Rockland, ME

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Dan Harriman Voices of the Maine Fishermen's Forum 2018

Dan Harriman is a fisherman who operates the state’s last mackerel weir in Cape Elizabeth, ME. His family came to the US from Denmark in the 1980s. He speaks about his experience fishing and discusses the issues he sees in the fishing industry such as unsustainability and lack of access. He believes these challenges stem from knowledge not being passed between generations and suggests that change needs to come from the bottom up.

Galen Koch, Matt Frassica Rockland, ME Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute
Dana Morse Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019

Dana Morse, from Walpole, ME, is a seasoned professional in the field of aquaculture and marine resource management. With over two decades of experience as a member of the Maine Sea Grant Program, he has dedicated his career to education, research, and technology transfer in the industry. As a co-founder of the Nice Oyster Company, Morse is also an oyster farmer, bringing practical hands-on knowledge to his work and bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Scope and Content Note

Eliza Oldach , Natalie Springuel Rockland, ME University of California, Davis, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute, Maine Fishermen’s Forum
Daniel Devereaux Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019

Daniel Devereaux, from Brunswick, ME, is harbor master, clam warden, and cofounder of Mere Point Oyster Company in Maquoit Bay.

Scope and Content Note

Galen Koch, Griffin Pollock Rockland, ME Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute, Maine Fishermen’s Forum
Dave Cousens and Edwin McKie Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019

Dave Cousens is a veteran lobster fisherman from Waterman's Beach, South Thomaston, Maine. He played a crucial role in fostering cooperation between American and Canadian lobster fishermen. Dave's dedication to sustainable fishing practices and his efforts to educate younger generations about the industry have made him a respected leader in the lobster community.

Natalie Springuel, Corina Gribble Rockland, ME Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute, Maine Fishermen’s Forum
David Myslabodski Voices of the Maine Fishermen's Forum 2018

David Myslabodski, who was born in Mexico, lived in Israel, and is currently living in Rockland, ME, is a seaweed consultant. He describes his efforts to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of growing and processing seaweeds and speaks in detail about the economy, demand, production, and tensions in and around the seaweed industry in Maine.

Galen Koch Rockland, ME Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute
David, Cynthia, and Emily Thomas Voices of the Maine Fishermen's Forum 2018

David, Cynthia, and Emily Thomas are from Islesford, Cranberry Islands, ME. David is a retired school teacher and lobsterman, Cynthia works at the island library, and their daughter Emily attended college and now works in Nova Scotia, CA, though she grew up on the Cranberry Islands. They speak about the diversification of Islesford, temperature impacting the location of lobsters, and changes in island life, such as setting up reliable internet service but losing the island store.

Matt Frassica, Teagan White Rockland, ME Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute
Donald Wagner Voices of the Maine Fishermen's Forum 2018

John McMillan, the owner of McMillan Offshore Survival Training and resident of Belfast, ME, and Don Wagner, one of his employees, offer the Drill Conductor Course to lobstermen. Both focus on the importance of safety training in the lobster industry and include stories of the gratitude people have expressed at knowing what to do in emergency situations, particularly when their training was able to save multiple lives.

Matt Frassica, Kaitlyn Clark Rockland, ME Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute
Frank Heller Voices of the Maine Fishermen's Forum 2018

Frank Heller and Jack Collins, two friends and prospective aquaculturists from Brunswick, ME, share anecdotes from their life including how Heller broke his leg while walking on Popham Beach, was treated by the same doctor as Stephen King, and few years later, broke his wrist in the same location as the leg. Both men are interested in organic ocean farming and discuss the information they learned at the Forum about oyster aquaculture and seasteads.

Galen Koch, Teagan White Rockland, ME Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute
Freda McKie and Edwin McKie Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019

Edwin and Freda McKie are experienced lobster fishermen based in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Edwin began his fishing career in 1971 and purchased his own boat and license in 1973, while Freda joined him in lobster fishing in 1982.

Scope and Content Note

Galen Koch, Giulia Cardoso Rockland, ME Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute, Maine Fishermen’s Forum
Glenn Robbins Voices of the Maine Fishermen's Forum 2018

Glenn Robbins is a herring and lobster fisherman out of Rockland, ME. He has extensive experience on the sea as he started fishing when he was 12 years old. He compares purse seining and trawling and talks about their effects on marine ecosystems. Robbins also speaks about the changes, as well as the rises and falls, in the fisheries over the past 60 years. Robbins emphasizes how important it is to fish sustainably and protect fishing grounds.

Natalie Springuel Rockland, ME Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, The Island Institute