Norm Pillen F/V Sherrie Marie
I started fishing at age 12. I began fishing for halibut and yelloweye rockfish in a small, open boat. I grew up in the remote Southeast Alaskan community of Port Alexander which is located on the southern end of Baranof Island. Catching fish for a living was a way of life in Port Alexander.

I purchased my first vessel at the age of 16, a 21 food hand-troller named Moondance. I met my future wife and sweetheart at Port Alexander High School. She started fishing with me as a deckhand, and the rest is history. Five boats, 30 years, and 2 wonderful daughters later, we continue to make our living in the fishing industry. Our current vessel, the Sherrie Marie, is a 65 foot steel longliner and is named after our two daughters. We fish for Blackcod and Halibut in the Gulf of Alaska.

I am often asked how I like fishing for a living after all these years. I answer, “in 30 years of fishing, my office has been different every day.” I have been an SPC member for 20 years and believe that our company has set the bar for quality seafood throughout the whole industry.