who are the old man friends at sea?

Santiago is a naturalist.  He has been a fisherman for a
long time, and he has a strong respect for the birds, the fish, and the sea. On page 19,
the author says,

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"He was very fond of flying fish as they were his
principal friends on the
ocean."

When Santiago speaks
of the ocean, he says.

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"He always thought of the sea as la
mar, which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her.
"

He forms a bond with the
fish he is trying to catch.  Since he doesn't have anyone else to talk to, he talks to
the fish, to the birds, and to himself. 

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"Fish," he said, "I love you and respect you very
much.  But I will kill you dead before this day ends." (pg
54)

In talking to the bird
ABOUT the fish, Santiago says,

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"Stay at my house if you like, bird."  he said. 
"I am sorry I cannot hoist the sail and take you in with the small breeze that is
rising.  But I am with a friend." (fish) (pg
55)

Santiago realizes that he
is hungry, and he wonders if the fish is getting really hungry too.  He
says,

"I wish
I could feed the fish, he thought.  He is my brother.  But I must kill him and keep
strong to do it." (pg
59)

When Santiago is out in
the water, he sees a flight of wild ducks and

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"he knew no one was ever alone on the sea" (pg
61)

At night, when he looked
into the sky, knowing that he has to get some sleep, he
thinks

I am as
clear as the stars that are my brothers......They sleep and the moon and the sun sleep
and even the ocean sleeps sometimes on certain days ....." (pg
77)

At the end of his battle
with the fish, Santiago tells him,

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"Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful,
or a calmer or more noble thing than
you,brother."

Santiago enjoys
everything about nature.  He has a great respect for it.  He lives in it and is
dependent on it for a living and his own life.