Oculina Bank Oral History Project

Interviewee

Gary Mills

Files

Download

Download Full Text (10.9 MB)

Download Gary Mills oral history interview transcript (1.7 MB)

Loading...

Media is loading
 

Interviewer

Terry L. Howard

Publication Date

10-19-2010

Date

2010-07-20

Abstract

Oral history interview with commercial fisherman Gary Mills. Mills, a native of Fort Pierce, began commercial fishing in the 1970s. The Oculina Bank was his primary fishing spot. It was where he learned to fish, and he was one of the most accomplished fishermen in the area. In 1994, when bottom fishing for grouper and snapper was prohibited in the Oculina Bank, Mills' business took a major hit. By 1998, he had stopped fishing commercially. In Mills' opinion, the regulations are the most restrictive to commercial fishermen, but the recreational sector receives very little attention. He points out that there are many more sport fishing boats, compared to only a few commercial boats. They are rarely inspected or fined, and the fines are much smaller than they would be for a commercial boat. For this reason, closed areas are ineffective. In this interview, he also recounts his personal fishing history.

Keywords

Fisheries, Fishers, Fishery closures, Fishery management

Extent

00:37:33; 20 page transcript

Subject: geographic

Ft. Pierce (Fla.)

Language

English

Media Type

Oral histories

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

O6-00034

Share

 
COinS
 

Rights Statement

In Copyright