(gentle music) - African Americans have been working on the Chesapeake Bay since 1619, when they first came to the shores of Virginia.

And many of the plantations, they fished, not only to sell the product, but also to feed enslaved people.

And many of the African Americans, enslaved and free, were engaged in all sorts of waterborne activities, - [Narrator] For the black watermen, it was, if only for part of their day, freedom.

- [Vince] They received papers that allowed them to be on vessels away from the watchful eye of the overseer.

- [Narrator] Their work was vast and demanding, with skills ranging from shipbuilding to cleaning, picking, or shucking the day's catch.

- African Americans became very skilled ship caulkers, stuffing tar and oakum, which is a type of rope, in between the planks of wooden boats to make them seaworthy.

(sea shanty music) There have been African Americans in all aspects of the maritime and seafood processing industry, from sail makers to boat builders, the owners of five star restaurants.

- [Narrator] Among the most successful was Thomas Downing, a native of Virginia's Eastern Shore, who turned the skills he learned on the waters in his hometown of Chincoteague, and transformed them into one of new York's most prosperous oyster houses.

- His clientele was entirely wealthy white men who would bring their wives.

So the fact that he was able to have a successful establishment in the heart of the financial district of New York City when slavery was still very legal in the South, and become pretty much a millionaire, and have the respect that he did.

- Not only was he a businessman, but he was also an abolitionist.

There were runaway enslaved people that was working in the ports, the harbors.

And ships came down from Connecticut to the Chesapeake Bay.

They came down from New York.

They used their vessels as a part of the underground railroad.

(sea shanty music) (mellow music) - [Narrator] For centuries, black watermen mastered dozens of different jobs, as the fishing industry boomed.

But looking around today, there are very few black watermen working the Chesapeake Bay, and those who are there, say their children just aren't interested in continuing in this 400-year-old occupation.

- Everyone is not cut out for this job.

It's like everyone is not cut out to be a policeman or a firefighter.

Younger people, I don't think, they got a family to raise plus they want retirement.

There's no retirement on this water for me.

- [Narrator] For the few who remain, aquafarming offers a more reliable and secure future.

- A typical day starts around six in the morning and we go out and we work the tide cycles, and it consists of three to four hours of working on the water.

And when we're not, we repair cages and boats and baskets for your next day's harvest.

I've encouraged several younger kids.

Some of 'em just don't wanna further their education and go to college.

It's a lot better than being stuck inside of a factory for 10 or 12 hours a day.

And you've got a lot more freedom and it helps the water and it keeps things growing and producing.

It's not a bad source of income.

- Opened this up last year and it's been awesome.

So, Salts Seafood was basically a new seafood shop.

It's really an opportunity to highlight the oyster farmers in our community.

Bottom's up.

Fell in love with this area and basically decided to, you know, sit here and start my own business.

I've been super lucky to have been involved in the water community.

It's one of the few vocations that with hard work and a few permits, couple hundred bucks, go out there, and try to make a living, as long as you do it right.

It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done, in general, being able to wake up doing hard work, and it teaches a lot of things that you rarely get out there in the world.

And also you have a lot of fun doing it.

It's a great career to get in to.

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