This article was contributed by Megan Waldrep
 
"I'm going to Alaska for three months to fish for sockeye salmon," were the words spoken by my boyfriend, a commercial fisherman I'd been with for almost a year. Sure, we long-distance dated and saw each other one or two times each month, but a three-month separation? Did he realize the sacrifice I was making to be in this relationship? More importantly, did I? 
 
I didn't understand commercial fishing, but I knew it was dangerous. (There was a show called "Deadliest Catch," after all.) As my boyfriend explained further, I realized that the lifestyle paralleled the military wives I was surrounded by as an Army kid. I saw parents go to war while the others stayed home to manage the family and household responsibilities. I knew there were support groups for military spouses, so I searched Google for one about commercial fishing that could help me. "How to Date a Commercial Fisherman," I typed. I was stunned; no single blog post or resource about this unique lifestyle popped up for women.
 
With seven years of journalism behind me, I figured I needed to change that and wrote a piece called "9 Things to Know When Dating a Commercial Fisherman" to have something on the internet for women like me (were there women like me?). I hit “publish” and forgot about it.
 
Yet, as blog comments and emails came from women worldwide saying they felt the same, I was relieved that others understood a life that neither my friends nor family could relate to. This niche needed attention, so I wrote more about the lifestyle and interviewed these incredible women to learn how they got through challenges in commercial fishing and to show POCFs that there are others like us. 
 
In 2019, the Partners of Commercial Fishermen (POCF) was born. One blog post became weekly posts, a weekly podcast, a private group support chat, and a private forum with resources from mental wellness, relationship connection, financial management, and fishery advocacy and support. Our weekly newsletters and socials are a lifeline for the community, and an in-person retreat is on the horizon. POCF is now an innovative online space that empowers women through community, education, and authentic, real-time connection when they need it most. 
 
While growing this global community, I married my fisherman, too.
Photo c/o Bri Dwyer

Over the years, I learned that if it weren't for the invisible labor of these women worldwide, commercial fishing wouldn't be the multi-billion-dollar industry it is today. I'm honored to hold a space for POCFs that reflects their value and that their role is vital to the health of our coastal communities. Whether you're connected to the fishing industry or not, Partners of Commercial Fishermen stands for something we all need: community, resilience, and knowing someone has your back.
 
Next time you eat your favorite wild-caught seafood, please take a moment to think not only about the hardworking fishermen but also about the strong women who hold down life on land and make it possible.
 
Here's to them.
 
Megan Waldrep, Founder, Partners of Commercial Fishermen
Website: pocfpride.com
IG: @megan.waldrep 
Partners of Commercial Fishermen podcast on Apple, Spotify, and more.
 
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Heather McWhorter, MS, PE, ECM, is the director of the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. CIE is a resource for high-impact start-ups and the early-stage business community to help diversify the local economy with innovative solutions.