Something that started life as a social media project with a lighthearted name is developing into something bigger and deeper. The latest issue of Hook and Net carries an interview with Genevieve McDonald, founder Chix Who Fish.
Based in Stonington, Maine, Genevieve McDonald runs the crab boat Hello Darlin’ II, and she told H&N that she grew up on Mount Desert Island, and as a kid was always fascinated by the marine ecosystem.
‘I spent my time hanging around the pier, watching the fishing boats come in and looking for starfish and sea glass. After high school I worked at a local boatyard that stored lobster boats in the winter. In the spring one of the local captains was looking for crew and the rest is history, I jumped on board and never looked back,’ she said.
Chix Who Fish, which took shape as a Facebook group, took her by completely surprise as it took off – initially with the objective of raising awareness about the lack of commercial foul weather gear designed for women. The expected handful of submissions grew rapidly as fishing woman around the world joined in.
‘As Chix Who Fish grew, and these concerns were answered, it became a community less focused on gear, and more focused on recognising the important role women hold in all aspects of the commercial fishing industry.’
‘Women come in all shapes and sizes, but we can all agree we are not built like men. There are issues with having gear that does not fit well: it snags, catches on fishing gear, or under the heel of your boot. There were numerous at-home modifications happening that were compromising the integrity of the gear, such as cutting off the neoprene cuffs to shorten the sleeves of oil coats.’ she explained.
‘I was frustrated with the fit of my jackets, the shoulders that were too baggy and sleeves that were too long. This was especially frustrating as a trap fisherman reaching in and out of lobster traps. Other women had trouble finding gear that was small enough and were reduced to wearing child-sized gear that is not designed to be as durable. Having foul weather gear that fits properly allows us to do our jobs more safely and efficiently.’
More specifically, the aim of Chix Who Fish was to involve oilskin manufacturer Grundens, the most popular and available brand in Maine. Genevieve’s campaign clearly struck a chord and also coincided with an initiative that Grundens were also considering.
‘In the beginning they may have had concerns about the size of the market for women’s gear, they just needed to hear from consumers that this was a desired product. Grundens offers a wide product line – from heavy-duty commercial gear, to mid layer, base layer, and casual outerwear – and there are women at every step of that chain.
‘Things have changed! Grundens launched Sedna, their women’s commercial line, last fall at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, and has plans to release women’s base- and mid-layer products later this year. Stormline has developed the Milford 249 and Milford 649, a unisex foul weather jacket and pant set that is designed to be more accommodating to the female form. XTRATUF, a leading brand in commercial fishing boots, now offers their classic style, the 15 in. Legacy, in a woman’s fit, and has also released the Fanatic, a women’s deck shoe. One of the most enjoyable parts of this project for me has been the opportunity to trial gear and offer feedback on all these new and exciting products!’
