Michael Theiler
Southern New England American Lobster Fishery Oral History Project
This project collects oral histories from lobstermen and resource managers in Connecticut and New York.
Based in Waterford, Connecticut, lobster fisherman Michael Theiler initially worked for a pharmaceutical company after college. He left that industry to pursue his passion for being on the water. He was a successful lobster fisherman during the 1980s boom and into the late 1990s when the lobster began to die off. He has been actively involved in the politics and policies surrounding fishing and lobster industries and has witnessed the difficulties fishermen have faced and adaptations implemented to try to save the lobster fishing industry. Though he still maintains his lobster fishing business, he now dedicates much of his time and resources to helping commercial fishermen learn critical skills to maintain safety on the water.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.