Rodman Sykes
Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019
Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2019 is a project of Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast, College of the Atlantic, and the Island Institute, with support from the Maine Fishermen’s Forum Board of Directors.
Ela Keegan
Rodman Sykes is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Point Judith, Rhode Island. With 50 years of experience in the fishing industry, he represents the third generation of fishermen in his family. Sykes specializes in skate and ground fish.
Scope and Content Note
He begins his interview by talking about the changes in how young people get into the fishing industry. He focuses on how the advancement of young fishermen from low to high positions is diminishing, which is putting pressure on generations beginning to retire. Secondly, Sykes voices his worries and the foreseeable impacts of the small wind farm off Block Island and the planned 2020 offshore wind farm off Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Rodman primarily operates a 68-foot dragger, targeting skates for lobster bait and ground fish. He explains that fishing for skates has become an easier option for him and his crew as they have gotten older. Rodman explains the complex debates surrounding the wind farms and how they have strained relationships within the fishing community. He also mentions the challenges of selling his boat and retiring due to the limited interest from younger generations in taking over the business.
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