Cheating Death: Salmon Fishing the Copper River and Prince William Sound, Alaska

Struggles to survive, passion, determination, friendship, community, the beauty of Prince William Sound, and change are a big part of my story. When I began gillnetting, I was one of half a dozen women who fished alone. Most fishermen gave me respect, a couple kept an eye on me, and all of them helped if they saw me in trouble, including those who had shaken their heads and questioned what the heck I was doing with a fishing boat. On the water equality finds a balance. We all know the other boat might be the one to save our life.

I was young, indestructible, adventurous, and too ignorant to have fear. By the time I understood the dangers of fishing, I had fishing in my blood and thought if I was careful, I could avoid the threat of death in the wild.

I accepted that one day death might happen to me. Knowing a fisherman died every year let me know the threat was real. Believing I wouldn't be the one lost allowed me to leave the harbor. Deep inside I knew that one day I could be the one. Accepting that I could die any day gave me a unique perspective on living.