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Guest Commentary: Shrimpers, maritime industry find support following hurricane

By Stefanie Ink Edwards - | Nov 30, 2022

Weeks have passed since Hurricane Ian made landfall, yet the images of destruction are still so vivid — barren slabs of concrete or splintered pilings where businesses and homes once stood, piles of household items stacked on the curb, crumpled cars tossed on their roofs by powerful storm surge.

The images that stand out to me are faces of our Southwest Florida residents who lost their homes, belongings and livelihoods. The storm affected everyone, from millionaires living in beachfront mansions to working-class people and retirees.

One group especially impacted by Ian are shrimpers and commercial fishermen. Their vessels were tossed, turned and catapulted onto land. And that’s where they will remain until specialized cranes can safely hoist them back into the water, where they belong assuming they can still float.

Leaders of local nonprofits have been surveying our community and supporting those who need help. On a recent visit to Fort Myers Beach, I had an opportunity to speak with some shrimpers and commercial fishermen who rode out Ian on their boats. They showed me pictures and videos shot as the eye wall passed, waves crashing with unimaginable force and 16 feet of storm surge rising so high that nearby roofs were barely visible.

When asked what they need, though, the men weren’t focused on personal items.

“We’re hoping to get back in the water so we can go fishing,” Richard Browne said. “We desperately need to get back on the water.”

In the meantime, shrimpers and fishermen cannot earn a living. They take great pride in catching wild-caught fish and “Gulf pink” shrimp, which then makes their way to local restaurants and supermarkets. They worry that further delays could lead restaurants to serve more imported and farm-raised products damaging the local economy. They want Southwest Floridians to have fresh, local caught seafood on their dinner plates.

Although these shrimpers and fishermen spend much of their time at sea, they are still a part of our community. Community Cooperative identified this group as one needing extra support, recently partnering with The Joel Foundation to offer long-term recovery assistance and set up pop-up distribution centers like one near Matanzas Harbor. There, shrimpers, fishermen and Fort Myers Beach residents could receive hot meals, water and essential items like hygiene and cleaning supplies, canned goods and shelf-stable foods, pet food, baby products, tarps and direct assistance to help with bills.

Led by Billy and Alexis Joel, the foundation donated $250,000 to Community Cooperative’s Lee County Strong Hurricane Relief Fund. The donation is supporting relief and rebuilding efforts in Southwest Florida for those impacted by the storm, for children and school programs, and the local maritime community.

“When we were looking for an organization to donate to, we really wanted to speak with someone directly who had boots on the ground,” Alexis Joel said. “They were really doing everything, from helping people rip out their drywall to doing Meals on Wheels.”

Joel visited Southwest Florida a week after Ian made landfall to survey the damage.

“It’s a beautiful area, but it’s also the epicenter of the shrimping industry, a lot of commercial fishing,” Joel said. “They’re going to need help for a long period of time.”

The dedication of shrimpers and fishermen effectively saved their vessels from being severely damaged, effectively saving Southwest Florida’s shrimping and fishing industry, which along with tourism and agriculture are the region’s economic pillars.

Ian deposited many commercial fishing vessels onshore, some just feet from the water. Now, these hardworking captains, crew and ship owners must wait. Joel offers a sense of hope and optimism.

“There are people rooting for you,” Joel said. “Hopefully we can bring a little bit of awareness and people can try to donate whatever they can — time, food, money — and help them get back on their feet.”

To support Community Cooperative’s Lee County Strong Emergency Relief Fund, please visit CommunityCooperative.com/LeeCountyStrong or call 239-332-7687.

Stefanie Ink Edwards is the chief executive officer of Community Cooperative, a nonprofit that provides innovative food, education and social service programs. For more, visit CommunityCooperative.com, maritime industry find support following hurricane.