 Ocean Careers
Barbara Emley
Fisherman
It's immediately clear to anyone who meets Barbara Emley that this California fisherman- yes, that's fisherman- embodies the spirit of those who make a living from the ocean. She's passionate about her work, the sea and her community. A person of many talents-she was once a cabinet maker- Barbara puts her passion to work, both on and off the water, for the benefit of her fellow fishermen and the marine resources on which we all depend.
As chair of the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, she works with various groups to promote sustainalbe fisheries and a thriving fishing industry. "I am sort of a mouthpiece for constituent groups."
The
people are tight and the life can be wonderfully rewarding.
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Her inclusive approach to problem-solving, and strong working relationships with both the fishing community and the sanctuary, have won her the respect and admiration of her peers.
"Chief among Barbara's contributions to the sanctuary is an ability to effectively network within the fishing community, and act as liaison between the fishermen, sanctuary management and other agencies," said Mary Jane Schramm of the Gulf of Farallones Sanctuary. "During the Reduce Night Lights, campaign she led the effort to encourage vessel operators to avoid aiming their lights at sensitive seabird habitats, which eliminated the need for regulatory action."
"I like it when we can work things out amongst the various parties without regulatory intervention," Barbara said. Having the knowledge and trust of the fishing community helps ease the process to determine the best course of action for fishing issues."
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| Barbara counts her catch of the day from a typical fishing trip. (Photo: Bryan Eckert) |
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Barbara points out that fishermen spend a lot of time on the sea, giving them first-hand knowledge of the marine environment that can help the scientific community. Fishing for salmon and Dungeness crab keeps her on the water year-round, and sensitive to changes from season to season, and year to year. "We are cognizant of what happens in the food chain, and our information is passed on to biologists," she said.
"Barbara brings a unique perspective of a person who spends much of her time on the water, derives her livelihood from it, and thereby becomes the most intimate with the sanctuary and its nuances," said Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, a nonprofit advocacy group.
"Her relationship with our association goes back a decade," Grader added. "Barbara has been an ex-officio board member, and brings a unique female perspective and a calming influence to the board."
In reflecting on her life, Barbara speaks affectionately of her fishing community. "The people are tight and the life can be wonderfully rewarding," she said. "But we need to get the young ones back. The average age today of a fishboat captain is 57."
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