In this interview, DEAM speaks of his evolving relationship with the fishing industry, from growing up with various family members involved in fish processing and delivery (including his father), to working as a truck driver for the fishing industry to finance his college education, eventually leading to his current job as a product manager at a food packaging company.

On September 23, 2006, Millie Rahn interviewed Dan Orchard as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project.  Dan shares his experiences the Travis and Natalie out of Point Judith, Rhode Island. He’s worked on a variety of boats, including smaller boats, engaged in inshore dragging, scuba diving for steamers, and bull raking for little necks.

On September 25, 2011, Markham Starr interviewed Dave and Judy Dutra as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project. Dave discusses his experiences in the fishing industry, noting the ways the community and opportunity has changed over the years. He speaks of his family’s history with fishing and his earliest memories in growing up by the water in Provincetown, where he’s fished since the age of 10.

On September 27, 2008, Janice Gadaire Fleuriel interviewed Dave and Pat Densmore as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project. Dave describes his childhood growing up on the Kodiak and Aleutian Islands in Alaska, remarking that he has always been called to the water. He began working on boats at the age of 12, running skiff on his father’s boat, and taking on more responsibilities at a young age. Pat shares details of her farming background and her adjustment to work at sea.

Dave Blodgett tells his fish story which takes place on Lake Champlain, Vermont.

Dave Casoni has been a lobsterman for 40 years. He discusses how the industry has changed and about his life as a lobsterman.

On September 23, 2006, Janice Gadaire Fleuriel interviewed Dave Martins as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project.  Dave’s parents immigrated to the US from the Azores, and while they weren’t directly involved in the fishing industry, fishing was embedded into their way of life, and they fished frequently. He describes his educational background and work in fisheries science at the School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST).

David Marujo was born in New Bedford in 1968 and has lived in Acushnet since age 18.  He began working at Crystal Ice 31 years ago and has worked his way up to his current job as supervisor.  He describes the process of making different kinds of ice, how the technology has changed in the last 30 years, reflects on the changing waterfront and the trickle down effects on shore-side businesses as quotas restrict fishing days and demand for services, and the next generations are/are not coming into the business.  “The waterfront is nothing like it used to be,” he concludes.

On September 26, 2004, Millie Rahn interviewed Deb and Ron Schrader as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project. Ron was raised in a fishing family, and knew he wanted to be a fisherman from an early age, and made his way along the coast from North Carolina to New Bedford, MA, where he achieved his goal of becoming a captain. Deb grew up in New Bedford, but it wasn’t until she met Ron that she became involved in the local fishing industry.

Debra Kelsey of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Growing up, she attended Catholic school and had no interaction with the fishing industry. She initially worked as a commercial printer until she was laid off. She then enrolled as a full-time student at Salter School for 10 months, then began to work as a medical assistant, but didn’t like it. Shortly afterwards she was offered position as a navigator at Fishing Partnership Support Services where she works today.