John Miranda describes family life in Portugal, his immigration to America in 1980 and his training in engineering in both Portugal and the U.S. He discusses working for R.A. Mitchell for three decades, engineering changes in the fishing industry over the last 3 decades and his hopes for the future of fishing in general.

This oral history was produced in 2017 as part of the Workers on the Waterfront Oral History Project conducted by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center with funding from an Archie Green Fellowship provided by the Library of Congress.

John Pelicas describes in detail his work and life as a marine mechanic at R.A. Mitchell, where he has worked for 31 years. An immigrant from Portugal, he comes from a fishing family and has always been a part of the community on the waterfront. He discusses dangers if the job, fishing regulations, various engine fabrications, his deep commitment to the job, difficulties with computerized engines and what he sees as a bright future for the fishing industry.

John Reardon is a former fisherman turned General Manager for IMP Fishing Gear Limited in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born in Boston, MA, Reardon entered the fishing industry in the early 1980s, starting out on a dragger and retiring from fishing in 1999. He began working for IMP Fishing Gear, also known as Industrial Marine Products, in November of 1999. The company, which started out selling fishing gear in Newfoundland, now has 15 branches in Canada and the United States.

This is one of a set of 15 interviews with Portuguese immigrant fishermen, sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant.. In it Mr. Santos talks about how he came to the United States and got started as a fisherman as well as his experience at sea, social conditions among Portuguese fishermen in New Bedford and the economic and social forces that made him leave fishing.

John Xifares, born on April 14, 1936, in New Bedford, is a retired superior court judge with a rich family background rooted in Greece and the New Bedford fishing industry. Before his tenure as a judge, Xifares was a lawyer, representing fish lumpers, seafood workers, and teamsters who represented fishermen for about a decade. His legal career also included serving as co-council for health and welfare funds and pension funds for these unions. Xifares' early life was closely tied to the fishing industry, with his family owning several bars on the waterfront and a couple of fishing boats.

Jon Broderick is a seasoned fisherman and a retired school teacher, born in San Francisco, California. Despite coming from a family with no ties to the fishing industry, Broderick found his calling in the waters of Alaska. He has been setting nets for salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska with his family for over 25 years. His sons, despite their diverse career paths, have embraced the tradition and often join him in the fishing season. Broderick is also known for his participation in the Astoria Fisherpoets Gathering.

Jon Campbell discusses life growing up in a fishing community.

This is one of a set of 15 oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant. In this interview Mr. Lima talks about his life prior to coming to the U.S., including fishing, social and religious traditions, migration, and how he joined the crew of a cod-fishing vessel in order to avoid serving in the Portuguese military. Included in his narrative is a description of what it was like to live under the Salazar dictatorship.

Jose Couto started working at New Bedford Ship Supply the year that he graduated from high school. He was hired initially because he had taken bookkeeping courses and was fluent in Portuguese, but since then has been promoted as a manager. In addition to bookkeeping, he deals with buying and stocking the store with supplies, often consulting with his customers to meet their needs. In this interview, Jose also discusses changes in the industry and his own experience.

This is one of a set of 15 oral histories with Portuguese immigrant fishermen who worked out of the port of New Bedford. The project was sponsored by a NOAA Preserve America grant. Jose Fangueiro was the son of a fisherman. His mother was a fish buyer and salter. He was born 200 feet from the beach in Northern Portugal. At age 14 he went fishing. In 1974 he immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts to join relatives.