Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Jennifer Sweeney Tookes, Bryan Fluech
  • The goal of the “Fishing Traditions and Fishing Futures” project is to raise awareness of the experiences of commercial fishermen and their changing livelihoods in Georgia by documenting their local fisheries knowledge   and perspectives about the state and fate of Georgia’s commercial fishing industry through the use of oral  histories. Capturing the life stories and experiences of Georgia’s commercial fishermen is especially important since many local communities have depended on the coastal environment for their economic and cultural base  for generations.

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Morris Butler Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Interview with Morris Butler.

Ahmauri Williams-Alford, Nompumelelo Hlophe Darien, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Robert Long Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Mr. Robert Long is a seasoned commercial fisherman whose life has been deeply intertwined with the coastal waters of Georgia. Born into a family with a rich legacy in the fishing community, Mr. Long was introduced to the rhythms of the sea at a young age. His formative years were spent absorbing the traditions and skills necessary to navigate and harvest the bountiful yet unpredictable waters. At the age of 22, he took a significant step in his career by purchasing his first fishing boat, a testament to his dedication and the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the industry.

Savannah Bell, Amber Gosser Brunswick, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Joseph Michael Rauls Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Joseph Michael Rauls is a seasoned veteran of the shrimping industry hailing from the coastal state of Georgia. Born into a family with deep ties to the sea, Rauls' upbringing was steeped in the traditions and hard work associated with shrimping. His life story is a rich tapestry that weaves together the threads of familial legacy, personal passion, and the relentless pursuit of a livelihood amidst the waves. Rauls' narrative is not just a personal chronicle but also a reflection of the broader cultural and economic fabric of the Georgian shrimping community.

Kendra Cooper, Alexis McGhee Darien, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Ben McDowell Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Ben McDowell, born in 1952, is a seasoned fisherman with over six decades of experience in the shrimping industry. His life and career have been deeply intertwined with the sea, following in the footsteps of his father who was also a fisherman for fifty years before Ben's birth. McDowell's career has spanned a period of significant change in the industry, witnessing a shift from the prosperous times of his youth to the more challenging present day.

Ahmauri Williams-Alford, Nompumelelo Hlophe Brunswick, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Lester Deverne Perry Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Lester Perry is a seasoned commercial fisherman with deep roots in North Carolina's fishing community. Raised in a family with a long-standing tradition of fishing, Perry was introduced to the trade at a tender age, specifically to the practice of shrimping. His early exposure to the sea and its bounties shaped his career path, leading him to ascend the ranks within the industry. Perry's dedication and skill eventually earned him the position of a boat captain, a role he currently fulfills aboard the Blessed Assurance.

Danielle Sayre , Erin Scooler Darien, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Frank Eldon McDowell Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Frank McDowell is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Georgia with a rich family history deeply rooted in the fishing industry. Born and raised in a large family of fishermen, McDowell's life has been shaped by the sea and the challenges that come with making a living from it. His experiences span from the tradition of blessing the fleet to witnessing significant changes in the fishing community over the years.

Angelique Jennings, Scott Clark Brunswick, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Charles W. Jones Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Charles Jones is a seasoned fisherman from Darien, Georgia, who has spent a significant part of his life in the commercial fishing industry. Born and raised in Darien, Jones began his fishing career at a young age, heading shrimp at the docks after school to earn money for his family's needs. Jones briefly left the fishing industry to serve in the Vietnam War, after which he returned to fishing with his father. He later bought his own boat and began running his own fishing operations. Jones also worked for the Georgia State Patrol for a period of time before buying his second boat.

Victoria Barrett, Julia Thomas Darien, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
John Tyre Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

John Tyre, a native of Brunswick, Georgia, has woven the fabric of his life with threads of maritime tradition and public service. Beginning his foray into the world of fishing at the age of ten, Tyre was introduced to the craft by his father and brother, who were his early mentors in the art of angling and shrimping. These formative years on the water ingrained in him a diverse array of fishing skills and techniques that he would carry throughout his life.

Julia Thomas, Victoria Barrett Brunswick, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Robert Lee Everson, Sr. Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Interview with Robert Lee Everson, Sr.

Kendra Cooper, Alexis McGhee Darien, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University
Herbert McIver, Jr. Fishing Traditions & Fishing Futures in Georgia

Herbert Mcliver, Jr. is a seasoned shrimp boat captain with a rich history rooted in the fishing community. Born and raised in a fishing environment, Mcliver began his journey in the industry at a tender age, learning the ropes of fishing from his father. His early exposure to the fishing industry and the hands-on experience he gained over the years shaped his career path, eventually leading him to become a shrimp boat captain. Mcliver's career has been marked by both triumphs and trials, witnessing firsthand the positive and negative transformations within the fishing industry.

Danielle Sayre , Erin Scooler Brunswick, GA UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Georgia Southern University