Rhode Island

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
David Beutel Sector Management in New England

David (Dave) Beutel of North Kingstown, Rhode Island began his career as a commercial fisherman in the mid-1970s and has since worked with the University of Rhode Island and now with fisheries management for the state of Rhode Island. Mr. Beutel believes that the divisive atmosphere in the port of Point Judith is a notable negative consequence of sectors management in Rhode Island, because differences in the philosophies of fishermen have created obvious divisions in the fishing community.

Lisa Colburn , Azure Cygler North Kingstown, RI NOAA
Elizabeth Kordowski Oral Histories from the New England Fisheries

Elizabeth is currently working at a Port Agent in Point Judith, Rhode Island. She speaks about her involvement in the fishery from working as a sternman to her current position.

Project Leaders: Lisa L. Colburn and Kate E. Yentes
Date Collection Completed: On going
Location: www.voices.nmfs.noaa.gov
Geographic Location: Locations across New England

Lisa Colburn , Azure Dee Westwood Narragansett, RI NOAA Fisheries
Ellen Kaplan The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

While she was in her early twenties, Ellen Kaplan worked in the fishing industry for approximately two years. This included work on offshore lobster boats, an offshore scallop boat, and an offshore dragger. Her manuscript contains valuable information about life and work at sea, the life style of working in the fishing industry, changes in the offshore lobster industry, and conflict between tourism, development and the fishing industry in Newport, Rhode Island.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Ellen Schomer Oral Histories from the New England Fisheries

Ellen is a former fisherman. She speaks about what it was like being a woman in the fishing industry.

Project Leaders: Lisa L. Colburn and Kate E. Yentes
Date Collection Completed: On going
Location: www.voices.nmfs.noaa.gov
Geographic Location: Locations across New England

Lisa Colburn South Kingstown, RI NOAA Fisheries
Eric Reid Sector Management in New England

Eric Reid, 54, is a seafood wholesaler and former commercial fisherman in Point Judith, Rhode Island. He began fishing when he was a boy, with his uncles who were, in his words, "artisanal fishermen"; he began working on deck on a party boat at age 12 and got his captain's license at age 19. Since that time he has worked on a multitude of different boats in many different fisheries.

Samantha Sperry Point Judith, RI NOAA
Fred Mattera Sector Management in New England

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.

Azure Cygler Narragansett, RI NOAA
George Mendonsa, Part 1 The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Jennifer Murray Middletown, RI Newport Historical Society
George Mendonsa, Part 2 The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Jennifer Murray Middletown, RI Newport Historical Society
George Mendonsa, Part 3 The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Jennifer Murray Middletown, RI Newport Historical Society
George Mendonsa, Part 4 The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Jennifer Murray Middletown, RI Newport Historical Society