Maritime Programs

One of our main goals as an organization is to help preserve the traditions of commercial and recreational fishermen. Since the 1700s Long Island’s history has centered on the bays, rivers, oceans and estuaries. Baymen have harvested clams, oysters, eels and killies for their living. They have built garveys and duck boats, bay houses on the marshlands, and traps, nets, and other necessary tools. In the last 50 years the surrounding waters have changed greatly. There are fewer commercial baymen and fishermen today. Yet there is a powerful history being carried on.

Through festivals, school programs, documentaries like “Baymen” and “From A World Within A World: Bay Houses of Long Island, and publications such as On The Bay, we hope to raise the awareness of the dangers commercial fishermen and baymen face on the water. Government regulations and pollution have taken their toll on today’s generation of fishermen. Where there once was 200 baymen, today there are a few dozen. Long Island Traditions works with advisory committees on the South Shore and the Peconic Estuaries, helping to ensure the continued presence and survival of commercial fishermen.


Boating with the Baymen Tour

Long Island Traditions sponsors “Boating with the Baymen” a boat tour with local baymen and other maritime tradition bearers. This ...
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Bay House Tour

For information on our upcoming Bay House Tours, visit our Events page. Since 1992, Long Island Traditions has sponsored a ...
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On The Bay

On The Bay is a book on the bay houses within the Town of Hempstead. Written by Nancy Solomon, executive director ...
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Photo: John Buczak

Baymen Documentary

Filmmaker Glenn Gebhard and Long Island Traditions produced “Baymen,” a documentary on the south shore baymen of Long Island in ...
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Freeport Waters Trail

Long Island Traditions, in collaboration with City Lore and the Village of Freeport, installed Freeport Waters,, a permanent trail of artful signage that ...
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Sandy Shores Outdoor Exhibition

Along the Jones Beach bicycle path next to the Wantagh Parkway is the permanent exhibition “Sandy Shores,” curated by Long ...
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South Shore Estuary Reserve

Long Island’s South Shore is one of the oldest historic regions in the United States, from the pre-contact period when ...
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“From Shore to Shore” Exhibit

“From Shore to Shore: Boat Builders and Boatyards of Long Island,” curated by LI Traditions, is currently available for cultural institutions ...
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Waterfront Heroes Exhibit

Waterfront Heroes Exhibit

The Waterfront Heroes exhibit is now available to local libraries, museums and cultural institutions. The exhibit was curated by LI ...
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