Waterwomen
About the Project
As the sun rises over the bay on a cold clear day, Captain Rachel Dean, along with her daughter and husband, have been up before dawn to do the wet, muddy work that some may call a dying way of life. Rachel, however, would disagree. Fishing is the family business, and it’s a way of life that strengthens their family’s bonds. Rachel, on the Chesapeake Bay every day during the season, has a unique vantage point from which to see both the majesty and natural beauty of the Bay and the impact that humans have on the Bay’s fragile ecosystem: a worrying trifecta of nutrient pollution, climate change, and sea-level rise. She is steadfast in her assertion that climate change is real, sea level rise is real, and these are threats that we must address – now.
Dr. Rochelle Sietz, steers the small research vessel “Gannet” as it cuts through the waters of the York River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, on her way to collect data on the benthic organisms which she studies. She grew up sailing on Lake Michigan and from an early age was fascinated by nature and the water. Now, a marine biologist and faculty at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, she conducts research into the bay’s health and fauna. And it’s the Bays’ health that is on her mind while she works: pollution, warming temperatures, and changing salinity all impact the health of the largest estuary in the United States.
“Waterwomen” tells the story of two trailblazing women who research and work on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and who come face-to-face with the impacts of climate change on a daily basis. In the film, we explore their parallel stories, the hurdles they’ve overcome breaking into male-dominated fields, learn more about their fascinating and tough jobs, and witness their profound love and respect for the Bay.
Meet the Cast
Captain Rachel Dean is a commercial waterman, co-owner of Patuxent River Seafood, and a lifelong resident of the Chesapeake Bay region. Along with her husband and daughter, she runs a family fishing business on the bay. Captain Dean has been fishing in the Chesapeake Bay for many years and has a deep connection to the water and the environment.
In addition to her fishing business, Captain Dean is an educator (Ph.D. 2021) and an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable fishing practices. She has been outspoken about the impact of climate change and pollution on the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and has worked with local organizations to promote sustainable fishing and protect the health of the bay.
Rochelle Sietz is a marine biologist and faculty member at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Her research focuses on understanding the impact of environmental stressors, such as climate change, on the health and biodiversity of marine ecosystems, including the Chesapeake Bay. She is particularly interested in studying the benthic organisms that inhabit the Bay’s floor and the impact of warming temperatures and changing salinity on their survival and distribution. Dr. Sietz grew up sailing on Lake Michigan and has been fascinated by the water and nature from an early age. She’s committed to promoting sustainable practices that protect the Bay’s ecosystem and ensure its long-term health.
Credits
Filmmakers
Emily Wathen & Susanne Coates
Thanks
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Patuxent River Seafood
Support for this film was generously provided by
Women in Film and Video – Washington DC
The Maryland State Arts Council