This personal narrative is shared by Maisie McNaughton, a deckhand on a lobster fishing vessel in Aldouane, N.B. For additional insights into CBC’s First Person stories, refer to the FAQ.
A strong sou’easter intensified rapidly, causing the waves to become choppy and abrupt. Amidst the challenging conditions, my mother, known for her humor, quipped, “Drive it like you stole it!”
We navigated swiftly to maintain stability, skimming over the turbulent waves. Despite the situation, I chuckled nervously, somewhat relieved that we decided to cut short our fishing expedition as we jostled amidst the tumultuous whitecaps.
Sitting at the lunch table, a usual spot for our shared meals during breaks, everything seemed tolerable until we reached a point where two currents converged, forcing us to turn starboard. Instead of facing the waves directly, we were suddenly hit on the port side.
“Hold on tight!” my mother’s voice echoed as I clung tightly to the metal pole running through the table’s center. The boat tilted sideways, lurching violently, lifting my feet off the floor while my stomach felt displaced. Looking down at my mother against the backdrop of the turbulent ocean, her feet braced against the hull, she valiantly gripped the wheel to prevent capsizing, deftly steering us back on course.
Thankfully, she succeeded. We sailed from the Northumberland Strait towards the calmer Richibucto River, sharing laughter that only arises after surviving a perilous experience together.
Later, we discovered that a boat had sunk just five kilometers south of our location. In our tight-knit eastern New Brunswick coastal community, news spreads rapidly, and we were relieved to learn that the crew was rescued by a nearby vessel. Nevertheless, a lingering unease surfaces whenever I recollect that day.
The maritime environment demands resilience and courage.
By that measure, my family embodies strength, with a deep connection to the sea. My brother serves as a deckhand on a container ship, while my mother, Debbie Thompson, pioneered as one of the first female lobster captains in New Brunswick, amassing 24 seasons of experience. For the past five years, I have worked alongside her as a deckhand on her fishing vessel.Â
Being a woman in this predominantly male industry never struck me as peculiar, thanks to my mother’s trailblazing efforts.
When she acquired her vessel in 2000, female captains were a rarity. Even as recently as 2023, there are only 33 female captains in the province, representing about three percent of all captains. The superstition that having a woman on board brings bad luck was frequently muttered behind
