Natalie Ameral

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Workers on the New Bedford Waterfront

Description

These oral histories were 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.

Date of Interview
11-15-2016
Transcribers

Amanda Peabody

Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Natalie Ameral, a female of Portuguese descent, was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in 1994. She worked as a government contractor and port sampler, collecting lengths and biological samples such as otoliths based on a list provided by NOAA Fisheries. Ameral was the only female among seven port samplers in her company. She started working as a port sampler the year after graduating from college. She transitioned to a new position as a fisheries specialist at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, located in the Jamestown, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. 

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Natalie Ameral, conducted on November 15, 2016, covers various aspects of her work as a government contractor and port sampler. Ameral describes her daily routine, challenges faced as one of seven port samplers in her company and the only female in this role, and her transition to a new position as a fisheries specialist at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. She discusses the process of collecting data, organizing it, and sending it to statistic scientists, as well as the influence of the sampling data on further research. Ameral also talks about the breakdown of work into quarters, the high volume of lengths she is required to collect, and her experiences working in a male-dominated field. Additionally, she shares her thoughts on video monitoring, the list of organisms she encounters daily, and her efforts to bring awareness about her job to the community. The interview concludes with Ameral expressing her appreciation for her job and her desire to increase awareness about port sampling. Throughout the interview, Ameral's passion for her work and her interest in sharing knowledge about the fishing industry are evident.


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