Boat Stories

Collection DOI:

Principal Investigator:
Jennifer Sweeney Tookes, Bryan Fluech

Commercial fishing has deep cultural ties to the Georgia coast, particularly the shrimping industry, which is the state’s largest and most economically valuable fishery. Shrimping has played an integral role in shaping the identities of the commercial fishermen who have spent most of their lives on the water. At the heart of these identities are the fishing boats that have carried captains and their crew for decades.

These vessels have been bought and sold by fishermen up and down the coast for decades, connecting multiple generations of fishing families. They serve as the backbone of Georgia’s shrimping industry and have become iconic symbols for fresh and locally harvested seafood for the millions of residents and tourists who visit the coast.

In 2020-2021, Anthropologists at Georgia Southern University collaborated with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant to record the stories and experiences of local shrimpers and their boats. Funded by Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resource Division through a Coastal Improvement Grant (NOAA #NA20NOS4190175), student researchers learned about commercial fishing as they conducted these oral history interviews. These recordings powerfully preserve the voices and culture of commercial fishing to be shared with current and future generations. This database of knowledge is also available to guide science and regulatory decisions. Get to know Georgia's commercial fishermen by listening to their "Boat Stories"

Interviewee	Collection Sort descending	Description	Interviewer	Date of Interview	Location of Interview	Affiliation
Jonathan Bennett	Boat Stories	Jonathan Bennett discusses how he has been involved in the commercial fishing industry since birth. He talks about working with his grandfather and the importance of maintaining a good crew. Even though he is young, he talks about his future in the industry and the changes he wants to see occur.	Kimberly Singley, Yhambria Simmons	Fri, 11/12/2021 - 12:00	Brunswick, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Cooperative Extension
Joseph Rauls	Boat Stories	Joseph Rauls discusses the changes in fishing vessels he has experienced over the years. He also goes into detail about when he first started shrimping and the changes he has seen in relation to the water, prices, and crew.	Yhambria Simmons, Kimberly Singley	Fri, 11/12/2021 - 12:00	Brunswick, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Johnny Bennett	Boat Stories	Johnny Bennett discusses his family’s involvement in the commercial fishing industry in Georgia. He discusses the changes he has experienced over the years and paints a picture of what the future may hold for shrimpers in Georgia.	Kimberly Singley, Yhambria Simmons	Fri, 11/12/2021 - 12:00	Brunswick, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Andrew Ross	Boat Stories	Andrew Ross sits down with student interviewers to discuss his history of commercial fishing in Georgia. He also discusses the future of commercial shrimping in Georgia and his thoughts on the industry today.	Frederick Lee, Kassidy Gunn	Fri, 11/12/2021 - 12:00	Brunswick, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Morris Butler	Boat Stories	Morris Butler talks about his various experiences on fishing vessels in Georgia over the years. He discusses his close relationship with shrimpers in this community and how his father first introduced him to shrimping at a young age.	Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull	Sat, 01/29/2022 - 12:00	Belleville, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Bobbie Smith	Boat Stories	Bobbie Smith discusses her role as co-owner of Sapelo Shrimp Company and how shares knowledge on what it's like to be involved in the fishing community from a different perspective.	Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull	Sat, 01/29/2022 - 12:00	Belleville, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Curtis Carter	Boat Stories	Curtis Carter discusses his history of shrimping, telling stories about he first got involved in the shrimping industry. He talks about his motivation to keep shrimping as well as how he has seen changes in many aspects of the fishing industry.	Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat	Sat, 01/29/2022 - 12:00	Darien, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Michael Sullivan	Boat Stories	Michael Sullivan sits down with interviewers to discuss how he is gearing up to get back into the industry after being retired for a couple of years. He gives insight on what it is like to serve on advisory councils and associations as it relates to the commercial fishing industry.	Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat	Fri, 01/28/2022 - 12:00	Brunswick, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Marty Collins	Boat Stories	Marty Collins discusses his relationships with fellow commercial fishermen and how he first got into being a captain of a vessel at the age of sixteen. He also talks about how special his current vessel is to him and gives us some insight on what it has been like to travel while fishing.	Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull	Sat, 01/29/2022 - 12:00	Belleville, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Robert Todd	Boat Stories	Mr. Robert Todd focuses on the history of his family’s commercial fishermen legacy. He discusses the boats run and operated by members of the Todd/Sawyer family. He discusses his short film, Trawling Traditions, which covers some histories of commercial fishermen on the Georgia Coast. He also gives recommendations for the future of shrimping in Georgia.	Yhambria Simmons, Kimberly Singley	Sat, 11/13/2021 - 12:00	Darien, GA	Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

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