Andy Amason
Dock Stories
The Dock Stories project incorporates oral history research with other research methods in order to address simultaneous issues being experienced by fishing communities in Georgia. The project goals are to improve infrastructure and industry sustainability by identifying improvement opportunities within the constraints of land use, environmental impacts, weather patterns, aging infrastructure, and evolving vessel needs, while also documenting the cultural history of commercial fishing docks in Georgia. An integral part of the project is training student researchers in the Georgia Southern Anthropology program. Under the guidance of Dr. Sweeney Tookes (Georgia Southern University) and Bryan Fluech (University of Georgia Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant), students are receiving comprehensive training in conducting interviews, oral histories, and appropriate interview protocols. They then spend several days at a time on the Georgia coast, learning firsthand about the marshes, estuaries, vessels, and communities before commencing lengthy oral history interviews with local experts on the industry. This project began in 2024 and will continue through 2026, coordinated by Graduate Student Project Manager, Kristin Meeuwen.
Blake Pavri
On February 28, 2025, Lilah Henderson and Blake Pavri interviewed Andy Amason in Darien, Georgia, for the Dock Stories project. Andy Amason is a longtime resident of Darien and former owner of Sea Gardens, Inc., a dock and seafood processing facility that was originally established by his grandfather in the mid-20th century. Amason began working at the dock as a child and eventually took over operations from his father in the 1980s. Over the course of several decades, he oversaw the facility’s crab processing, shrimp handling, and ice production, adapting to changes in labor, market demand, and industrial technology.
In the interview, Amason details the history of Sea Gardens and its evolving role in the local seafood economy. He explains the transition from ice-based shrimp preservation to modern freezer boats and describes how imported seafood and labor shortages contributed to the dock’s decline. Amason highlights the essential labor of African American women in the crab-picking operation and reflects on the loss of that expertise as the workforce aged. He shares personal anecdotes from his years running the plant, including staffing challenges, changes in consumer demand, and two hurricanes that disrupted operations. He discusses the environmental and industrial factors that have altered the salinity of coastal waters and affected local marine life. Finally, Amason addresses the economic pressures facing today’s commercial docks and emphasizes the need for innovation, cooperation, and support for local seafood industries.
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