Boat Stories

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  • 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 Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Morris Butler Boat Stories

Morris Butler is a seasoned shrimper from McIntosh County, Georgia. He has spent over forty years in the shrimping industry, working on various fishing vessels such as The Sundown, The Turning Point, The Thunderbolt, The Sea Walker, and The Four Ladies. His career in shrimping began at a young age, introduced to the industry by his father. Despite health issues forcing him into early retirement, Butler maintains a close relationship with the shrimping community, reflecting fondly on his experiences and the camaraderie among fellow shrimpers.

Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull Belleville, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Robert Everson Boat Stories

Robert Everson is a seasoned fisherman from McIntosh County, Georgia, with a rich history in the fishing industry. His journey in the industry began with the help of his father, who also worked in the industry. Everson's early years were spent working on several boats in the Gulf of Mexico, starting as a striker and gradually gaining experience and skills. He also worked with his father out of Fort Myers, Florida, where they would embark on three-day trips to the Gulf of Mexico for shrimping.

Kassidy Gunn, Freddy Lee Townsend, 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 Darien, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Thurmond and Marie Kern Boat Stories

Thurmond and Marie Kern are a married couple residing in Brunswick, Georgia. Thurmond has had a long history with shrimping and has owned several boats over the course of his life. His passion for fishing is evident in his inability to retire, leading him to purchase another boat, the Lady Raven, named after his granddaughter. Marie, while not directly involved in the fishing, has been a supportive partner throughout their journey. The couple has witnessed significant changes in the fishing industry and has concerns about its future in their area.

Amber Chulawat, Sierra Sutton Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Traci and Hinton Arnsdorff Boat Stories

Hinton and Traci Arnsdorff are a married couple who own and operate a home shrimping business. Hinton Arnsdorff has a long history with boats, having owned and operated many throughout his life. His first boat, the Bunny B, was a forty-foot vessel that he ran when he was about fifteen years old. After two years, he sold it and got the West Wind. He has also run the Grey Ghost, which he has had for over twenty years. Other boats he has run include the Notre Dame, which sunk off of Saint Katherines, and Ms. Kim, which sank off of Key West.

Amber Chulawat, Sierra Sutton Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Wynn Gale Boat Stories

Wynn Gale is a lifelong resident of Darien, Georgia, and a fourth-generation fisherman. He began his career in commercial fishing at the age of twelve. Despite a brief attempt at a career in law enforcement, Gale returned to the fishing industry, following in the footsteps of his family who have only ever worked in fishing. Over the years, Gale has observed a significant decrease in the number of boats fishing in the area. He has also experienced the financial challenges of the industry, having had to sell his shrimp boat due to high dock rent and the lack of a crew.

Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat Darien, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant