Rhea and Pat Brannan
Dock Stories
The Dock Stories project incorporates oral history research with other research methods in order to address simultaneous issues being experienced by fishing communities in Georgia. The project goals are to improve infrastructure and industry sustainability by identifying improvement opportunities within the constraints of land use, environmental impacts, weather patterns, aging infrastructure, and evolving vessel needs, while also documenting the cultural history of commercial fishing docks in Georgia. An integral part of the project is training student researchers in the Georgia Southern Anthropology program. Under the guidance of Dr. Sweeney Tookes (Georgia Southern University) and Bryan Fluech (University of Georgia Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant), students are receiving comprehensive training in conducting interviews, oral histories, and appropriate interview protocols. They then spend several days at a time on the Georgia coast, learning firsthand about the marshes, estuaries, vessels, and communities before commencing lengthy oral history interviews with local experts on the industry. This project began in 2024 and will continue through 2026, coordinated by Graduate Student Project Manager, Kristin Meeuwen.
Blake Pavri
On March 1, 2025, Kristin Meewen and Blake Pavri interviewed Rhea Whitthoft and Pat Brannan in McIntosh County, Georgia, for the Dock Stories oral history project. Rhea Whitthoft and Pat Brannan are lifelong residents of McIntosh County with deep ties to the commercial fishing industry. Whitthoft grew up next to Meridian Shrimp Company, a family-owned dock operated by her parents and grandfather. Though she did not work formally on the dock, she contributed occasionally and observed the daily activity. Brannan began fishing with his father at a young age and later captained his shrimp boat. Both narrators describe childhoods rooted in the rhythms of dock life and coastal community networks.
The interview focuses on their experiences growing up around the Meridian Shrimp Company dock and its operations. They discuss seasonal labor practices, shrimp processing and distribution, family roles in managing the business, and the challenges of maintaining a working dock. The narrators recall the sale of the dock to the state of Georgia in the early 1990s and reflect on the loss of access to traditional working waterfronts. They describe the dock’s physical infrastructure, including shrimp vats, concrete block buildings, and an ice crusher, and highlight its importance as a hub of activity and employment. Brannan and Whitthoft share anecdotes about raccoons, dock cats, and childhood play, illustrating the social and environmental world of the creekside dock. They comment on changes in local ecology, diminished biodiversity, and the harmful impact of pollution and mill runoff on marine life. The conversation turns to broader industry trends, including economic pressures from imported shrimp, reduced support infrastructure, and declining participation among younger generations. Both narrators advocate for government support, improved marketing of Georgia shrimp, and protections for remaining docks and fisheries.
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