Still Working the Water

Produced by Nantucket Community Television (NCTV)

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On an island where much has changed, Carl Sjolund represents something that hasn’t.

A Nantucket native with roots tracing back 15 generations, and lifelong commercial scalloper, Carl has spent more than 50 years working these waters — often alone, always steadily. His work is not seasonal nostalgia. It is routine, discipline and a way of life that still persists in the island’s modern economy.

His father, Rolf Sjolund, arrived from Norway and built a life here. Carl carried it forward, not just through his own work, but by mentoring others and advocating for the survival of small-scale, independent fishing on Nantucket.

In 2024, he was named the inaugural recipient of the Caldwell Heritage Award by the Egan Maritime Institute — recognition not just of longevity, but of influence. Carl has worked with local groups to support shellfish sustainability, contributing to projects that help ensure the fishery remains viable for the next generation.

This piece offers a straightforward look at a man who has spent a lifetime doing the work — and what that work still means.