LAMP Visitor Discusses Florida Commercial Shrimping Industry

Brendan Burke, a maritime archaeologist for the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, has studied Florida’s commercial shrimping history with the museum’s research wing, the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP). Together with Ed Long, he co-authored Shrimp Boat City in 2013 to provide a “conversation starter” concerning shrimping and wooden boat building in Florida. His visit to ECU’s Program in Maritime Studies detailed his research concerning the history of these vessels.

ABSTRACT: During the early 20th century, a new type of boat was born in Northeast Florida. Forged from Greek, Italian, Norwegian, African-American, and native Floridian hands, the Florida-style trawler became one of the most important boats in the history of the state. From 1919 until the mid-1980s, Florida supplied the world with shrimp trawlers and commercial fishing boats of all types. Northeast Florida was alive with the buzz of saws and the banging of hammers and the enterprise grew into a multi-billion dollar industry that contributed to over 23 foreign fishing fleets. Ultimately, Florida would be responsible for the largest purpose-built wooden fishing fleet ever assembled. This presentation brings together stories, pictures, and the people from the halcyon days of catching shrimp and building boats in the Sunshine State.

Brendan Burke received a B.A. in history and anthropology from Longwood University and an MA in anthropology from The College of William and Mary. Our thanks go to Brendan for visiting and sharing his research with students and faculty alike.

Please check out this link for more information regarding the book and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum:

http://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/ourstories/local/shrimp_boat_city