Whatever Happened to the Fisheries Where NCs Black Coastal Communities Were Once Central

Cultural anthropologist Barbara Garrity-Blake takes us into the world of North Carolina’s menhaden fishery — a once-thriving industry built by coastal communities, African American crews, and the haunting work songs they sang. In this episode, we explore how this small but vital fish fed both the economy and the environment, and what was lost when machines replaced people and tourism replaced tradition. It’s a story about labor, race, ecology, and memory, deeply tied to North Carolina’s coastal heritage.

Barbara Garrity-Blake teaches marine fisheries policy at the Duke University Marine Laboratory. She has written books like "Living at the Water's Edge: A Heritage Guide to the Outer Banks Byway" with Karen Willis Amspacher, highlighting the culture of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Another notable work, "The Fish Factory: Work and Meaning for Black and White Fishermen of the American Menhaden Industry," examines the experiences of menhaden fishermen.

Menhaden are small, oily fish essential to the Atlantic coastal ecosystem. They filter plankton from the water and are a key food source for larger fish, birds, and marine mammals. Historically, they were harvested on a massive scale for fertilizer, animal feed, and bait. Today, debates continue about how to balance their ecological role with commercial interests.