Fellowship Experiences

I stumbled into my father’s rubber work boots as I peered out over the Chesapeake Bay in the cold November morning.  His advice echoed through my ears, “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you’re …” I’ve always found myself following his adage to a tee, which means I’d arrived at the Deal Island marina an hour before anyone else.

Moving water has always captivated my attention. It started with the ocean: waves pulsing towards shore and breaking, offering endless intrigue. Rivers came next, especially swollen ones after heavy rains. 

There are many things that matter to me: My family, my studies, my guitar, and my heritage. But one thing holds a special place in my heart: The ocean. Having grown up in El Salvador, the Pacific Coast was a common destination on every holiday or opportunity we had.

For the past two years, I’ve traveled tidewater Maryland, asking people, “why aquaculture?” I ask entrepreneurs why they decided to get involved in growing oysters in tanks or floats in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. And for the commercial fishermen who aren’t, I ask, “why not?” This very basic question begins the discussion with each person I talk to, in order to understand on a larger level what motivates individuals towards or away from oyster aquaculture.

​A recent NPR Hidden Brain podcast discussed the idea of the edge effect, which is the concept of encouraging collaboration between people with diverse interests and backgrounds.