Deb Granger has been involved with the seafood/fishing industry for over 40 years.  She worked for over 25 years as a high school educator/career counselor where she connected thousands of students with opportunities for after-high school education/training/work.  

After leaving the public school system, she worked at the University of Washington managing a 12-state aquaculture research consortium (Western Regional Aquaculture Center) In 2014, she helped launch the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, and the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation.  She led with the community effort to launch the new signature festival – Bellingham SeaFeast, a celebration of Bellingham’s maritime & commercial fishing sector and also assisted with the launch of the new Bellingham Dockside Market Fall 2020 for local fishing families to sell their harvest directly to local consumers.  

Recently awarded the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award by the Seattle Propeller Club, she continues to commercial fish for salmon (reefnet fishing) with her husband in the Salish Sea near Lummi Island, Washington and is busy continuing the state-registered apprenticeship program training Marine Service Technicians and the Buoyant Beginnings Pre-Apprenticeship.