Maria Kiaki is 73 years old, mother of three children and grandmother of 6 grandchildren. She was born in Ammouliani, Halkidiki, and married Captain Kosmas, who came to Ammouliani with his family from Asia Minor.

During the first years, he worked on his small fishing boat and Mrs. Maria raised the children at home. But the needs of the family were constantly growing, and Mrs. Maria began, little by little, to learn how topatch and rig the nets. In the beginning for their own boat, to be able to help her husband and later on in many other boats, in order to earn an income.

“We went through difficult years and poverty. We learned a lot! I used to fly and rig nets, there was no other choice. There were not many jobs on the island. Over the years, I started going to the boat to help my husband. I thought we’d make a good team, and we did!”

“I was never afraid of the sea, since I was a child, I grew up near it. I was very shy with the other captains at first, but over time, I got used to that too, and everyone was always very polite. They laughed because I always took the embroidery with me to keep me occupied until it was time to collect our nets.”

“Times past were different! Now things are not the same, and women’s place in society is different. But the sea also changed, fish numbers declined! Back then, our nets were full, now they’re not.”

“The sea is our whole life for me and my children and hopefully for my grandchildren too. Nowadays, both of my sons are professionally engaged in fishing on the two windtrawlers of our family.”

“In the future, I’d like to see a sea free of litter and full of fish, just like in the past.”