Brannon Finney
Boat Captain
Brannon Finney is the captain of a commercial fishing boat out of Petersburg, Alaska, where She works. Finney has been fishing in the waters of the eastern Kenai peninsula for more than 20 years. She her caught some of the best seafood in the world. Her job takes her to some of the most beautiful places in the Prince William Sound, like Valdez, Cordova, Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Whittier, Tatitlek, and Chenega.
When she isn't harvesting water or servicing her boat, Alaskan Girl, or preparing it for its next run, she likes to spend time in the area's beautiful nature. This is a very rare thing. You might see her taking selfies while surfing on a glacial ice shelf, rock climbing, kayaking, or hiking through one of the many amazing natural parks in the area. As another day of heavy fog starts on the Prince William Sound, Brannon Finney and her all-women crew go about the many tasks that must be done to run a commercial fishing vessel in Alaska safely and well. Having a female boat captain is rare enough, but having all of the crew members be women is even more rare. She says, "I don't think it's a secret anymore that women can do the same things as men." Then again, life and work on a commercial fishing boat can be very hard, too. Most women I talk to don't care about my job or how I live. It doesn't work for me. I've been fishing in this area for more than 20 years now. It's all I know. The first time Brannon Finney went on a fishing boat was when he was very young. It seems like I learned how to swim when I was four. It's still fun to come off the water after being on it for a long time and walk on the beach for the very first time. Your legs will do weird things, like try to move when you don't want them to. Getting your brain back in balance and realizing that you're back on solid ground is the most important part of this process. Weather on the Prince William Sound can change very quickly, and it can be very bad. When the wind picks up in 10 minutes, it can go from not moving at all to 50mph. You need to pay attention to what's in front of you in the water. Commercial fishing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs anyone can do. You must always be on your toes and make sure your safety gear is in good shape. Sadly, tragedies happen a lot here. use government-approved wax and paint to finish the job, which takes a lot of time. |