Wayne Grothe
Peconic Estuary Interviews
In 1997 the Peconic Estuary Council hired Nancy Solomon to interview East End fishermen and baymen as part of its work in developing a master plan for the estuary. Solomon interviewed ten fishermen and continued to document the east end fishermen in later years.
Wayne Grothe is an experienced shellfisherman with over 24 years of work in the field. Wayne has primarily worked on the south shore, specifically in areas like Shinnecock Bay. He is resident of Southampton and was an active commercial fisherman until around 2001 when he transitioned to working for the Nature Conservancy of Long Island. With his experience and expertise, Wayne became a keen observer of the ecological changes occurring in the Peconics and the South Shore regions.
Scope and Content Note
Wayne has witnessed significant alterations in the bay due to human activities such as dredging and development. Wayne emphasizes the impact of these changes on the salinity levels, predators, and the overall decline of shellfish populations. He discusses the effects of road runoff, sewage treatment, and water quality degradation on the shellfish ecosystem. Wayne shares his insights into specific areas like Quantic, Sag Harbor, and Flanders Bay, which were once productive but have suffered declines in shellfish populations. He advocates for improved sewage treatment and environmental protection measures to safeguard the health of the bays and restore shellfish populations.
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