Amber Chulawat

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Jerry "Bubba" Austin Boat Stories

Jerry "Bubba" Austin Jr. is a seasoned fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. With over forty years of experience in the fishing industry, Austin has owned and operated three fishing vessels since 1995, the most recent of which is named Captain Snapper. Austin's career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges, including the sinking of his first two boats and the impact of environmental changes on the local shrimp population. Despite these obstacles, Austin has remained committed to his craft, demonstrating a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for his work.

Amber Chulawat, Jamekia Collins Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Curtis Carter Boat Stories

Curtis Carter is a seasoned shrimper from Darien, Georgia, who has been in the shrimping industry since the age of sixteen. Despite not having completed his education, Carter was able to support his family through his work in shrimping. His first boat was the "Night Train," which he owned and operated for about four years. He later worked on several other boats, including the Pay Tot and the El Mar in Key West, Florida, and the Shrimp Chaser, a giant herring boat.

Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat Darien, 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
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
Calvin Lang Boat Stories

Calvin Lang is a third-generation shrimper and fisher based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has been involved in the fishing industry for several years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Lang currently owns two fishing vessels, the Miss Peggy and the Fifth Day, both of which he operates with his wife, Lisa. He previously owned the Lang's Pride, a 75-foot St. Augustine trawler freezer boat, which he sold due to difficulties in finding a crew.

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

Charlie Phillips is a seasoned fisherman and business owner based in McIntosh County, Georgia. He has been involved in the fishing industry since his high school years, when he began working on shrimp boats during the summer. By the time he was a senior in high school, he was running shrimp boats on the weekends for his father. His commitment to the fishing industry led him to leave college when a professor insisted he attend a final exam on June 1, a crucial day for shrimp fishing. From that point on, Phillips became a full-time shrimp boat captain.

Amber Chulawat, Sierra Sutton Townsend, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Michael Sullivan Boat Stories

Michael Sullivan is a seasoned commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. With a career spanning several decades, Sullivan has owned and operated multiple fishing vessels, including his most recent acquisition, a 60-foot research vessel previously owned by The Department of Natural Resources. Prior to this, he owned and operated The Flying Cloud, an 88-foot North Carolina built boat, which was one of the largest boats on the East Coast in terms of power and size when he purchased it in 1986.

Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat 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