Mark Ratfield

Location of Interview
Collection Name

A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Description

This collection was created during the 2017-2018 red tide event that had major ecosystem impacts on the west coast of Florida. Fish harvesters and related businesses suffered major setbacks during this time. Fishers, with a long history on the water and oftentimes second or third generation involved in the fishing business, reminisce about how the ecosystem has changed during their and their families time and the red tides they have witnessed. The collection provides information on species affected, specific areas affected, as well as discussions related to adaptation behaviors and specific business impacts.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
08-08-2019
Principal Investigator
Audio
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Mark Ratfield is a 5th generation Floridian and commercial fisherman. Ratfield shares his stories of how difficult the fishery is in the Panama City Beach area. He recalls two distinct Red Tide events, in 2002 and 2016.

Scope and Content Note

Mark Ratfield discusses fishing in the mid-1970s and when he obtained his captain's license in 1987. He says that after working in charter fishing, he transitioned to commercial fishing in 1991 and is currently operating a commercial boat named Marine Atlantic. During the interview, Ratfield discusses changes in the fishing industry and regulations. He talks about the impact of those regulations on fishing practices and the decline in fish prices. He also touches upon the topic of red tide and fish kills. Ratfield recalls witnessing fish kills due to red tide in the northwest side and bay areas of Panama City, Florida. He mentions instances of red grouper being affected the most by the red tide and notes that the fish kills lasted for a couple of months and the fish population started to recover afterward.

Ratfiled mentions the challenges faced by the fishing community, including drug problems, and how some fishermen had to move away after a hurricane. The hurricane had a significant impact on the marinas, making it difficult for fishermen to find a place to tie their boats. He says that he and his family survived the hurricane by staying in Pensacola until they were able to return to Panama City. He also mentions that the hurricane caused a shortage of housing and increased rental prices and states that the fishing community had never experienced anything like this before. 

Ratfield then talks about his fishing methods and the challenges of his job. He mentions that he does bandit fishing and pen rod and reel fishing, where they pull up to a reef or artificial red and catch fish. He shares his desire to see changes in the fishing industry, particularly regarding the involvement of big companies like Whole Foods. He explains that these companies would often opt to purchase fish from fishermen who offered the lowest prices, which made it difficult for local fishermen to compete. As a result, the prices fishermen received for snapper were decreasing each year, despite the increasing prices in stores.

 

 


Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out  Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc.  The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry. 

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.

Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.