Commercial Seafood Apprenticeship Program Testimonials and News

2025 Testimonials

Here’s what members of the 2025 graduating class had to say about their experiences with the South Carolina Commercial Seafood Apprenticeship Program:

Grayson Seth Reynolds, Greenwood, S.C.

“I enjoyed everything, especially learning from these guys [watermen], there’s so much knowledge that they have that they are able to pass on to us.”

Robert Carter Murray, Awendaw, S.C.

“I’ve been doing recreational stuff my whole life around the water, and it was cool to come in and learn the other side of it [commercial]… hearing how these guys come in here and make a living out of it, and I feel like this is something I can do in my future.”

Colby Gavigan, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

“It’s communities like this that make South Carolina so great. My favorite part was meeting everyone and getting a helping hand in covering a bunch of different parts of the industry. My plan now is to probably start within the oyster farming space, and come October I want to get into the wild harvesting of oysters.”

Emily G. Watts, Murrell’s Inlet, S.C.

“Everyone in this program has been amazing and such a family. Everybody in McClellanville—I want to thank them for allowing us to come here, and share their waterways, and learn.”

Conner Bostwick, Charleston, S.C.

“Every time I did anything hands-on, it was always a great experience and a really fun time. As far as what’s next, I just want to do anything out on the water, probably going to explore anything and everything I can and just get out there.”

Carson Sparks, Cowpens, S.C.

“Everyone in McClellanville has been so welcoming and kind to us. My favorite part was wild oysters, it was a very cool process, and I’m glad to learn it. I hope to pursue that in the future.”

Emily Grace Dunn, Columbia, S.C.

“My favorite part of the program has been the wild oystering and just meeting everyone else in the class. I really appreciated that, and everyone’s been such a friend, so thank you guys. In my next steps, I am looking into doing some wild oystering and maybe some crabbing—whatever I can get my hands on.”

Quintin Smalls, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“I’ve been doing Gullah history and going around the coast teaching people about the Gullah culture and things of that nature, but really stepping into the water and tapping into the cultural roots, has been a blessing.”

Emily A. Hansen, Beaufort, S.C.

“My favorite part of the program was probably also wild oystering and mariculture, but I also loved just the broad expanse of experiences we’ve had here. We could literally cover so much, and I think I speak for everyone here when I say it was a great experience, a great opportunity, I’m very thankful for everyone involved in it.”

2024 Testimonials

Here’s what the 2024 graduating class had to say about their experiences with the South Carolina Commercial Seafood Apprenticeship Program:

Bekah Bennett, Hilton Head, S.C.

“The first couple of weeks in the classroom are a lot about safety, which is in my opinion one of the most important things in working on the water, if not the most important thing… I really appreciated the fact that they taught everyone from the ground level up because it is so critical to safety on the water.”

 

“It was kind of surprising seeing [local fishermen], how supportive they were of us… We were really welcomed by them. Definitely in a place like McClellanville, like a lot of other small towns in South Carolina, it’s very, very tight-knit, and it can be hard to kind of break into that. Having them here was definitely very, very helpful.”

 

“My biggest hesitation was that I wasn’t sure if there would be any women in the program, and if women would be supported. But it’s women running the program… If there’s a girl reading this and you’re hesitant about it, do it. People are going to support you. You know, if you don’t do it, who will?”

 

“Angela and Jocelyn and the whole team were just incredible and very supportive. I think this is something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life, and hopefully apply to my career here soon.”

Garret Kestory, Edgewater, F.L.

“I wanted a change in career, and I wanted to learn the ins and outs of how everything works.”

Patricia Ann Cope, Saint Helena Island, S.C.

“I’ve learned a lot. I’m learning the correct way to do things and I’m learning so much about conservation and leaving it for the next generation.”

 

“They’re going to pay me to learn how to grow an oyster? I could not wrap my head around that…  when I got here, it was so much more… working on a pump, working on boat motors, changing the oil, changing the fuel, working on the trailer. It’s all part of the business, you know, it was so much more than growing the oyster.”

 

“It was always a good day to learn, and sometimes I just sat back and watched what was going on. I think those are the days I learned the most… Listen to the captain, because no two people do it the same way.”

Shane Brackett, Mount Holly, N.C.

“I think the program was amazing and went above and beyond, so I have no complaints. I highly recommend the program.”

Blake Godsey, North Charleston, S.C.

“This is a valuable program because a lot of people have a hard time getting into this [industry]. You know, unless you have somebody in your family in the business, there are a lot of barriers to it… There’s not a lot of young people in it and I think there is an interest. It’s hard to know where to start. A lot of it is just going down and talking to people and meeting them. That’s one of the most valuable things about this program because we’re put in front of fishermen and we’re put in front of other industry leaders to say, ‘Hey, here we are. We’re people that want to do this.’”

 

“This is a great way to build relationships, get our feet wet, and get our hands dirty a little. You actually get a feel for what it’s like out there in the day-to-day, you know, watch those outriggers go out and those nets drop and just really see how it’s done.”

 

“When you get that catch up, it’s exhilarating when you drop that catch on board. Shrimping was pretty impressive. I feel very grateful for the opportunity.”