John Liarkos, a male, was interviewed on September 24th, 2005, at the New Bedford Harbormaster House. At the time of the interview, he was 51 years old and resided in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Liarkos is the owner of Sea Fuels, a marine diesel station. Born in New Bedford, Liarkos grew up in a family of seven children. His father, originally from New York, and mother, from Canada, both moved to New Bedford during their youth. Liarkos's father and uncle owned Stanley Oil Company, which supplied fuel to the fishing industry. Through summer jobs, Liarkos became familiar with the fishing industry, particularly the New Bedford Seafood Co-op. In 1985, he joined his father's company and eventually became involved with the fishing industry on a day-to-day basis. In 1995, he purchased the assets of the New Bedford Seafood Co-op when it faced financial difficulties.

Scope and Content Note:
The oral history interview with John Liarkos provides insights into the fishing industry and the operations of Sea Fuels. The interview, conducted by Janice Fleuriel on September 24th, 2005, covers various topics related to Liarkos's personal background, his involvement in the fishing industry, the acquisition of the New Bedford Seafood Co-op, and the operations of Sea Fuels. Liarkos discusses his family's history in New Bedford, his father's association with Stanley Oil Company, and his own introduction to the fishing industry through summer jobs and interactions with the New Bedford Seafood Co-op. He explains the role of the co-op in supplying local fishermen with fuel, supplies, and services, as well as the co-op's cooperative structure and pricing mechanisms. The interview delves into the details of Sea Fuels, including its facility, fueling processes, and customer base. Throughout the interview, Liarkos touches on various industry-related topics, such as the difference between marine diesel and automotive diesel, the Internal Revenue Service's attempt to tax vessels with road tax, the impact of high gas prices on the fishing fleet, and the demand for scallops in international markets. He also discusses the challenges posed by regulations, including those related to Homeland Security and the Coast Guard, as well as the industry's self-regulation and efforts to avoid hiring individuals involved in illegal activities. Liarkos provides insights into the day-to-day operations of Sea Fuels, including the strategies employed to deal with rising gas prices, the business's financial aspects, employee count, and diversification efforts. He briefly mentions the responsibilities and training requirements for barge pilots, as well as the camaraderie among industry members. Liarkos also expresses his views on the role of the city of New Bedford in supporting the fishing industry and suggests improvements for the Working Waterfronts Festival. John Liarkos discusses the process of how boats get to Europe and the challenges they face due to high fuel costs. He mentions that the boats are shipped to Boston and then flown to Europe in refrigerated trucks. Liarkos explains that scallopers can afford the high fuel costs because they earn a significant amount of money from their catch, while draggers struggle because they earn less and still have to pay the same fuel prices. He mentions the diversification of his business into home heating oil and commercial fuel. The interview concludes with a discussion about Liarkos' barge operations, including the training required for barge pilots and the logistics of fueling multiple boats.