Standing 5'3" and 48 years old, there's no doubt about it...Linda Greenlaw has guts and vitality. For nearly 30 years she has been a fierce competitor in one of the most dangerous professions in America: commercial fishing. She has earned the respect of her peers, is one of the few female captains in the U.S. and is, in fact, the only female swordfish captain in the States to date.
In 1997, at the age of 35, Linda Greenlaw captured the attention and interest of the public when Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm proclaimed her to be "one of the best sword boat captains, period, on the East Coast." In the movie, Linda is portrayed aboard her boat, the Hannah Boden, by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio trying to warn her sister vessel, the Andrea Gail, of the fast approaching storm that would end up taking the lives of all six men aboard the Andrea Gail.
Since then she has written four non-fiction books about her life and travels as a commercial fisherman, two mystery novels, and an awesome cookbook that she co-authored with her mom, Martha Greenlaw. She also stars on the new Discovery Channel series, Swords and is currently out touring to promote her latest non-fiction book Seaworthy: A Sword Boat Captain Returns To The Sea.
I was fortunate to spend some time with Linda trying to get inside her head and learn more about her and her life as a fisherman. Here's how our conversation went:
A Conversation with Linda Greenlaw:
ATNE: How would you describe yourself as a child growing up in Topsham, Maine?
LG: Major tomboy. I always liked to do boy things...things like sports, boating, fishing, and hunting with my Dad.
ATNE: How does an English and Government major wind up becoming a Commercial fisherman? Describe your love of the ocean and passion for fishing.
ATNE: Describe a typical day at sea.
ATNE: Having earned the respect of your peers and subordinates as a well established sea captain in a primarily male populated industry, what would you say are the makings of a great sea captain? What leadership skills must one possess?
ATNE: How has being a woman worked to your advantage and disadvantage?
LG: I don't think there are any disadvantages to being female. A lot of fisherman are kind of old school and they respect women, period. So that definitely is an advantage, you know, to work with gentleman who respect women and want to work hard to keep up with a woman...no self-respecting fisherman wants to be outworked by a woman...you know...so that's a pretty good thing.
ATNE: How do you measure your success compared to how the fishing industry measures success?
LG: Well I've never measured my success by the pounds of fish we've landed. I've measured my success by the feeling of fulfillment that I get doing what I love. So it's definitely sort of a personal definition of success...it's not about financial success at all.
ATNE: Describe your relationship with the Sword.
ATNE: Tell us about your strangest experience at sea.
ATNE: What was your most challenging experience at sea?
ATNE: What motivated you to head out to sea after a 10 year sabbatical?
LG: I never dreamed I wouldn't go back to swordfishing. I thought...next year, next season, next trip. The timing was never right. So two years ago when the phone rang it had been 10 years...I realized that the more time that marched on the less likely it was that I would get back to what I was still professing as my first love...so I knew I had better say yes and get on with it.
ATNE: While aboard the Seahawk, both you and your crew were faced with a barrage of technical difficulties, poor weather conditions as well as physical and emotional challenges…still, through it all, each and every one of you persevered with positive attitudes and teamwork. To what do you accredit this ?
LG: This particular crew was just so good at lightening up a really dark situation. They're very loyal to me and that makes a hell of difference aboard a boat when things aren't going well. For instance, when I was arrested, any one of my crew would have went to jail for me if they could have...you know, and they were very good at just keeping it light...you know...bad weather...poor fishing...and they were making jokes...not nearly as much whining and moaning and groaning as one would expect.
ATNE: What did you gain from your experience aboard the Seahawk? What did you learn about yourself? Any regrets?
ATNE: Did you and the crew ever end up eating the 100 cans of sardines you brought aboard?
ATNE: In your book, there seems to be an ongoing, internal struggle between the life you lead at sea and your life on land. How are you adapting to living in both worlds.
ATNE: How has technology and the way we catch fish changed since you first started in this industry nearly 30 years ago?
LG: Technology has certainly advanced. Satellite imagery and satellite communication...those are the two biggest assists that we get. It's really nice to hopefully have the ability to pick up the phone and actually really reach someone which I never had in the past. The one on the Seahawk didn't work particularly well, but that was a shitty phone.Satellite imaging for weather forecasting and finding where fish may be is way advanced from when I first started fishing.
ATNE: How have you changed?
LG: I'm more mature and have better coping skills. The younger Linda Greenlaw was much more excitable and hot headed. So those things have definitely changed.
ATNE: Is it true, you threw a cribbage board across the table at your opponent for criticizing your game?
LG: Yeah, and, once a fire ax through the television screen. I was a real thrower. I didn't do any of that last year.
ATNE: What are your thoughts on the issues of the environment? Many are concerned about the decline in our shark population and the bycatch of sharks and turtles often associated with long line fishing?
LG: We're required by U.S. law to use circle hooks. That has really minimized the interaction with all types of bycatch. I have never killed a turtle in my life. Everything we catch with circle hooks is hooked in the corner of the mouth so every fish we catch is alive as opposed to the old fashioned jay hooks that we used to fish with that the fish would ingest and often be dead. Now the fish are alive when they come up ...you pop the hook out of the corner of the mouth and they swim away.
ATNE: On a lighter note, do all fisherman drink rum?
ATNE: What do you enjoy most about living in Isle au Haut? What is it like living on a remote island ?
ATNE: Having co-authored a cookbook with your Mom what would you say is your best dish?
ATNE: What is something you can’t live without while at sea ?
LG: Chapstick.
ATNE: What are your thoughts and concerns regarding modern day piracy? Is this something you fear?
LG: Nope. I don't even give it a thought.
ATNE: Tell us about the new series Swords on the Discovery Channel. What was it like having a film crew aboard while trying to man your ship?
ATNE: You have also made a successful entrance into the publishing world with six books under your belt , including three non-fiction best sellers about the commercial fishing industry. What motivates and inspires you to write ?
LG: Hmm...I guess just being a good story teller...Before I wrote my first book I used to come in off the ocean and just sort of tell stories to my family. It was years of "you should write this down" and "you really ought to write a book". I never really intended to write until I was handed the opportunity after being so generously mentioned in the Perfect Storm. So I guess what motivates me is the ability to document what I love and having so many people enjoy what I write is also a big motivator.
ATNE: Do you have any current projects or plans you are working on now?
LG: I'm getting ready to go swordfishing again. I'm starting August 1st on the Hannah Boden if all goes right and the boat is ready. Another cookbook with my mother is due out next year. I have a non-fiction book to write...I guess I'll do that in the winter.
You can learn more about Linda Greenlaw by visiting her website at: http://www.lindagreenlawbooks.com
Books by Linda Greenlaw: Seaworthy, Fisherman's Bend,Slipknot,Recipes From A Very Small Island, All Fisherman Are Liars,The Hungry Ocean , The Lobster Chronicles
Written By : Jessica Layne
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