On May 6, 2020, Cassidy Martin interviewed Kelly Shannon for the Maritime Studies Capstone Seminar Oral History Project. Kelly Shannon is an environmental analyst with the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Aquaculture. Shannon’s work is focused on shellfish management, encompassing tasks such as water quality testing, shellfish meat analysis, and pollution source identification. She works closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, state and local health departments, and other relevant agencies to ensure consumers' safety of shellfish products. Shannon also plays a key role in assisting individuals with obtaining aquaculture licenses, involving detailed processes like GIS mapping and coordination with multiple government entities. The interview delves into Shannon’s educational background and how her career path evolved from a pre-med focus to marine science. She recounts her experiences at Mount Holyoke College and subsequent involvement in marine science, which led her to work at the Noank Marine Research Laboratory. Shannon describes her gradual transition into the field, eventually leading to her current position in aquaculture. Throughout the interview, Shannon reflects on the challenges the shellfish industry faces, including pollution, the need for water access, and public perception issues. She emphasizes the importance of conditional area classifications in shellfish harvesting, noting that while there have been small gains in water quality, significant challenges remain. Shannon also touches on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, highlighting the innovative ways shellfish producers adapted to maintain their livelihoods, such as direct sales to consumers and partnerships with local businesses.