Ed Swift, Jr.
Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents
"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.
National Capital Contracting
Ed Swift is a seasoned businessman who has spent over four decades residing in the Keys. His life has been deeply intertwined with the waters surrounding the Keys, with experiences ranging from diving to fishing. Swift's passion for marine life was inherited from his father, a diver and journalist, who played a significant role in the charter boat fishing industry in Marathon. Swift's childhood memories are filled with fishing adventures in Marathon, which have shaped his understanding and appreciation of the marine ecosystem. His father's bravery in leaving a stable job to become a photojournalist, traveling across the country in a trailer, has also left a profound impact on Swift. This adventurous spirit and deep connection with the sea have been instrumental in shaping Swift's life and career in the Keys.
Scope and Content Note:
The interview with Ed Swift provides a comprehensive insight into his life experiences, his views on marine life, and the fishing industry in the Florida Keys. Swift shares his personal stories, including his childhood memories of fishing in Marathon and his father's influence on his life. He also discusses the fish population, size limits, and the impact of fishing methods on marine resources, particularly focusing on conchs and sponges. Swift expresses his concerns about the lack of oversight and evaluation of fishing laws, believing that some may not be effective in preserving marine resources. He criticizes the bureaucracy for not acknowledging potential mistakes in these laws. Swift also shares his views on the protection laws for marine species, considering some of them to be exaggerated. He suggests that certain catches, like grouper, could be allowed. The interview also highlights the abundance of yellowtail and grouper due to size limits, and the under-harvesting of king mackerel. Through Swift's narratives, the interview offers a unique perspective on the marine life and fishing industry in the Florida Keys.
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The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
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