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| R/V Anna: the shrimp boat we went on. Image provided by trawlerdriftaway.blogspot.com |
The Georgia DNR:
Department of Natural Resources
Description: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources protects
and studies the ecology and resources of the Georgia Barrier Islands as well as
the mainland. The group got to take a boat ride from the Brunswick, GA port out
to the sea to do a testing drag. A drag is a technique fishermen or fisherwomen
use to catch shrimp by disrupting the dirt on the bottom of the ocean and dragging
a net to catch the shrimp that come out of the dirt due to the disruption. When
the net came up, the group got to see multiple shrimp as well as fish, crabs, a
squid, a shark, and a couple of stingrays. While throwing the fish back into
the water, two bottlenose dolphins followed the boat as well as a humongous
group of scavenging seagulls.
Reflection: Being the captain of a shrimp boat or any boat
takes a lot of practice hours as well as a lot of knowledge about the parts of
a boat and how the water and boat work together. If I was a captain of a shrimp
boat, I would not be a captain for very long because I know very little about
boats and very little about the water and where to fish. However, I do have a
tremendous amount of respect for shrimp boat captains because they practice and
study for years about boats, shrimp, fishing, the waters, and proper technique.
Now, no boat would run smoothly without good deckhands. Deckhands do all the
dirty work while the captain sits nice and pretty. The deckhands are the true
sailors when it comes to fishing. They cast the nets, sort the catch, clean the
boat, and do whatever other dirty work needs to be done to keep the boat
running efficiently and effectively. I do know that I would much rather be a
shrimp boat captain than a shrimp boat deckhand.
Analysis: The importance of the trip was the catch that the
group got was a sample test that tested for the shrimp in the coastal waters.
The DNR agent that got us the shrimp boat trip was Paul. Paul gave us a plethora
of knowledge about the importance of shrimping to the coast of Georgia as well
as the importance of the salt water marshes in Georgia. Paul informed the group
what types of fish and other sea creatures we caught besides shrimp. People
like Paul are essential to helping sustain and preserve the shrimping industry.
The agency that Paul works for enforces laws, provides guidelines for fishers
to follow, and keep shrimping a possible job opportunity for future
generations. The DNR really does want to keep the coastal waters of Georgia a
place where people can make a living by what they catch. Overall, the DNR is a
terrific agency when it comes to sustain and preserving Georgia’s coast as well
as the shrimping industry in Georgia.
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