Jessica Echard and Rebecca Weil

Jessica Echard and Rebecca Weil Image
Location of Interview
Collection Name

Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019

Description

Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019 is a project of Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, and the Island Institute, with support from the Maine Fishermen’s Forum Board of Directors.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
03-01-2019
Transcribers

Molly Graham

Principal Investigator
Audio
Biographical Sketch

Jessica Echard and Rebecca Weil, from Cooperstown, NY, both work for the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety as a research assistant and research coordinator, respectively. Their main project has been working with fishermen to increase their use of lifejackets while fishing. They have focused on talking with fishermen about why they choose not to use lifejackets, what their concerns are, and how they can help improve lifejacket design to make them more appropriate for the job.

Scope and Content Note

In this interview, they discuss their research process and their stories from working with fishermen around safety issues, highlighting how important safety is to fishermen even if they choose not to use lifejackets. They emphasize the need to involve the entire community in finding solutions to this issue, as the impact of a drowning affects not only the families but the whole community. The conversation touches upon the changing attitudes among fishermen towards wearing life jackets, with an increasing number expressing interest and excitement. They recount stories of fishermen who have embraced the use of life jackets and even credited them with saving lives. Beyond the topic of safety, Jessica and Rebecca discuss other issues affecting the fishing and farming communities, such as changing ocean conditions, regulations, right whale conservation, pricing, and the struggles faced by farmers, including dairy farmers, due to pricing issues and foreclosure. They mention the upcoming focus on addressing sleep deprivation in the fishing community as a new area of exploration.


Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out  Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc.  The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry. 

The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.

Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.