Harvesting the Bay: Fathers, Sons And The Last Of The Wild Shellfishermen

by Ray Huling

A generational story of fathers and sons and the lives of New England shellfishermen.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2012

Reviews

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book I knew next to nothing about quahogs, quahogging or even New England shellfisherman in general. But Harvesting the Bay not only broke down the details in such a way that I could easily understand, but did an excellent job of raising important questions about what it means to make our system of food production sustainable. The book is so much more than that though -- I really enjoyed both the memoir aspects and the brief glimpses into the relationship Native Americans had with the quahogs. Highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in learning about an industry which has existed sustainably for over 150 years.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really three books in one.... (1) a deep dive into the Rhode Island shellfishing industry; (2) an introspective investigation of the author's own family; (3) a thoughtful essay on the complexities of sustainability - economics, ecosystems, labor, consumption, conservation, generational responsibility, and public health.

Given the scope, this book might have been overwhelming. But, on the contrary, I found it very readable. The author did a good job balancing opinion, investigation, storytelling, and human interest. For me, the stories about the fishermen and the author's family were the most engaging, but I tend to read more fiction than non-fiction. The personal story (which has an underlying note of despair) nicely bookends the headier investigative reporting.

All in all - highly recommended for anyone who enjoys narrative non-fiction/ literary journalism.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect with this book, but it turns out to be essential reading for anyone trying to understand modern food production. Huling really delves in to the lives of the people who try to produce food in a sustainable way, and what it would take to make sustainable food production universal. The first chapter and last two chapters are especially enlightening. In the middle, you get to meet the Rhode Island shellfishermen - a delightful crew by any measure. Their stories are heartbreaking at times, but all together worth reading.

[Rich Watson]

Shell fishing in Rhode Island

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you live in RI and have ever eaten a quahog, then you might like this book. It had some interesting views on why the industry has been held back in an economic sense.