Beverly Perdue is a prominent figure in North Carolina politics, having served as the state's Governor. She has been actively involved in various legislative initiatives, particularly those related to fisheries and environmental issues. Perdue's political career began with her interest in the Democratic Party and her first experiences with politicians in Raleigh. Throughout her career, she has been involved in numerous coastal-related legislations, including the Fisheries Reform Act, which she describes as 'consensus legislation'.

Melvin Shepard is a long-time resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, with deep roots in the community. Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, Shepard's family has a rich history in Holly Ridge, where his grandfather served as the Atlantic Coastline Railroad Station Master and his grandmother was the Post Mistress. Shepard and his wife, Tilly, have been married since 1955 and have been involved in the commercial fishing industry for many years. Shepard is a unique individual who has managed to balance his interests in commercial fishing and environmental conservation.

A.B. Coldwell, Director of Customs in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, was a prominent figure in the coastal community during the late 19th century. Born into a maritime culture, Coldwell assumed the role of Director of Customs in Lunenburg, a position of significance in a town deeply tied to the sea. His tenure in this role allowed him to witness and oversee various aspects of the local fishing and shipping industries.

A.M. Smith was a prominent figure in the fish business in Portland, Maine, during the late 19th century. His career in the industry spanned at least fifteen years, during which he gained significant insights into the mackerel fishery and the legislation surrounding it. Smith was not personally engaged in the fisheries but was a dealer, which gave him a unique perspective on the industry's economics and the effects of legislation on the market. Smith was known for his innovative thinking and was the first to propose a five-year close season for mackerel fishing.

Pam Davis Morris was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1962. Her father was an engineer and her mother was a medical technician. The family moved to Beaufort, North Carolina when she was five years old, and later, Smyrna, North Carolina. Morris began her career in the seafood industry at a young age, working at a fish house and heading shrimp when she was just fifteen. She attended college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned degrees in Art and Art Education.

Bart Bailey is a charter captain/ stone crabber/ commercial fisher who has been fishing for 30 years inshore and offshore. He has stayed in Naples his entire life except when he ran a tuna boat from ’85 to ’92 in the Gulf of Mexico. He says he has been stone crabbing since ’92 and has spent most of the last two years running charters. 

Sandy Semans Ross is a retired newspaper editor and freelance writer who has a deep connection with the coastal communities and seafood industry. Born in a coal mining town in West Virginia, Ross moved to coastal communities due to her father's Navy service, where she developed a love for seafood. Ross's professional career includes working as a newspaper editor and doing freelance work for various publications. She is also the Executive Director of Outer Banks Catch, an organization dedicated to promoting locally caught seafood and supporting the local fishing industry.

Al Durret is a Marina owner in Fort Myers Beach.  He has been in Fort Myers Beach for thirty-three years.  He sells shrimp as bait. 

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Willy Phillips is a seasoned professional in the commercial fishing industry, with a particular focus on crabbing. He has spent a significant portion of his life in fish houses and has been deeply involved in fisheries legislation. Phillips has been an advocate for the crab fishery and has worked towards the development of a crab management plan. He has also been a vocal critic of the commercial fishing industry, proposing a complete shutdown and rebuild of the industry in North Carolina.

Bill Burk is a seasoned fisherman and expert in the fishing industry with over four decades of experience. As a native of North Florida, he has witnessed and adapted to the changing fishing practices and environmental impacts on the Gulf Coast. 

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Albert Canfield is a recently retired stone crab fisherman out of Naples.

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Richard "Dick" Brame was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, but grew up in eastern North Carolina. He has a long history of working for not-for-profit organizations, including the Izaak Walton League, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation, and the Coastal Conservation Association (C.C.A.). Brame joined the C.C.A. in 1989 and served as its first Executive Director until 1999. He then transitioned to the role of Fisheries Director, representing the C.C.A. at Atlantic States and South Atlantic council meetings.

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Buster McKay is a seasoned fisherman who has been fishing throughout Florida's gulf coast since the late 1940s. He has been fishing Florida’s gulf coast since the early 1940s, commercially catching red snapper and grouper.

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Danny Ratfield is a seasoned expert in Florida's coastal areas and fisheries, with nearly 30 years of experience exploring locations like the Florida Keys and the Everglades. He advocates for studying and addressing red tide and water quality issues to restore the natural balance of the ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of sustainable solutions.

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Captain Ed Hurst specializes in fly fishing and light tackle backwater fishing for snook, redfish, trout and tarpon. He has lived in Sarasota since 1956 and I has been guiding for over 30 years. 

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Bruce Hitchcock is an experienced fisherman and fishing guide residing in Everglades City. He primarily focuses on inshore and backcountry fishing. He has been fishing in the area for over 40 years and has been diving there for 25 years. Throughout his time in Everglades City, he has almost never noticed any Red Tide event until 2012.

Bryon Holland is an experienced fisherman with a passion for the waters off Johns Pass, where he has been fishing since 1984. With a background in commercial fishing and later transitioning to charter boat fishing, Bryon has extensive knowledge of the region's marine life and fishing patterns. 

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Brad Gorst fishes offshore (commercial and charter) in the grouper snapper fishery as well as for kingfish and Spanish mackerel. He has been in business in Clearwater since 1973. The red tide in 2018 didn’t impact him but the decrease in tourism impacted his bookings for his charter business. 

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Dave Zalewski is an experienced charter boat captain  from Madeira Beach. With over 35 years of expertise, he specializes in offshore fishing along Florida's coast. 

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Chuck Cress is a charter captain who moved to Sarasota in 1980, and he fished recreationally while working in retail for 20 years, then spent the last 20 years chartering in the Sarasota Bay. He is an inshore captain and stays within a mile of the shore.

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Captain Chuck Cress describes his work as a charter fisherman in the intercoastal Sarasota Bay, Florida, since 1980. He states he primarily catches tarpon, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel between Bradenton and Englewood.

Don Jones is a commercial fisherman who grew up in the Boca Grande North area and has spent most of his life in the fishing business. He has witnessed red tide occurrences throughout the years, but they were typically short-lived, lasting a couple of weeks to a month. However, in recent times, particularly during the last year, he experienced a severe and prolonged red tide event that lasted year-round and significantly impacting his fishing business.

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Eddie Barnhill is a third-generation fisherman and the owner of Barnhill Fisheries. He has a deep passion for fishing and is committed to preserving historical knowledge and protecting the fishing industry's future. Eddie is concerned about the challenges posed by factors like overfishing, water quality issues, and climate change, and advocates for proper management and conservation efforts to ensure a sustainable future for the fishing community and marine ecosystems.

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Greg Abrams is a commercial fisherman, and owns a seafood business in Panama City. Abrams discusses mostly the changes in fisheries regulations through his time as a fisherman. 

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Robert Bullard and Ellis Dosher are both fishers from Florida. Born and raised on the east coast of Florida.

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Bullard and Dosher describe learning to fish at a very young age, continuing through their teens, and eventually starting their own gag grouper fishing business. They also refer to the fishing gear they use, fishing grounds, vessels, and the fishing community in eastern Florida.

Jack Hale is a seasoned fisherman hailing from Naples with over 30 years of experience in stone crab fishing. Throughout his career, he witnessed the decline of stone crabs and the detrimental impact of red tide events on marine life.

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John Hand is a 4th generation Floridian. Originally from the Tampa area, he moved down to Everglades City and became a charter captain. John Hand does not allude to any specific Red Tide event, but gives insight to the environmental changes that are happening in the Everglades. The only Red Tide events he talked about occurred in the Tampa area.

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Howard Grimm is the mayor of Everglades City. He has ample experience on the water as commercial and recreational fisherman, and he's also involved in the seafood industry. Traditionally, Red Tide events do not affect the Everglades City area, however Grimm recalls one event in the early 80's which occurred offshore. It was the worst one he personally experienced. 

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Henry Blakely is an experienced fisherman based in Fort Myers Beach, with a focus on stone crabbing and kingfish fishing. Throughout his life, he has witnessed and dealt with the impact of red tide occurrences on fishing activities in the region.

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Joe Croke is a recent commercial fisherman, who started fishing in the Cortez area in 2008.

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George "Bem" Storter is a Naples native and is 83 years old at the time of this interview. He hasn’t been out on the water in around 20 years (since the net ban) but he is known throughout Naples as being a wealth of information. He commercial fished before the net ban and has been recreationally fishing since then. 

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Captain Gould has been backwater fishing for 25 years. He charters approximately 250 trips a year. He also fishes along the beach and up to five or six miles nearshore. He fished offshore briefly from ’95 to ‘99.

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Nate Meschelle is a young commercial fisherman based out of Cortez. Nate embarked on a full-time fishing career at a young age, honing his skills in various fisheries such as lady fish, jack, and pompano. He is not only experienced in navigating the waters and understanding the ecosystem but also an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable fishing practices, actively engaging in activities like clam release and promoting initiatives to mitigate the impact of human activities on marine life.

Richard Wahrenberger is the owner of City Seafood, a restaurant and seafood market in Everglades City. The only Red Tide event he has personally noticed was when he lived in Madeira Beach, some 50 years ago. He generally believes that Red Tide doesn't occur near Everglades City.

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Rick Waite and Tom Olyanarnyk are commercial fishermen from Cortez. Their earliest memories of a Red Tide event was during the 1970s, where they witnessed a bad fish kill mostly affecting crabs. 

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Mike Davis is a commercial fisherman residing in Cortez.

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Nick Ruland is a fish house owner who has been in Fort Myers Beach for 30 years. He thinks we should involve fishers in water testing and wants an emergency reduction of the grouper quota.

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Ralph Andrew is a seasoned fisherman based in Florida. He has witnessed and experienced multiple red tide events throughout his life, leading him to advocate for stricter regulations to protect the environment from pollution and its devastating consequences.

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Paul Moore is a local Cortez stone crabber. Moore has been fishing and stone crabbing in the Cortez area since the 1970s. Moore started stone crabbing in 1980, joining his family's stone crab restaurant business. He primarily worked on crab and lobster boats for the first 15 years after high school. He began running his own boat in 1991.

Paul Reeves, is a red grouper commercial fisherman from Steinhatchee, Florida.

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Gabriel Ka'eo, a native Hawaiian, was born on February 18, 1903, in Wai'ea, South Kana, Hawaii. His parents were Jones Emmanuel Ka'eo and Harriet Kamoku. Throughout his life, Gabriel lived in various places including Kealia, Hookena, Kana, and Honolulu. He held a variety of jobs such as a sugar plantation laborer, coffee picker, stevedore, contractor, and a stone wall builder. In 1926, he married Katherine Ka'ai and they had two children. As of the time of the interview in 1980, Gabriel was residing in Hookena.

Katherine "Nina" Kalaiwa'a was born on July 28, 1910, in Ke'ei, South Kana, Hawaii to parents Victor Kukua Kalua and Veronica Keawe. She attended Napoopoo School and held a variety of jobs throughout her life, including housekeeper, babysitter, plantation worker, castor bean picker, coffee farmer, and lau hala weaver. Between 1932 and 1948, while living in Honolulu, she worked as a waitress and a pineapple cannery worker. Later in life, she became a resident of Honokohau, North Kana, and was active in various Hawaiian clubs and senior citizens' groups.

Will Ward is a seasoned fisherman and marine industry expert with over five decades of experience in Florida's coastal waters. From his early years working on boats as a teenager to becoming a licensed US Coast Guard Captain and running fishing charters, commercial boats, and seafood companies, Will has honed his expertise across various fisheries. He is a Florida native, with a family history spanning five generations in the state.

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Captain Will Thompson is a seasoned fisherman with over 25 years of experience fishing in the Sarasota area. For the past 15 years, he has been actively involved in the charter business, specializing in offshore and near shore fishing with extensive knowledge of targeting species like snapper, grouper, kingfish, goliath grouper, sharps, and cobia.

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Fred Iona, a Hawaiian-Portuguese farmer, was born on March 19, 1899, in Pahoehoe, South Kana, Hawaii. He was the youngest of eight children, and his father was a teacher at Alae School. Iona left school after the fourth grade to work on the Magoon Ranch in Pahoehoe. He eventually acquired his own land and cultivated various crops, including 'awa, banana, macadamia nuts, and peanuts. Iona is an active member of the Macadamia Nut Growers Association and continues to farm his land.

Margaret (Kamaka) Spinney was born on September 26, 1910, in Kalaoa, North Kana, Hawaii. She was the daughter of Jacob Palakiko Kamaka and Kalua Pimoe Makahi, who were lau hala weavers. In 1930, Margaret moved to Kailua, Kana, where she worked as a coffee bean sorter at the American Factors coffee mill. A year later, she married Arthur Spinney, a commercial fisherman. In 1937, they moved to Oahu, where Arthur began working as a parks keeper in Nanakuli. Ten years later, they returned to Kana.

Herman Bruce, a retired fisherman hailing from New Bedford, Massachusetts, holds a legacy of 55 years within the fishing industry. With ancestral roots tracing back to Newfoundland, Herman's family immigrated to the United States during the 1930s. Herman's father initially cast his nets in New London, CT, before eventually anchoring in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Herman's earliest memories are of the sea, as he began his journey assisting in the maintenance of his father's fishing vessel.

Mike Bruce is a fifty-year-old commercial fisherman based in New Bedford. He was born in New Bedford on April 15, 1956, to parents who emigrated from Newfoundland in the 1940s. His father was also a fisherman, continuing a family tradition that dates back to the 1600s. Bruce is of Canadian (New Foundland), Irish, and Scottish descent. He has served in various roles on fishing vessels, including as a skipper and a mate. Bruce is currently considering retiring from the fishing industry due to the prevalence of drug use among the available crew members.

Bernice Calnan, a resilient and dedicated woman, has spent her life closely intertwined with the fishing community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born and raised in a fishing family, Bernice has carried on the traditions and values of the maritime lifestyle through her roles as a fisherman's daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. Her connection to the ocean and the fishing industry runs deep, shaping her experiences and outlook. As the daughter of a boat cook on the dragger F/V Adventurer, Bernice grew up in the heart of the fishing world.

Vicky Campbell is a former fish cutter and Union representative from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Spruce Head Island, Maine. She has an extensive history in the fishery industry. Vicky grew up in Rockland, Maine, where fishing was a way of life. Her grandfather was a lobsterman, and fishing had a significant influence on her upbringing. Vicky later moved to New Bedford, following a friend's invitation, and found work in the fish houses. She had various roles in the industry, including packer, processor, skinner, fish cake maker, flash freezer operator, and brine tank operator.

Richard and Raymond Canastra are American brothers who co-founded the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They are known for their involvement in the commercial fishing industry, particularly in the scallop trade. The Canastra brothers were born and raised in New Bedford, a city with a rich history in the fishing industry. In 1994, they established the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction, which quickly became one of the largest seafood auctions on the East Coast of the United States.

James Ulysses Carter is an 82-year-old African American male born in Northern County, Virginia. He is a retired commercial fisherman and a musician with the Northern Neck Chantey Singers. Carter's career in the fishing industry began after he completed the eleventh grade. He became a captain in 1963 and served in that role for two years before returning to the position of mate. He retired from fishing in 1989.

Alan Cass, a 60-year-old male, is a retired fisherman with a diverse ethnic background of English, Irish, and Portuguese heritage. He spent his career as a fisherman based in the home port of New Bedford, where he primarily engaged in scalloping. Alan has a deep connection to the sea and has experienced various aspects of the fishing industry, from working on fishing vessels to being involved in the fishermen's union. Over the years, he has navigated through challenging conditions, weathered fishermen's strikes, and witnessed significant changes in fishing technology and regulations.

Steve Cassidy is an 85-year-old self-taught diver of white ethnicity. He began his career as a lifeguard at Horseneck Beach in 1955, where he was involved in several rescue operations. Cassidy's interest in diving began around this time, and he soon transitioned from lifeguarding to diving. He is a self-taught diver who learned the ropes of the profession through hands-on experience and by learning from others in the field. Cassidy partnered with Robert Douglas Ripley, a navy diver, and together they started a diving business.

Donald Clattenburg is an 81-year-old retired boat owner from Fairhaven, Nova Scotia. Born in Port Midway, Nova Scotia, he moved to New Bedford in 1941 with his three brothers. His father owned four fishing boats in New Bedford, and DC began his career in the fishing industry at the age of fifteen, working in Homers Filet House. He was drafted into the Navy at eighteen during WWII and participated in the invasion of the beach at Okinawa. After the war, he returned to fishing, working with his uncle on the Two Brothers and later on his father's boat.

Donald F. Clattenburg, born on September 5, 1925, in Port Midway, Nova Scotia, is a retired commercial fisherman with a rich history in the industry. His father, also a fisherman, moved to the United States before Donald was born, visiting his family in Nova Scotia annually . Donald moved to the United States in August 1941, just before World War II, and settled in New Bedford. He began his career in commercial fishing shortly after returning from the war, following in his father's footsteps.

Eugene Connors is a former commercial fisherman and fishery researcher who worked in the industry from 1960 to 1981. He was involved in scalloping and dragging in New Bedford, having originally come from a small fishing community in Stonington, CT. After his fishing career, Connors worked for the New England Fishery Development Foundation as the vessel site coordinator for a project called "Quality at Sea," which aimed to improve the quality of seafood being landed in New England ports by applying Scandinavian methods of handling product at sea.

Captain Samuel Cottle and Gloria Cottle are a married couple with a long history in the fishing industry. Captain Samuel Cottle is a fisherman who has used the ports of Point Judith, Rhode Island for his fishing activities. Gloria Cottle was born and brought up in Wakefield, Rhode Island, which is just several miles from Point Judith, a large fishing port. The couple resides in Albion, Maine. Captain Samuel Cottle's earliest memory of fishing dates back to when he was five years old. His great grandfather, who had fought in the Civil War, was a significant influence in his life.

Shawn Sipple is a former fisherman and past winner of the scallop-shucking contest. He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and attended New Bedford High School. Shawn got into fishing because his father, an ex-commercial fisherman, was tragically burned in a boat fire and could no longer fish. Despite the dangers of the profession, Shawn started fishing at the age of 17 after completing high school. He learned the tricks of the trade from Peter Kilshaw, the owner of Northern Edge, who mentored him. Shawn's father also owned the National Social Club in New Bedford.

Jay Speakman is a former fisherman with a rich history in the fishing industry. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Speakman considers Maine his true home, where he has roots going back several generations. His early experiences in fishing began as a child during summers spent on Little Cranberry Island, Maine, where he was introduced to lobster fishing. His career later took him to British Columbia and Alaska in the 1970s, where he engaged in various fishing activities including gill netting herring roe, long lining and seining for halibut, set netting for salmon and King Crabbing.

Donald Spooner is a former Navy man who has worked in a variety of jobs before finding his place in the fishing industry, where he specialized in making "doors" for trawlers. Born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Spooner has lived in the same house all his life. His parents were originally from Boston, but his mother was from New Bedford. After his parents divorced when he was just six months old, he was raised by his great aunt in Hope Beach, a section of Fairhaven. Spooner's connection with the fishing industry began in his youth.

Paul Swain, a 74-year-old male, is a retired government port agent with a rich history in the fishing industry. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Swain is of Newfoundland descent. He began his career as a fisherman and later transitioned into various roles including an auctioneer and a lumper. Swain's home port was New Bedford/Fairhaven, MA. Swain's career in the government began in 1957 as a port sampler, a role that involved taking samples from fish catches for age and growth studies.

The interview conducted on September 25, 2005, features two individuals: Mike Yortson and Mary Yortson Sylvia. Mike Yortson is the son of Mary Yortson Sylvia. Mary was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1911 and had two sons. Mike was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1955 but grew up in New Bedford after his father's death. Mary's family immigrated from St. Michael's in the Azores, and she worked in a doctor's dining room in Providence, where she met her first husband, Manny Cruz. Manny was lost at sea when Mary was 29 years old.

Leslie Trott is a retired fisherman of European American descent, who spent a significant part of his life fishing from the port of New Bedford. Born in New Bedford but raised in Nantucket, Trott comes from a long line of fishermen, with his father and great grandfather both having been involved in the industry. Trott began his fishing career at the age of sixteen and continued for forty-three years, with a brief stint in the merchant marine and the Army.

Amy Van Atten, born in 1968 in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a dedicated professional in the field of marine conservation. Growing up as the oldest of five children, Amy aspired to study whaling and marine mammals, particularly focusing on the impacts of whaling and the reasons behind it. Over time, her passion evolved to include fisheries and accidental interactions between marine mammals and fishing activities.

Manuel “Manny” Vinagre, a retired fisherman and boat owner, was born on December 17, 1940, in Buarcos, a village in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. He began working on the water at the age of 8, unloading sardine boats in his hometown. Manny comes from a long line of fishermen, including his father, grandfather, and uncle. His father tragically lost his life at sea while on a Gloucester dragger. Manny spent ten years fishing as part of the Portuguese “White Fleet,” dory fishing for cod off the coast of Newfoundland.

Lars Vinjerud, a Norwegian-Irish American, is a former fisherman and captain who now serves as the Owner and President of Fleet Fisheries. Born on June 18, 1959, in Hackensack, New Jersey, Vinjerud moved to New Bedford at the age of nine or ten. His early fascination with the waterfront led him to start working in the fishing industry at a young age. He quit school in eighth grade and hitchhiked to Alaska, where he spent three years king crabbing and salmon fishing. Upon returning to New Bedford at 18, he joined a scallop boat.

Wayne Whalen is a seasoned professional in the fishing industry, with a lifelong involvement that spans various roles including fisherman, lumper, and machinist. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Whalen currently resides in Cape May, NJ, where he operates a metal fabricating business. His connection to the fishing industry was established through his family, particularly his cousins who were commercial fishermen. Whalen's work has often intersected with the fishing industry, as he has frequently contributed his metalwork skills to the maintenance and repair of commercial boats.

Ted Williams is a seasoned professional with a rich history in the New Bedford fishing industry. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Williams moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts at the age of eighteen to pursue a career in agriculture. After working in the farming industry, he transitioned to marine construction, carpentry, and various other jobs before finding his calling in the fishing industry. Williams' extensive experience in the fishing industry includes roles as a fisherman, lumper, stevedore, fish cutter, tug boat captain, and merchant mariner.

Lou Legace is a 54-year-old male of French heritage who was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts. He attended Durfee High School and briefly studied Civil Engineering at the University of Massachuestts in Amherst before deciding to pursue a career in fishing. Lou started his fishing career as a deckhand on a small clam boat owned by friends. He developed a passion for clamming and eventually became a captain himself. Currently, Lou owns his own boat and primarily focuses on paperwork and managing the business side of clamming, while occasionally going out to sea.

The father and son duo, Paul and Mathieu Lemieux, have run the successful New Bedford, MA shoreside business, Blue Fleet, for over twenty years. Throughout their lifetimes working with the fishing industry, the two have drawn upon their optimistic outlooks, values of respect, and continual adaptability for support and strength within a frequently changing and challenging industry. Paul Lemieux is a seasoned shoreside business owner and operator hailing from the coastal town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He is the founder of Blue Fleet Welding.

John Liarkos, a male, was interviewed on September 24th, 2005, at the New Bedford Harbormaster House. At the time of the interview, he was 51 years old and resided in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Liarkos is the owner of Sea Fuels, a marine diesel station. Born in New Bedford, Liarkos grew up in a family of seven children. His father, originally from New York, and mother, from Canada, both moved to New Bedford during their youth. Liarkos's father and uncle owned Stanley Oil Company, which supplied fuel to the fishing industry.

Eva Liput is a fishing vessel captain and a Polish immigrant who moved to the United States in 1986. She grew up in Poland, where her father worked as a fisherman on George's Bank. Eva developed an interest in sailing at a young age, influenced by her older brother who was a sailor. After immigrating to the United States, Eva first settled in Newport, Rhode Island, before eventually moving to New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1986, she started working as a deckhand on the fishing vessel Michigan, a scalloper.

Myra Lopes is a writer, historian, and daughter of a fisherman. She resides in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Myra Lopes's father was Leo Powers, a captain on several fishing vessels. His fishing career began in the 1940s. Myra's ancestors are from Newfoundland and she has pride in her heritage and fishing occupation. Her father's fishing vessel, Venture I, was lost in a storm during the Cold War era, but he and another crew member were rescued by a Russian trawler.

Richard MacLeod is a retired fisherman who was born in Boston and later moved to Nova Scotia. In 1936, at the age of thirteen, he made his first voyage on a fishing trip on a three-masted sailing schooner called the A.W. Chism. In 1939, he moved to Gloucester and fished there for many years before moving to New Bedford in 1952. He fished out of New Bedford on various boats, including the Adventurer and Smylin. He later became the captain of the Mystic Light and eventually retired in 1983. After retirement, he started knitting lobster pot heads.

Janice Marshall is a lifelong resident of Smith Island, Maryland, a small island located in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. Born and raised in a family with a long history of working the water, Marshall's life has been deeply intertwined with the island and its maritime traditions. Her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all watermen, and her father died while working the water. Marshall herself has worked as a crab picker and waterman's wife.

Dave Martins is a 35-year-old fisheries technician at SMAST (School for Marine Science and Technology) based in New Bedford. He was born on October 22, 1971, at Saint Annes Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Azorean/Portuguese parents who immigrated from the island of Saint Michael in the Azores, Portugal. Despite his family not being directly involved in fishing, it was a significant part of their life, both for recreation and home consumption.

Fred Mattera is a 53-year-old male boat owner and former fisherman from Point Judith, Rhode Island. He has a college education with a major in Political Science. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Fred comes from an Italian descent, with his grandparents migrating to the United States from Italy at the turn of the century. His family settled in Cranston, Rhode Island, where Fred spent most of his childhood. Fred's journey into the fishing industry began during his time at the University of Rhode Island.

Barbara McCarthy is a retired boat owner and fisherman's wife deeply rooted in the fishing industry. Barbara  grew up in a family with a strong fishing background.  As a mother of seven, she balances family responsibilities with active involvement in the Fishermen’s Wives association, the Blessing of the Fleet Fair, and various market ministries.

Richard McKnight is a seasoned fisherman with a twenty-year career in the King Mackerel fishery in South Florida and Louisiana. Born in Lake Worth, Florida, he now resides in Sebastian, Florida. Despite coming from a non-fishing family, McKnight developed a passion for fishing from a young age. He initially worked in construction after high school but always dreamed of a life at sea. He bought his first boat at the age of twenty-one and, despite initial struggles, he eventually found success in the fishing industry.

Barbara Merry, also known as the "Marlinspike Artist," is a skilled rigger and knot enthusiast from Snug Harbor, Rhode Island. She was born in Spokane, Washington, and raised in Newport Beach, California, where her father owned a wholesale/retail marine company. Growing up on a wood cruising boat, Barbara developed a love for ropework and knotting. She initially started with macramé for extra income but eventually switched to ropework after the decline of macramé.

Bob Mitchell has deep connections to the fishing industry. He was born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and comes from a family of Fairhaven natives. After completing his service in the Navy, his father, who was also a fisherman, started a business called R.A. Mitchell Company in 1954, specializing in marine engines and engine repairs for the fishing industry. Bob Mitchell joined the family business in 1961 after completing high school. He further pursued his education in England, attending the Lister Engine Factory School for a year and a half.

Dick Grachek, born on November 11, 1944, in Queens, New York, is a seasoned commercial fisherman with a deep-rooted passion for the sea. Despite not coming from a fishing family, Grachek's love for the ocean was instilled in him by his grandfather, who owned a fish store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and had a stand in the Fulton Fish Market. Growing up on the south shore of Long Island, Grachek was exposed to the cycles of fish and the intricacies of marine life from a young age.

Gunnar Gundersen and Johan Gundersen are a father and son duo who were interviewed on September 23rd, 2005. Gunnar Gundersen, the father, is the owner of Scandia Propellers and Supplies, a business located in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Gunnar and his wife immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts from Norway in 1951. Gunnar had worked in the shipyard, Noratlantic Diesel, for ten years before purchasing Thompson Propellers and changing its name to Scandia Propeller Service and Suppliers in 1961.

Randall Hillier, born in 1927 in Lamaline, Newfoundland, is a retired fisherman with a rich history in the industry. He grew up in a fishing family where his father owned a 36-foot boat and used a cod trap to catch fish. At the age of eighteen, Hillier left home and worked in St. John’s for a couple of years before moving to Ontario, Canada. In 1950, he moved to Fairhaven, Massachusetts to join his brother and sister. After working on the shore for a year, he began his fishing career in 1951, initially focusing on scalloping.

Ray Houtman, born on June 6, 1955, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a longshoreman with a rich family history in the industry. His grandparents, originally from Cape Verde, immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. On his father's side, Houtman's great-grandfather hailed from the West Indies. Growing up in a predominantly Cape Verdean community, Houtman's family has been involved in longshoremen work for several generations. Houtman's father was a longshoreman for over 40 years, and Houtman himself has been working as a longshoreman for about 32 years.

John Isaksen is a retired fisherman, ship repair shop owner, and boat owner. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1936 and moved to Norway with his mother before World War II to care for his sick grandfather. They returned to Brooklyn in 1945 after the war. John's father was a fisherman who operated in Brooklyn during the winter and on George's Bank during the summer. In 1945, John and his family relocated to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He attended vocational high school and embarked on a career in fishing and boat repair.

Bio: Alan James, known as AJ, was born on May 29, 1955, in New London, Connecticut. He grew up in foster homes in the Woonsocket, Rhode Island area and later moved back to Connecticut. AJ is a male of White ethnicity and is currently 57 years old. He has worked as a cook and deckhand on the F/V Apollo, a commercial fishing vessel based in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Ann Jardin-Maynard works in the settlement business within the fishing industry. Born in New Bedford in 1962 to European American parents of Azorean descent, she grew up in a community rich in Portuguese heritage, particularly in the south end of New Bedford. After completing her college education, she became involved in the fishing industry by taking an accounting job at Kevin Dawson's firm in 1985. She eventually became a partner in the business in 1988. Her work involves various aspects of financial management for boat owners and their corporations.

Joe Kaknes is a retired fisherman from Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was born in 1950 and grew up in the Bay View neighborhood of Gloucester. His family background is a mix of Greek and Irish heritage. Joe Kaknes is known for his experiences in the fishing industry, particularly swordfishing, and his insights into the challenges and changes faced by fishermen over the years.

Tom King is a seasoned fisherman who dedicated his career to the commercial fishing industry. Born into a family with a deep connection to Newfoundland and a long history in fishing, Tom's love for the sea and the fishing trade runs in his blood. In 1968, after working as a fish lumper on the waterfront for eight years, Tom decided to venture into fishing himself. His first fishing experience in February 1969, aboard the fishing vessel Angela W, left a lasting impression on him.

Malvin Kvilhaug, a Norwegian fisherman and boat owner, was born on October 21, 1938, in Karmoy, an island in Norway. He came from a fishing family, with his father and grandfather also engaged in fishing. Kvilhaug started fishing for lobsters on his own at the age of 10 or 11, using rowboats and dories. After enlisting in the Merchant Marines at the age of 16, he later joined the Navy in Norway at 18. In January 1961, at the age of 22, Kvilhaug arrived in the United States and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Stephen Lacombe is a male lumper from New Bedford, MA. He was born in Fall River and was introduced to the profession of lumping by his stepfather, who was also a fish lumper. Stephen's brother, Ed, also worked as a lumper before becoming a firefighter in New Bedford. Stephen has been working as a lumper since he was eighteen and is currently the President of the lumpers Union. Despite initially not intending to make a career out of lumping, Stephen has been in the profession for over 25 years.

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 .

James William Lawler, born on February 26, 1960, in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, is a seasoned fisherman and owner of a shipyard. Raised in a small fishing village called Renews, about sixty miles south of St. John's. Lawler comes from a long line of fishermen, with his family's involvement in the industry spanning several generations. His early years were spent fishing for cod from small, open boats, a practice that was later replaced by crab fishing in the mid-80s.

Geno Leech is a seasoned fisherman and poet hailing from Chinook, Washington. Born in Oregon City, Oregon, Geno's early life was far removed from the sea, with his family involved in farming in the Midwest. However, a chance encounter with a merchant seaman during a hitchhiking adventure sparked his interest in seafaring. He obtained his seaman's papers and embarked on his first voyage on a T-2 Tanker in December 1969. Over the years, Geno has served on almost every type of vessel, from merchant steamers to draggers, drawing inspiration from his experiences at sea to fuel his poetry.

Toby Lees is a fisherman from New Bedford, Massachusetts.  He was born in 1951 in Worcester, Massachusetts, but his family has ancestry in New Bedford dating back to the whaling days. He started fishing in 1970 after being placed on a boat as part of his Commercial Fisheries and Marine Technology course at the University of Rhode Island. Lees has been a full-time fisherman since graduating in 1971. He has a young family with two daughters and a wife.

Thomas Quintin Jr. is a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, born in 1961 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He has spent his life in the fishing industry, working his way up from deckhand to captain. Quintin is a self-proclaimed “dinosaur” in the industry, struggling to remain viable against the growing corporate fishing industry. He has been a captain for 21 years, but has also worked as a deckhand and a mate on various boats. Quintin is currently employed by Quinn Fisheries, which owns five boats.

Carlos Rafael was born on the island of Corvo in the Azores and immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1968. He is a prominent fishermen and the other of one of the largest fishing fleets on the East Coast of the United States and of Carlos Seafood, Inc. He is known for his dominance in the New England fishing industry and his role in shaping fisheries management policies.

Marco Randazzo is a retired fisherman and rope sculptor originally from Palermo, Italy. Born in 1945, he immigrated to Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1969 following an earthquake in Italy that worsened an already difficult economy. Coming from a family of fishermen, Randazzo continued the tradition in Gloucester, often working as the "twine man" in charge of maintaining and repairing the nets on the fishing boats. In his retirement, he has taken his skill with knots and rope and creates rope sculptures of figures and religious icons, many related to his life on the sea.

John Reardon is a former fisherman turned General Manager for IMP Fishing Gear Limited in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born in Boston, MA, Reardon entered the fishing industry in the early 1980s, starting out on a dragger and retiring from fishing in 1999. He began working for IMP Fishing Gear, also known as Industrial Marine Products, in November of 1999. The company, which started out selling fishing gear in Newfoundland, now has 15 branches in Canada and the United States.