Pete Worthington

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Changes in the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Based Upon Interviews with Experienced Residents

Description

"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. 

Interviewer
Transcribers

National Capital Contracting 

Audio
Biographical Sketch

Narrator Pete Worthington, of Marathon, Florida, was a commercial fisher at the time of the interview with extensive experience in commercial fishing. His life in the Keys has provided him with a unique perspective on the local environment and the fishing industry. Over the years, Worthington has witnessed significant changes in Florida Bay, particularly noting a decline in water clarity and an increase in suspended algae particles. His firsthand observations and experiences have given him insight into the environmental shifts and challenges facing the region. Worthington's deep connection to the area, combined with his involvement in the commercial fishing sector, positions him as a knowledgeable figure regarding the ecological and economic impacts of these changes on the local community and the fishing industry at large.

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Pete Worthington offers a comprehensive overview of the environmental and industrial changes observed in Florida Bay and the wider Florida Keys region. Worthington discusses the degradation of water quality in Florida Bay, linking it to altered water levels and agricultural practices in the Everglades. He highlights the onset of these issues around 1980, exacerbated by droughts and other environmental factors, leading to fish kills and seagrass die-offs. The interview also covers the effects of recreational diving on the lobster and crab fishing industries, including the loss of traps due to boat traffic and storms and the decline in fin fishing. Worthington addresses the broader impact of tourism on the fishing industry and the environment, noting the decline in seagrass in the bay area. Furthermore, Worthington speaks on the consequences of fish kills, changes in water color and movement, and the repercussions of cruise ship dumping. He touches upon the challenges of fishing in Bahamian waters and the implications of the Lacey Act on the industry. The interviewee also observes changes in the weed line and Gulf Stream currents, which have affected fishing patterns. Lastly, Worthington discusses the tensions between commercial fishermen and tourists, the environmental pressures leading to increased tourism, and the displacement of fishing guides from Isla Morada to the Middle and Lower Keys. His narrative provides a detailed account of the multifaceted issues impacting the Florida Keys' marine environment and its fishing community.


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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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