Joe Kowalsky, 31 years old at the time of the interview, is an oyster farmer and fishermen in Milford, Bridgeport, and Stratford, CT. He owns and operates multiple boats, including the Sea Skimmer, LeClair, Mohawk, and a Carolina skiff. Joe is primarily focused on oyster farming but also engages in wild fisheries for additional income. He found his way to fishing after putting aside societal notions that there is no money to be made on the water. Joe has dreams of developing oysters that are a hybrid of farmed and wild, and of helping younger, small-scale oystermen band together to find strength in numbers.

Scope and Content Note

In the interview, Joe Kowalsky discusses various aspects of his occupation and challenges in the oyster industry. He discusses the difficulties in obtaining fishing licenses and leases, which restrict new entrants into the industry. Joe talks about the Housatonic River as a major source of wild oysters and explains how he and other oyster farmers work with the state to regulate harvesting to protect the resource. He also touches on the challenges of seaweed farming and the impact of striped bass on the local ecosystem. Joe also reflects on his background in a different industry and how he transitioned to oyster farming after losing his job. He talks about the challenges he faced in securing leases for oyster beds due to competition from bigger companies. He explains how he managed to lease a lot from someone else and his desire to remain a smaller, sustainable operation rather than becoming a large company. 

Joe shares his views on the fishing industry, mentioning that it's difficult for young people to get into the business due to limited opportunities and regulations. "If I can help someone else that’s younger get into it, I'd absolutely like to, because there’s just not that many of us doing it. In my head, it’s like if we could get going, and stick together, and go after some regulations and be a unit, we’re so much harder to shrug off. That’s what happens. One guy at a time can go into a state office , and they just leave with their tail between their legs, because for the most part the legislation in place keeps their hands tied. But if you have a group of us, you have to tell us all the same thing, and find a solution together. I have this idea that maybe we’ll have a co-op or some kind of association, where young people can stick together. But it’s hard finding those younger people."