October 2, 2021
By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow
Dave Sones is a fisherman and a member of the Makah Nation at Neah Bay. He’s been fishing since 1972, when he was 12 years old. As a young man, he worked at the Ozette Archaeological Site as an interpreter; later, he became fisheries manager and natural resources director for ...
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August 2, 2021
October 26, 2020
By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow
Jania’s brother Steve Wilson is a fisherman who fishes out of La Push. Years ago, Steve began selling his fish at farmer’s markets in the Seattle and Tacoma areas under the name Wilson Fish. Eventually Jania and her husband Gene took over sales side of the business. The couple have been together for over ...
Read MoreOctober 19, 2020
By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow
Pete Knutson owns Loki Fish Company, a family business. He fishes mostly salmon, with a bit of halibut on the side. He’s the director of the Puget Sound Harvester’s Association, an industry group that represents non-treaty commercial salmon gillnet fishers, and when he’s not fishing, he’s a professor at Seattle Central Community College. Pete has ...
Read MoreOctober 5, 2020
By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow
Updated September 2025: As of 2025, Andy’s fishing activities have increased in WA due to state policy changes.
Andy Mitby of Drake Teal Fisheries is a fourth-generation fisherman and also a Husky alum, with a bachelor’s degree in marine science from the University of Washington. He says his house is now divided, now that his kids attend ...
Read MoreOctober 1, 2020
Consumers have long had access to local Washington seafood through their favorite grocer or farmers market, but this October the state is celebrating Seafood Month by recognizing the growing trend to connect residents to those who supply this local bounty.
With reduced demand from restaurant, market, and global trade during the global COVID-19 pandemic, this ...
Read MoreOctober 1, 2020
By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow
Libie Cain fishes Dungeness crab and albacore out of Westport. She grew up on Cooper Point by Evergreen State College and has an architectural degree. In fact, she was part of the team that helped build the Natural Resources Building in Olympia. She has also been a director for the Western Fishboat ...
Read MoreAugust 19, 2020
Washington Sea Grant (WSG) is excited to welcome Brandii Holmdahl as our new fisheries specialist.
In her new position, Brandii will focus on developing and coordinating strategies that advance the safety, economic success and environmental sustainability of Washington’s fisheries and seafood sectors. She will work on projects across the state, but with an emphasis on meeting the needs of fisheries-dependent communities on Washington’s southwest coast and the Lower Columbia River. “We’ve ...
Read MoreAugust 18, 2020
We are pleased to announce that Sam May, a doctoral student at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (UW SAFS), is one of ten fellows selected for the 2020 National Marine Fisheries Service-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship Program.
Sam grew up in Pennsylvania and inherited a deep love for wild ...
Read MoreUpdated September 20, 2021
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact all aspects of society, Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has been mobilizing its resources to support communities and stakeholders across the state:
USDA Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program
The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides funding to help small specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors and farmers markets recover costs incurred by responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including for measures to protect workers. This program is authorized and ...
Read MoreMarch 16, 2020
In February, several Washington Sea Grant (WSG) staff attended the 2nd annual Seafood Day in Olympia, where over 300 state representatives and their staff sampled a wide variety of local Washington seafoods between sessions. This event, organized by Dale Beasley, president of the Coalition for Coastal Fisheries, along with many other fishermen, showcased shrimp cocktail, fresh-caught crab, oysters on the half shell, steamed clams, clam chowder with razor clams, and baked and smoked salmon — all harvested or caught just off ...
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