Egan Maritime Institute invites the public to attend the season’s first Foghorn Speaker Series event, Fishing for Food and Money, this Wednesday, June 25 from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum.
The evening will feature a panel discussion that expands on the themes explored in the Museum’s featured 2025 exhibit From Hard Times to Boom Times, which traces the transformation of Nantucket’s waterfront—developed as a working harbor supporting a robust whaling and fishing economy—to its present role as a vibrant, tourism-based hub.
While the exhibit highlights the broader economic and cultural shifts along the waterfront, our Foghorn Speaker Series dives deeper into the personal stories that bring this history to life.
Five panelists will speak of their history and expertise. Carl Sjolund is a longtime commercial fisherman with decades of experience navigating Nantucket’s waters and inspiring the next generation in the fishing industry. Ginger Andrews, owner and restorer of the island’s last working scalloping shanty, preserving a vital piece of local history is well-versed about the past. Jeff Allen, artist and owner of FishStix, where he combines functional design, intricate artistry, and local knowledge to craft custom fishing rods, can address the current fishery. Tammy King, surfcasting instructor behind Fish Girl Guides, commercial scalloper, and an advocate who fosters a community of women fishers will add her perspective to the panel. And Corey Gammill, owner of Bill Fisher Tackle and Bill Fisher Outings, has a mission to keep Nantucket’s fishing culture alive—maintaining it as both a trusted source for gear and a hub for local knowledge, storytelling, and community.
Tobias Glidden, a descendant of Charles S. Glidden, a U.S. Life-Saving Surfman and founder of Nantucket’s first fish market, will moderate the panel discussion.
Together, the panelists will reflect on the changes they’ve witnessed, how they’ve adapted, and why they continue to work in the fishing industry despite its challenges.
“This discussion offers a unique window into the lived experiences behind an evolving industry,” said Egan Maritime’s Executive Director, Carlisle Jensen. “It honors the role of local stories in preserving the island’s waterfront history and maritime legacy.”
The panel is free for members. Non-members pay regular museum admission, ranging from $7 to $15. Visit eganmaritime.org for details and to register.