WOMEN IN THE FISHERIES: Beth Casoni’s got her hand on the helm at MassLA

SCITUATE, MA – She’s quick with a smile when she greets you, but Beth Casoni is one tough cookie when she needs to be – which she often does in her role as executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. Beth set aside a few minutes in her busy schedule recently for a conversation at the MassLA office to discuss her rise in the ranks and some of the challenges of her position.

Beth, tell us a little bit about your roots.

I grew up in Marshfield, MA in a fishing family. As a kid, I used to go lobstering with my Uncle Dave summers whenever I could.

That would be Dave Casoni, who I know from the MassLA annual weekends?

That’s right. I remember going down to his place to paint buoys. That was my job, although I probably got more paint on me at times than the buoys. (laughs) I’d get paid in empties … of course, that meant I had to clean up the yard to get paid! (laughter)

I remember listening to my uncle talk about the plight of the fishermen as a young child. As the management became more and more restrictive and the fishermen had to fish within those restrictions, I became very interested with the whole process.

Your involvement with Mass Lobstermen’s came later in life, correct?

Yes. I actually went to college in my late 20s/early 30s – I was a single parent and basically put myself through school – and graduated from UMass Boston.

Studying …?

Criminal justice.

Really?…

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