Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Karen DeMaria
  • "Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents" is a  collection by Karen DeMaria of Summerland Key, FL completed in April 1996. Funded by the Nature Conservancy and the Center for Marine Conservation, the project sought to describe through oral history interviews, environmental changes in the Florida Keys marine ecosystem. 

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Don DeMaria Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Don DeMaria is a long-time resident of the Florida Keys, having moved there permanently in 1977, although he had been visiting the area since 1965. He initially lived in Key West before moving to Summerland around 1984. DeMaria is a college graduate and has been a commercial fisherman since 1972. His fishing experience extends to various locations, including Tortugas, Boca Grande, and Marquesas, with his work in Tortugas beginning when he moved to the Keys permanently. DeMaria's fishing methods include spearfishing and catching tropical fish.

Karen DeMaria Summerland Key, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Glenn Evans and Mark Nease Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Glenn Evans and Mark Nease are two divers/boat captains with extensive experience and knowledge about the marine ecosystem of the Florida Keys. Glenn Evans, a seasoned marine biologist, has spent a significant portion of his career studying the changes in the marine ecosystem, with a particular focus on water conditions such as clarity, algae blooms, and visibility. His work has contributed significantly to the understanding of the impact of environmental changes on marine life.

Karen DeMaria Key West, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Ken Nedimeyer Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Narrator Ken Nedimeyer, of Tavernier, Florida, was a commercial fisher/diver at the time of the interview.

Karen DeMaria Tavernier, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Peter Gladding Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Narrator Peter Gladding of Key West, Florida was a commercial fisherman at the time of the interview.
 

Karen DeMaria Key West, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Joyce Newman Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Narrator Joyce Newman of Big Pine Key, Florida was an environmentalist and recreational fisher at the time of the interview. She is a former public school teacher.
 

Karen DeMaria Big Pine Key, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Victoria Impallomeni Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Captain Vicki Impallomeni is a wilderness guide and charger fishing captain.  She lives in Key West.  

Karen DeMaria Key West, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Blondel Handcock Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Blondel Handcock is a seasoned fisherman with a rich history in the industry. Handcock has spent a significant portion of his life in the fishing industry, with his career spanning from 1976 to 1978. His experiences have not only been confined to his birthplace, but he also had the opportunity to work in Europe. Handcock's expertise in the field is evident in his detailed knowledge of fishing practices and the industry's dynamics. He has a deep understanding of the value of certain fishing practices and the implications of not adhering to them.

Karen DeMaria Key West, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Dave Nolan Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Dave Nolan is a long-time resident of the Keys, having lived there for thirteen years. Prior to his move, he served in the Navy and was stationed in Japan. Nolan is currently in his late forties, soon to turn fifty. He first visited the Keys in the early 1960s before eventually deciding to settle there. Nolan earned a four-year college degree, and attended graduate school. After leaving the Navy, he initially worked in the charter boat industry before transitioning to his current role as the director of the AIDS Prevention Center.

Karen DeMaria Key West, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Debbie Harrison Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Debbie Harrison is a long-time resident of the Lower Keys in Florida, having lived there for fifteen years, with a brief hiatus when she returned to Michigan to care for her mother. She is a certified diver since 1983 and has spent a significant amount of time exploring the back country and diving on the reef. Harrison has held a variety of jobs, including grafting, hotel/motel work, and working on a lobster boat, which she considered more fun than work. She has also worked as a planner for the Florida Keys Land & Sea Trust and another unidentified organization.

Karen DeMaria Big Pine Key, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation
Joan Nolan Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Narrator Joan Nolan, of Sugarloaf Key, Florida, was a part-time commercial fisher with more than 20 years experience as a diver and fisher in the Florida Keys.

Karen DeMaria Sugarloaf Key, FL The Nature Conservancy, The Center for Marine Conservation