Fishermen's wives: how unsung efforts keep a way of life afloat

From Oregon to Massachusetts, fishermen's wives associations are the backbone of their communities, acting as agents, support networks and agitators

In spring 2020, the fishing community of Newport, Oregon, shuttered along with the rest of the country. A coronavirus outbreak at a local Pacific Seafood processing plant left fishermen sitting on docks with no buyers for their Dungeness crabs, while restaurants closed and families found themselves housebound.

That's when Taunette Dixon and her organization, the Newport Fishermen's Wives, stepped in. This group quickly mobilized to provide food, supplies, infant formula, pet food, fuel cards, masks, gloves and money for past-due utility payments to fishing families who had been hit by the pandemic.