Newport Fishermen's Wives, Inc.

2011Board of Directors (photo coming soon)President: Maria RockVice President: Sara SkamserSecretary: Bekki WagnerTreasurers: Connie Kennedy, Lisa BonacciMembership Chair: Erica FuhBoard Members: Taunette Dixon, Cari Hamrick, Kristen Cole 

Our signiture event the Blessing of the Fleet, was March 19th 2011 - A traditional celebration of our industry while asking for Blessings on our industry and families. The 2nd Annual Highliner Games and The Survival Suit Races  highlighted the importance of safety and give another opportunity to showcase our industry while competing for bragging rights. The Fishermen's Memorial Service offers a time to support local families who have lost a loved one while in pursuit of their livliehood as a commercial fisherman.

We will also present the 2nd annua lNewport Wild Seafood Weekend, September 10th and 11th. It is a wonderful festival atmosphere on Port of Newport property celebrating the commercial fishing indsutry and all that entails - including the return of The Great Newport Wild Seafood Cookoff and the Wild Seafood Market. We will need a lot of volunteers to put this event on.

Those of you who have particiated with us, we thank you and we hope you will come and join us again this year and share in suporting our indsutry and families.

(Great Newport Seafood Cook-Off Maître Di vest designed and created using Grunden’s heavy duty apron by Meghan Kennedy. Great Newport Seafood Cook-Off crew aprons designed and created from pieces of Grunden’s knife belts, heavy duty aprons and fun embellishments, by Connie Kennedy. 2009)

Newport Fishermen’s Wives (NFW) is a non-profit association of fishermen’s wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends, supporting a strong sense of community; helping to aid and assist fishing families, relatives and dependants of commercial fishermen in times of tragedy.  NFW does this through donations, and fundraising efforts like sales of their merchandise, seafood promotion and education, and supporting safety efforts.

NFW assists based on the family's immediate .needs.  Most often it's getting a small check into their hands quickly from the NFW Fishing Family Relief Fund.  This fund was set-up in the 1990's to help with basic needs like diapers, formula, gas, groceries, rent, etc.  The fisherman’s death often occurs at the beginning of a season or fishing trip, before any fish has been landed or delivered, consequently, no paycheck is coming. Sometimes, if the family is willing, it means managing a bank account for tax-deductible donations and rallying the community to donate in memory of the lost fisherman.

Families often have to navigate the system to obtain a death certificate which has been known to be difficult if they are lost at sea.  Others, who had the foresight and prudence to obtain life insurance for their family, may have to wait a few weeks, or longer for that to become available based on a death certificate. 

In the early 2000s, the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission (ODCC) approached NFW about managing an account to help Oregon Dungeness crab fishing families when a loss at sea occurs.   NFW agreed, and ODCC held a large fundraiser to start the Oregon Crabber's Relief Fund. Regrettably, there has been a need to use the account nearly every year since. The Commission continues to work with NFW.

Lisa, Bekki, Connie, Lori, Maria, Kristen, Sara and Erica

A Brief History of Newport Fishermen's Wives, Inc.

Click here for a PDF presentation of NFW History.

Newport Fishermen's Wives Inc. has a 30 plus year history of supporting commercial fishing families in a variety of ways.

In the 1970’s, NFW organized to support and/or represent fishing families.  NFW worked to represent at-sea husbands/fishing families to congressional representatives in helping to secure the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in US waters.

In the 1980’s, NFW organized to inform and educate congressional representatives of the need for USCG Search and Rescue Helicopter coverage in Newport and the Central Coast.  NFW worked to ensure a permanent facility and 24 hour coverage.

In 1988, NFW formed a support group for fishermen’s wives with husbands fishing in Alaska.  Organized monthly support meetings, family events, and brought in experts to talk about issues of importance to fishing families.

In 1990, the support group merged with the original NFW who passed the gavel and bank accounts and asked if we would continue the present and Annual Blessing of the Fleet.

In the late 80’s to 1990’s, we worked to raise funds, secure a site, and build the Fishermen’s Memorial Sanctuary at Yaquina Bay State Park.  NFW also offers immediate financial support for basic needs to families of fishermen lost at sea by collecting tax deductible donations and/or opening bank accounts for families for donations.  NFW has also offered to pay for counseling to families in need.  It was also during this time that the third addition of the NFW cookbook was created.

2000’s Continue to support fishing families, promote fishermen and vessel safety, and promote seafood through education.  Present the Blessing of the Fleet, Survival Suit Races, Highliner Competition, Fishermen’s Memorial Service, and create the Newport Wild Seafood Weekend a celebration of wild caught seafood and fundraiser for the Fishing Family Relief Fund.