Dustin Westman, 32 years old at the time of the interview, is a crab, oyster, and gillnet fisherman in Heathsville, Virginia. He started fishing with his dad at age 4, and by age 12, he had his own boat.

Scope and Content Note

In the interview with Dustin Westman discusses his upbringing in the fishing industry and his experiences as a waterman. He highlights the significant changes in the industry, particularly the skyrocketing cost of licenses and the financial barriers preventing young people from entering the fishing profession. He notes that licenses for crabbing and oystering have become highly expensive, making it challenging for new fishermen to enter the industry without substantial financial backing. He explains that even well-established individuals have difficulty securing loans due to the stringent lending practices of larger banks in the region. He hypothesizes that the lack of new, knowledgeable watermen may result in a decline of the seafood industry. Additionally, he touches on his involvement in advisory boards for crab and oyster management.

Despite the many years he's put in on the water, he still loves the work, saying “It’s hard to explain. Being out there, watching the sun come up every morning, making money while you’re doing it. It’s hard to explain to somebody until you’re actually there and seeing it. I like to say that it’s like going to church every day of the week. You get to see all of God’s creations every day.” In his interview, Dustin talks about trends in Chesapeake Bay fisheries and how competition from part-time fishermen for fishing licenses has made it harder for young people to enter fisheries than it was when he started fishing.