November 11, 2024 — Story and photos by Holly Hughes from the 1983 National Fishermen Yearbook
To the general public, the image of the fisherman’s wife is commonly that of a lone figure gazing out to sea, waiting on the quay for her husband’s return. Throughout history, the life of the fisherman’s wife, like that of the fisherman himself, has often been romanticized.
Tradition dictated that she tends the home fires while her husband wrestled a living from the cruel sea. She had a clearly defined role of supporting her husband on shore, whether that meant raising the children, planting the potatoes or peddling the catch.
Just as most fishermen no longer put out to sea in open dories, the image and role of the fisherman’s spouse is changing. Today she may be a partner in her husband’s operation, either by handling the business onshore or going to sea with him. She may be active in lobbying for fisheries legislation or in setting up markets for his fish. She may be volunteering in the community or pursuing a career of her own.
While the fishing industry remains one of the last strongholds of tradition including the tradition that fishing is a male occupation, women’s participation in the fishing community is nevertheless broadening. The change can be attributed in part to the general evolution in the social climate brought about by the women’s movement.
However, changes in the fisheries themselves are also factors – from shorter seasons to more advanced (and less brawn intensive) fishing technology. Although the most dramatic change may be in women’s entrance into fishing itself, evidence of a new era can also be seen in the many variations on the theme of being a fisherman’s wife today. Many women still choose the traditional role, but others are working as partners with their husbands or using the free time to pursue their own careers. For better or worse, fishermen’s wives now have much greater freedom to determine their own roles than did their romanticized predecessors.