Maritime community traditions along America’s shorelines include occupational and recreational folklife, water-to-table foodways, and folk art. The forms vary regionally, but common threads are a relationship to the water and a connection to nature. Understanding the commodification of traditional maritime culture as it is incorporated into the identity of shoreline communities is critical to future research. Implications include the authority and diversity of maritime narratives, the commodification of that storyline, and the influence of researchers as advocates in shoreline development and preservation efforts. Development on shorelines reflects nostalgia for traditional landscapes and a drive for recreational space. Opportunities exist for advocacy and promotion of sustainability measures that support traditional culture.
