Joseph P. Chaput is a seasoned marine operations manager and skipper, best known for his work at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  Chaput's journey into space shuttle operations began at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where he initially intended to sail tankers for his entire career. However, his path took a different turn, leading him to become an integral part of the NASA team. Chaput's role at NASA was multifaceted and required a high level of creativity and adaptability.

Dr. Joseph Powers was born on February 19, 1949 in Gustine, California. He has earned degrees from the University of California, Davis A.B. Zoology 1971; California State University, Humboldt M.S. Fisheries Biology 1973 ; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University PhD Fisheries Science 1975. He began his career with National Marine Fisheries Service at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in 1975. He then moved to the Southeast Fisheries Science Centers in 1979.

Joyce Newman is a resident of the Florida Keys with a rich personal history intertwined with the environmental and cultural fabric of the region. She was an environmentalist and recreational fisher at the time of the interview. She is a former public school teacher and a knowledgeable figure regarding the local ecology and the socio-economic dynamics of the area. Newman's tenure in the Florida Keys has allowed her to witness firsthand the evolution of the environment, giving her insights into the subtle and overt changes that have occurred over time.

This interview has two tracks, one an interview with Julian Culbreath and the other some music played on his fiddle with Leo Gale on guitar.  The interview discusses Culbreath's family history and fishing. Culbreath's family was musical.  A lot is about his musical career and the formation of The Cortez Grand Old Opry. The music tape has "The Cortez Rag" and "The Orange Blossom Special."

Karen Bell is deeply rooted in the Cortez community, where she stands at the helm of A.P. Bell Fish Company, a family business with a rich history in the fishing industry. After attending college, she returned to lead the family enterprise. Bell's journey includes the acquisition of a restaurant, an endeavor that brought its own set of challenges, particularly in the wake of a net ban that affected sales.

Karen Bell is a dedicated member of the Cortez fishing community in Florida. Born and raised in Bradenton, she has always had a deep connection to Cortez, spending Sundays at her grandmother's house, where large family gatherings and delicious meals were a regular occurrence. Karen's father and uncles were fishermen, and she grew up surrounded by the sights and sounds of the fishing docks. Karen's father eventually transitioned from fishing to working at the AP Bell fish house in the early 1960s. In 1986, after completing college, Karen moved to Cortez and began working at the fish house.

Karl Lessard is a seasoned marine biologist whose career has been deeply intertwined with the ecological evolution of Florida Bay since the 1980s. With a career spanning over four decades, Lessard has dedicated his life to studying the intricate ecosystems of coastal waters, specializing in the dynamics of seagrass and algal populations. His extensive fieldwork and research have made him a respected figure in the scientific community, particularly in the context of marine conservation and environmental change.

Kelly Kurtz is a Sarasota native who has been chartering for the last ten years. He mostly fishes inshore but he fishes up to nine miles offshore as well. He talks about if there is another red tide he might have to get another job or a bigger boat so that he can work offshore.

Scope and Content Note

This interview Ken Jenkins was conducted as part of the Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries Project. This project is a collection of oral histories of Cortez, Florida community members who are involved in maritime activities (such as commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, crew members, and fish house workers) in order to document the changing face of Cortez Village's marine environment.

Ken Nedimeyer, a seasoned marine conservationist, has dedicated a significant portion of his career to studying and preserving marine ecosystems. His work, often in collaboration with prominent organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Center for Marine Conservation, has been pivotal in documenting and responding to changes within marine environments. Nedimeyer's expertise extends to a deep understanding of marine species, particularly the dynamics of lobster populations, which he has observed to be in decline due to habitat shrinkage and other environmental stressors.