Dr. James McFadden was born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1934.  He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and graduated with a degree in geology.  In 1960, James was offered a research assistantship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's meteorology program.  He spent five years in Madison and earned his PhD in meteorology.  In 1965, McFadden came to work for the Environmental Science Services Administration's Sea-Air Laboratory, part of the Office of Meteorological Research in Washington, D.C. as a research scientist.

Janice Richards was born in Eastpoint in 1945 and has been shucking oysters since 1960. Her mother taught her the trade when she was a girl. Early on she learned to take her time to shuck a clean oyster. Janice married her husband, Johnny Richards, an oysterman, at the age of fourteen. They've worked at a handful of seafood houses over the years, and today they work together at Tommy Ward's oyster house, 13 Mile. Johnny gets the oysters, and Janice shucks his catch. But these years of shucking have taken their toll.

Oral history interview with Jason Delacruz.

Oral history interview with Jay Tucker. 

Oral history interview with Jim Hitch.  

Jim Thomas is a seasoned marine biologist and conservationist with a career spanning several decades in the field of marine ecology. His expertise lies in fisheries, marine life, and coral reef ecosystems. Thomas has dedicated his professional life to the study and preservation of marine environments, with a particular focus on the intricate relationships between different species and their habitats. He has been actively involved in research, conservation efforts, and advocacy, working closely with both scientific communities and government agencies.

Narrator Jimmy Albright of Islamorada, FL was a retired fishing guide at the time of the interview. He is the originator of the Albright Knot, a strong line-to-line connection used for attaching lines of different diameters. His career spans several decades, during which he has developed a deep understanding of the local marine environment and its inhabitants. Albright's work has placed him at the forefront of observing the ecological changes within this unique ecosystem.

Joan Nolan is a long-term resident of the Florida Keys with a deep connection to the local marine environment. Her life in the Keys has been characterized by her close relationship with the water, both professionally and recreationally. Joan has spent years observing and interacting with the marine ecosystem through her occupation, which remains unspecified, and her extensive involvement in volunteer work related to water conservation and marine life protection.

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

Scope and Content Note

Jack Mullen is a seasoned professional in the aerospace industry, specializing in the retrieval of Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) from the ocean following space shuttle launches. His role as a retrieval manager is pivotal to the post-mission phase, where precision and expertise are paramount. Mullen's career is distinguished by his adept coordination of complex recovery operations, which involve securing the boosters and their parachutes once they have splashed down.