Phil Ashworth is a 49-year-old former fisherman of European American descent, residing in Dartmouth, Massachusetts]. He was born and raised primarily in New Bedford and its surrounding areas. Ashworth comes from a family with a rich history in the city of New Bedford. His grandfather served as the chief of police in the 1950s and 60s, and his father was a fisherman and a state trooper. Ashworth himself has a deep connection with the sea, having spent a significant part of his life as a fisherman.

Roland Gailitis was born in Raga, Latvia, in 1936. At the age of three, the Russians occupied Latvia, and Roland and his family lived under their rule for a year. Then, during World War II, the Germans took over Latvia until November 1944. In order to escape the turbulent situation in Latvia, Roland's family embarked on a perilous journey to Sweden in an 18-foot whaling boat with 18 people, including children. They lived in Sweden for 3.5 years until the Russians demanded the return of Latvians to their own country.

Susan Petersen is an anthropologist who has dedicated a significant portion of her career to studying the fishing industry in Massachusetts. She moved to the state in 1973, shortly after earning her PhD from the University of Hawaii. Petersen began her research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic, where she sought to understand the structure of the fishing industry, including boat ownership, financial structures, and the impact of fish stocks on the industry's health.

Ms. Blount, president of the Blount shipbuilding business, speaks about her involvement in the fishing industry and pressures on the business from waterfront development.

Patricia Gerrior is a retired fisheries biologist with a career spanning over 35 years in the federal government. She has worked extensively in New Bedford and has seen significant changes in the field over the years. Gerrior has been involved in various aspects of fisheries science, including the Fisheries Observer Program, regulations, stock cycles/declines, and marine mammal/right whales research. She has also worked with the commercial shipping industry. Gerrior has been a strong advocate for women in the field, facing and overcoming discrimination during her career.

Jim Ruhle is a third-generation fisherman from Long Island, New York, born in 1948. He spent most of his life in Wanchese, North Carolina, where he continued his family's fishing tradition. Ruhle has two sons, one of whom works with him full-time, and the other part-time, making them the fourth generation in this fishing lineage. Ruhle's family has a rich history in the fishing industry, with his father pioneering the longline swordfish fishery in North Carolina. Ruhle has worked on various fishing boats, including a ninety-foot steel boat he now owns.

Willis Blount, a distinguished fisherman and shipbuilder, was born in Putnam, Connecticut, in 1945. He inherited his maritime passion from a family deeply entrenched in shipbuilding and fishing traditions. Blount's early exposure to the maritime world led him to develop a connection to both shipbuilding and fishing. His journey encompassed innovative contributions to the industry and a lifelong dedication to the sea.

Donna Goodwin is a seasoned professional in the fishing industry, specifically in the area of splicing. Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, she comes from a long line of fishermen, with her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all having been involved in the industry. Donna was taught how to splice three-strand ropes at the age of seven by her father. She later worked for New England Ropes for about 20 years before starting her own splicing business, the Splice Girls, with her daughter.

Ms. Sanfilippo, from an Italian fishing family, lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She is the Executive Director of the Gloucester Fisherman's Wives Association, an advocacy group for the fishing industry. Born in the fishing village of Porticello in Sicily, Angela acquired substantial knowledge from her grandfather about boat technologies and weather patterns. 

Johanna Reichhold is a deckhand, fisher poet, writer, and musician. She hails from Cordova, Alaska. Reichhold, like Bowstern, uses her experiences in the fishing industry to inspire her art. She is of European-American descent. Moe Bowstern was born in 1967 and is a multifaceted artist who works as a deckhand, fisher poet, writer, and musician. She is based in Kodiak, Alaska, but resides in Portland, Oregon. Bowstern has been a part of the Fisher Poets community since 1997 and has participated in the event every year except the second year.