Kevin Kloesel is a meteorologist with a unique career trajectory that intersects his passion for sports, particularly baseball, with his aptitude for meteorology. Kloesel's interest in meteorology was sparked during his youth when he noticed the impact of weather on his beloved baseball games. He attended the University of Texas for his undergraduate studies, initially focusing on engineering due to a scholarship. However, he discovered classes in meteorology and found them to be right up his alley. A faculty member, Dr.

James Franklin is a retired meteorologist who spent 35 years of his career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). His tenure was divided between the Hurricane Research Division (HRD) and the National Hurricane Center. Franklin's journey in meteorology began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he pursued his master's degree. His initial thesis was focused on the study of the New England coastal front. However, due to an unfortunate incident involving the loss of crucial data, he had to change his thesis topic.

Peter Black is a renowned meteorologist who has dedicated his life to the study of weather, particularly hurricanes and tropical storms. His interest in meteorology began at a young age, sparked by his experience with Hurricane Carol in Boston in 1955 when he was just 12 years old. This event ignited a fascination with the power of nature and led him to pursue a career in meteorology. Throughout his high school years, Black nurtured his interest in weather as a hobby. When it came time for college, he sought out a meteorology school where he could learn more about tropical storms.

Lixion Avila is a senior forecaster at the National Hurricane Center with the longest tenure among the current forecasters. His interest in meteorology began on the north coast of Cuba, where he observed the weather's impact on the waves and the local mariners and farmers. He pursued his education in Havana and later at the University of Miami, where he earned his master's degree in 1984 and his PhD in 1993. Avila's career at the National Hurricane Center began when he was the youngest hurricane specialist in the United States.

Lance Bosart is a renowned meteorologist who developed an interest in weather and climate from a young age. His fascination with weather patterns and climate variations was sparked by the weather tables in the New York Times, which he read daily. He also learned elementary statistics from the backs of baseball cards, which furthered his understanding of weather and climate variations around the world. Bosart initially pursued aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, with a particular interest in the theoretical aspects of fluid or air flow around rockets or airplane wings.

Patricia Vollmer is an accomplished meteorologist and educator with a rich history in the field of weather forecasting and numerical weather prediction. She is currently an assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy, where she has the opportunity to discuss her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated discipline with prospective future meteorologists, Air Force officers, and pilots. Vollmer's journey in meteorology began at Penn State, where she studied from 1991 to 1995. During her undergraduate years, she was inspired by Dr.

Dr. Nadia Bloemendaal is a hurricane researcher and a professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She specializes in tropical meteorology, particularly in the areas of hurricane formation and intensity change. Dr. Bloemendaal earned her Ph.D. in atmospheric science from the University of Miami in 2011. Her research focuses on understanding the physical processes that control hurricane intensity, including the role of air-sea interactions, convection, and atmospheric dynamics.

Ligia Bernardet is a meteorologist who has made significant contributions to the field of weather prediction. She grew up in Brazil and initially considered becoming a history teacher, following in her parents' footsteps who were in the humanities. However, her interest in the flow of small objects and how things move around in space led her to study meteorology at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Bernardet's first job out of university was at the Weather Prediction Center for a sugarcane plantation, which was part of a university consortium working with sugarcane.

Mrinal Biswas is a project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. He initially pursued a bachelor's degree in mathematics before transitioning to applied science, earning a master's degree in geophysics. His interest in meteorology was sparked by a severe cyclone that hit Odisha, India, in 1999, causing a significant loss of life. This event, coupled with the influence of a professor who taught tropical meteorology, led him to specialize in this field. Biswas completed his master's degree in India and then moved on to his PhD.

Mark Guishard is a meteorologist who currently serves as the Director of the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS), a division of the Government of Bermuda's Ministry of National Security.

Steve Koch is a seasoned atmospheric scientist with a rich career spanning academia, government, and research institutions. He began his journey in the field of atmospheric sciences around 1974. Koch's early career involved working with Mike Kaplan, Mel Shapiro, and Dan Keyser, where he developed a keen interest in the dynamics of inertial gravity waves and their significant role in organized convection, tornado outbreaks, and downstream development at larger scales. Koch's academic journey led him to the University of Oklahoma, where he completed his doctorate in 1974.

Vijay Tallapragada is a seasoned meteorologist with over twenty-five years of experience in the field. His journey in meteorology began with a master's degree in Andhra University in India, where he was introduced to the fascinating subject of meteorology and atmospheric sciences. Despite the initial struggle due to limited access to information, Vijay was encouraged to continue further and pursued another Master's in atmospheric sciences.

Ron Baskett is a seasoned meteorologist who began his journey in the field as a middle school student in Stockton, California, inspired by his science teacher, Mr. Hitt. He built a weather station, taking readings and developing a keen interest in meteorology. Baskett initially pursued civil engineering at UC Davis due to his fascination with maps but was inspired to switch to atmospheric science by Leonard Myrup and John Carroll from UCLA. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Baskett found job opportunities scarce. However, he was offered a project by Dr.

Todd Glickman is a former editor of the Glossary Second Edition and a pioneer in the field of meteorology. He started his career as a radio broadcaster for Weather Services Corporation in Bedford, Massachusetts in the late 1970s. Glickman was one of the first employees of WSI Corporation, a company founded in 1979 with the mission of transforming raw National Weather Service information into value-added products for meteorologists.

Ron Holle is a well-known lightning safety specialist who has spent over 45 years studying lightning and its effects. He is considered one of the leading experts in the field of lightning safety and has authored numerous articles and papers on the subject. Holle received his Bachelor's degree in meteorology from Florida State University and his Master's degree in atmospheric science from the University of Arizona.

Peter Neilley is a renowned meteorologist who discovered his passion for the field at a young age. Growing up in the Northeast, he was fascinated by snowstorms and aspired to forecast them more accurately than the meteorologists he saw on television. Neilley pursued his interest in meteorology through high school and into college, attending McGill University for his undergraduate studies in meteorology. Despite his immersion in the field, he was unsure of his career path until his undergraduate advisor, Roddy Rogers, encouraged him to apply for graduate school at MIT, Rogers' alma mater.

Sepi Yalda is a distinguished academic in the field of atmospheric sciences. She began her association with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) as a graduate student, attending her first AMS annual meeting during this time. This experience played a significant role in shaping her educational path and career development, providing her with opportunities to network, present her work, and interact with other professionals in the field. Yalda's involvement with AMS extended beyond her student years.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Carl Chichester, a seasoned mariner and fisherman, spent his entire life in and around the bay, developing a connection with its waters and its rich maritime heritage. He began his career as a commercial fisherman, casting his nets and traps to secure a variety of catches from the bay's abundant waters. Chichester also worked as a guide for market hunters, guiding them to prime hunting spots and sharing his knowledge of the bay's natural rhythms.

Judy Keding, 49, is the wife of commercial fisherman Jim Keding, out of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Mrs. Keding does not come from a fishing background; her husband has been fishing since he was 17, before they met. Mr. Keding currently captains a dragger that he does not own, generally targeting inshore codfish. He has been a member of sector 10 since sector management began though he has had to sell his two vessels and leases his low quota; Mrs. Keding works as a substitute teacher to supplement income. Mrs.

Jon Knight, 52, is the owner of Superior Trawl, a fishing gear designer and builder, in Galilee/Point Judith, Rhode Island. He began as a commercial fisherman and was drawn to working with nets. He began working for various gear shops and attended the University of Rhode Island, receiving both a technical degree in fisheries and later a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He owns and operates Superior Trawl and is involved in cooperative research, in an effort to improve selectivity in fisheries.

Marie (Riena) Ligenza, 58, is married to commercial fisherman Ted Ligenza, who fishes out of Chatham, MA. They have three sons that are also commercial fishermen, though she is not from a fishing family herself. Her husband and sons all fish mainly inshore, her husband for fish and her sons for shellfish. Mrs. Ligenza tries to separate herself from the intricacies of fishing, beyond it supporting her family and her doing finances for her husband's fishing.

Ted Ligenza, 60, is a commercial fisherman out of Chatham, MA. He began fishing around age 22 after working on the fish pier in Chatham; he now has 3 sons, all of whom fish. He fishes different species organisms seasonally, generally inshore, though occasionally offshore for codfish. In 2003, Mr. Ligenza joined the George's Bank sector, which was the first sector, long before sector management became the primary management regime in 2010, and is now a member of the Fixed Gear sector that began in 2005. He feels that leasing and owning fish is an awkward concept.

Fred Mattera is a recently retired commercial fisherman out of Point Judith, Rhode Island. He belonged to sector 5 before retiring and is currently functioning as a liaison between sector 5 fishermen and the out-of-state sector manager. Most recently, Mr. Mattera predominantly fished both inshore and offshore squid, but has also groundfished in the past which is why he's in sector 5. He is very active in the fisheries community. He has a generally positive outlook on sector management but believes the key to success in sectors is to have more fish available to everyone.

Patricia Mattera, 60, is married to retired fisherman Fred Mattera. Fred fished out of Point Judith, Rhode Island; he began fishing after taking a summer job during college and continued fishing until retiring in December 2011. He largely fished offshore, focusing on squid fisheries for the last 10 years of his career. Mrs. Mattera feels that regulations had been a source of stress in the fishing community for many years prior to the beginning sector management.

Linda McCann, 54, is currently the Sector Manager for Sectors 7 and 8 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her husband is a commercial fisherman out of New Bedford. He owns two boats, which he captains and fishes with his three sons. Mrs. McCann has a finance background that helped her secure her current position and allows her to manage the family fishing business. She takes pride in working hard for the fishing industry and assisting her sector members in navigating fisheries management and maintaining viable businesses.

Bill McCann, 62, is a commercial fisherman out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He began fishing with a lobsterman in 1975 after getting out of the Air Force; he has fished with various family members throughout his career and now fishes with his sons and ex-brother-in-law. Mr. McCann currently fishes predominantly for monkfish and skates, both inshore and offshore. He is an active member of sector 7 and believes that sector 7 functions better than other sectors due largely to the sector manager.

Henry McCarthy, 47, operates a fishing vessel out of Scituate, Massachusetts. He fished for 25 years, most recently cod and haddock, but left fishing 2 years ago due to a low allocation that made running a business for profit infeasible. Mr. McCarthy remains an inactive sector member and is still active in the fishing community on the board of directors of sector 10 and at the permit bank. Mr. McCarthy has a negative view of sector management and would replace it with Days at Sea and a rolling clock, given the opportunity.

Danny Murphy, 39, is a commercial fisherman out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Mr. Murphy's father started tuna fishing later in his life, eventually owning a trawler which piqued perked his son's interest in fishing as a profession. Mr. Murphy began working on his father's trawler at around 16 years of age and would fish for groundfish and also dredge occasionally for scallops and sea urchins. Currently, Mr. Murphy owns a 36-foot trawler and fishes inshore for groundfish and scallops and is a member of Sector 2 in Gloucester.

Kevin Norton, 42, is a commercial fisherman out of Scituate, Massachusetts. He began fishing as a kid, left fishing for a while and has now been fishing full-time for the past 14 years. For the majority of his commercial fishing career, Mr. Norton has gone groundfishing on a dragger in the Gulf of Maine. He is a member of sector 10, but would leave sectors very quickly if it were possible to make a living wage in the common pool. Mr. Norton has a negative view of sectors and feels there is a large amount of uncertainty in fishing as a result of sector and other fishing regulations.

Ian Parente, 30, is a commercial fisherman out of Sakonnet Point, RI. He is a second generation commercial fisherman who has fished his whole life and bought his own vessel out of high school; he also has 2 brothers that fish. Mr. Parente now fishes mostly for groundfish offshore on his commonpool boat; his other boat does not have a groundfish permit and mostly monkfishes. He feels that sector management is not a bad idea in theory, but that it has been poorly implemented, largely as a result of allocation issues.

Dr. Lixion Avila is a renowned meteorologist who has made significant contributions to the field of weather forecasting. Born on November 25, 1950, in Havana, Cuba, Avila grew up in an American church, celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving. His family history traces back to Spain on his father's side and Eastern Europe on his mother's side. Avila's father held various jobs, one of which was a cowboy, transporting cattle from Central Cuba to Havana. Growing up in the Caribbean, he encountered and became fascinated with tropical storms.

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.

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. 

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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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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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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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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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.