Catching the Codfather

Catching the Codfather

From Sea Change by WWNO & WRKF

April 23, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

The episode explores the story of Carlos Rafael, known as the Codfather, and the complexities of managing sustainable fisheries in the U.S.

Carlos Rafael immigrated to the US from Portugal as a teenager, and over the years, built one of the country’s largest commercial fishing operations from scratch. Carlos owned the biggest fleet of boats in the most valuable fishing port in America. He became known as the Codfather. But it all came crashing down in a federal sting. Who is Carlos Rafael? Depending on who you ask, he's either a villain who robbed the ocean or a kind of folk hero who stood up for fishermen. Today, we’re bringing you the first episode of Catching the Codfather from our friends at GBH News. It’s often said that the U.S. has the most sustainable fisheries in the world. Laws have been designed to prevent overfishing, rebuild stocks, and protect a shared public resource. But, for the people living inside that system, it can feel very different. And that tension isn’t unique to New England. Along the Gulf Coast, we often hear from shrimpers, oystermen, and anglers who say they’re being regulated out of a way of life. At the same time, we know what’s at stake if those rules fail. So where is the line? Catching the Codfather doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it tells a story about power, policy, and the…

People in this episode

Host: Carlyle Calho

Topics covered

  • commercial fishing
  • sustainability
  • fishermen's rights
  • fishing regulations
  • environmental policy

Keywords

  • Codfather
  • Carlos Rafael
  • commercial fishing
  • sustainability
  • fishing regulations
  • fishermen
  • environmental policy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: GBH News, Sea Change, WWNO, WRKF

Places: New England, Gulf Coast

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