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. Bilhano talks about his life prior to coming to the U.S., including fishing, social and religious traditions. He also relates what brought him to the U.S.

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. Moço talks about his life in Portugal, including fishing and cultural traditions. He also describes routines aboard Portuguese fishing boats in the U.S. and the role of the union in the strikes of the 1980's as well as the impact of regulations in the livelihoods of those involved in the fishing industry.

Luckas Smith, a 24-year-old male, has grown up around the fishing industry. He grew up in New Bedford, went to New Bedford Vocational School and recently graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He has worked as a wire splicer for his family’s business, Northeast Trawl, since he was about fifteen years old.  He explains the technique of splicing, the various tools, equipment, and the winch truck used for splicing.  Lastly, he discusses his view of the waterfront community and his pride in his role in the seafood industry.

Lynn Selboe is an experienced commercial fisherman with a strong connection to the fishing industry in Alaska. Born and raised in Illinois, Lynn eventually moved to Seattle, where she currently resides. She grew up with a sister who was involved in fishing, working as a translator on a Joint Venture in the Bering Sea. Inspired by her sister's experiences, Lynn decided to give fishing a try after graduating from college in 1991. Joining the O'Hara Corporation, based in Rockland, Maine, Lynn began her fishing career on a 124-foot factory trawler called the Enterprise.

Malvin Kvilhaug, a Norwegian fisherman and boat owner, was born on October 21, 1938, in Karmoy, an island in Norway. He came from a fishing family, with his father and grandfather also engaged in fishing. Kvilhaug started fishing for lobsters on his own at the age of 10 or 11, using rowboats and dories. After enlisting in the Merchant Marines at the age of 16, he later joined the Navy in Norway at 18. In January 1961, at the age of 22, Kvilhaug arrived in the United States and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

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 Manuel Catulo talks about his life in Portugal, including his experience aboard a freighter and living under the Salazar dictatorship. He also describes how he came to the U.S., his experience as a fisherman and boat owner and his hobby making boat models. In addition, he provides information on social and cultural practices among Portuguese fishing families in New Bedford

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, Manuel Pedro Pereira talks extensively about his childhood his Portugal, his military service in Angola and his involvement with professional soccer prior to emigrating to the U.S. and becoming a fisherman.

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. Vinagre talks about his life in Portugal prior to coming to the U.S., including his experience aboard the Portuguese cod-fishing boats, coming to the U.S. and his father's death at sea.

Manuel “Manny” Vinagre, a retired fisherman and boat owner, was born on December 17, 1940, in Buarcos, a village in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. He began working on the water at the age of 8, unloading sardine boats in his hometown. Manny comes from a long line of fishermen, including his father, grandfather, and uncle. His father tragically lost his life at sea while on a Gloucester dragger. Manny spent ten years fishing as part of the Portuguese “White Fleet,” dory fishing for cod off the coast of Newfoundland.

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