 2013, when he became the yards purchasing manager for the Fairhaven Shipyard.

Petter and his wife Sharon own Harbor Hydraulics in Fairhaven, which he started with his brother some years ago. Petter graduated from New Bedford Vocational school, worked fishing with his father-in-law for a while, then at Scandia propellers, and eventually opened his own shop doing both installations and the business end of the paperwork. Sharon does the computer work and their son works in the shop and doing installations on the boats.

Phillip Mello describes his duties as a general manager at Bergies Seafood in New Bedford, MA, including auctions, transportation, fish cutting, sales, deliveries and networking. He joined Tichon Seafood in 1980 and continues to be active throughout the Fairhaven/New Bedford Harbor. Mello enjoys photography and documenting the fishing community. Changes in weather and fishing regulations have altered prices, catches and the economy of the fishing industry.