Wilson Moran
Georgia Black Fishermen
African American participation in marine-related careers began as early as 1796, when the federal government issued Seamen’s Protection Certificates to merchant mariners defining them as “citizens” of the United States effectively making maritime employment one way for Black people to shape their identities. This project documents the fishery-related occupations of African Americans in coastal Georgia 1865 to present and gather information for future work that may ascertain the relationship between their decreased participation and changes in regional fish populations and the fishing industry.
On August 19, 2014, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Wilson Moran as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. Wilson provides a firsthand account of traditional environmental stewardship and fishing practices within the Black community of Harris Neck before its transition into a wildlife refuge. Wilson reflects on his family’s history as commercial fishers, detailing the sustainable techniques they used, including seasonal fishing, culling undersized or egg-laden crabs, and replenishing oyster beds. He discusses how these practices, along with the community’s control over their resources, was eroded by economic and political power structures, leading to ecological and cultural loss. For example, the leasing of marshlands to private entities restricted Black fishers from accessing oyster beds without permits. This, along with the commercial exploitation of soft-shell crabs and years of environmental pollution caused by septic tanks and industrial runoff, contributed to the decline of the local fishing industry.
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