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By daybreak
Published: June 23, 2008
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"Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town" explores the lives of small-scale commercial fishermen living in Snead’s Ferry, North Carolina. For over 300 years, generations of fishermen have made a precarious living catching shrimp, clams and fin fish. In the last few years, however, the forces of globalization, imported seafood, rising fuel prices and explosive coastal growth have threatened their deeply ingrained traditional way of life.

The movie brings to light a shocking and tragic movement that is happening not only in North Carolina but all over the United States and to a certain extent in other countries. The documentary follows a variety of fishing families and related operations over time as they struggle to make a profit throughout the period of upheaval. The time span of the movie shows how commercial fishing families have been faced with a series of unrelated factors that have cumulatively crippled the industry.

The movie discusses several regional fisheries, including inshore crabbing, shrimping, clamming, netting and deep sea fishing. Also covered are the impacts of commercial fishing regulations on the operations of the fishermen and their families. Other factors that have a huge impact on the fishing community during the course of the report include local zoning changes. One of the most damaging changes to the town are the skyrocketing real estate values which in turn drove tax rates to the point that small business owners were unable to remain profitable. As business after business fails, the fishermen are faced with a severe lack of both waterfront access and supporting services. The cycle continues in the movie, with condos, and developments swallowing up land, pushing the fishermen out. An environment of alienation begins to be evident as the various user groups sometimes clash.

The characters in the movie are not actors but real life fishermen. Often  not formally educated, many of these people are role models for the American work ethic. They work long hours in very harsh conditions, often for little or no pay. Still they push themselves to perform and take enormous pride in their craft. Like many commercial fishing towns, there are few alternatives and most fishermen choose to fight on as long as possible.

The movie should be a wake up call to Americans about the importance of the commercial fishing industry to our economy and national identity. With the fuel crisis is having profound effects on the American and worldwide economies, the movie provides important evidence that our nation needs to take a close look at this situation and think hard before we allow our commercial fishing communities and the valuable seafood they provide to disappear forever. 

For more on Wild Caught, visit www.unheardvoicesproject.org

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