Paul Lane
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Laura Orleans
Paul Lane is a seasoned professional in the fishing industry, currently serving as the Marine Operations Manager and Safety Officer at Fleet Fisheries Inc. Born in Fall River, he has spent his entire life in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Lane's family has a long history in the fishing industry, with his mother being from a Sicilian fishing family and his father alternating between the fishing industry and tug boats. Lane initially pursued a career with the Shell Oil Company but later returned to the fishing industry, where he worked in shore support . He holds a degree in business management and started his career in the fishing industry by working on engine maintenance and rebuilding engines. Lane has witnessed the fishing industry's evolution, from near destitution to its current state of recovery. He has been involved in the industry's shift towards a more businesslike approach, with organizations like the Fisherman's Survival Fund funding research to improve the industry.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Paul Lane, conducted by Mark Starr and transcribed by Laura Orleans, took place at the Fairfield Inn during the Working Waterfront Festival on September 26, 2010. Lane provides an in-depth look at his career in the fishing industry, his family's history in the industry, and his observations on the industry's evolution. Lane discusses his role at Fleet Fisheries Inc., a family-owned and operated company that includes a fleet of boats, a processing house, and a wholesale fish market. He also delves into the current controversy over permit stacking, which is causing tension in the industry. Lane shares a humorous story about a safety drill gone awry and discusses the impact of commercial fishing in popular culture. The interview also touches on the impact of the oil spill on the shrimp fishery, the diversity of Fleet's operations, and the value of giving tours to the public. Lane also discusses the positive reception of the book "Voices from the Waterfront" and the importance of giving the fishing industry a positive image.
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