“The Crew” are as diverse as our marine ecosystems, but all are united through the common bond of relentless passion for sustainable fishing. These are the very people who produce sustainably harvested, premium quality seafood from the pristine, icy cold waters of British Columbia. With “The Crew’s” commitment to provide sustainable, Ocean Wise seafood, and the commitment by you, the consumer, we can enact positive change to ensure the longevity of healthy ocean ecosystems in British Columbia, and beyond.
Take a moment to learn about where your dinner comes from, and meet the people who work tirelessly to ensure that we are all able enjoy sustainably harvested, premium quality, Canadian seafood throughout the year.
Graham Millicheap ~ BC Spot Prawns.
Fishing is a family affair for Graham. Born into a fishing family, Graham has fished up and down the coast from Haida Gwaii to Howe sound, and has never looked back.
Graham runs his own vessel, the Lasquiti Dawn, and fishes the south coast of British Columbia for spot prawns from May – July.
With state of the art technology, the spot prawns that Graham produces on the Lasquite Dawn are kept live until the time of processing. This is the only fishery in which we participate where product is not frozen at sea.
Spot prawns are incredible sensitive to temperature and salinity, and must be monitored frequently to ensure the best possible product is delivered each and every time.
As with all other commercial fisheries occurring in BC waters, the spot prawn fishery is notoriously gruelling. This is how a typical day looks:
HAULING THE GEAR:
The crew departs from the dock at 5:00am each and every day. From here, they start checking the traps for the precious spot prawn cargo. Each ‘string’ of gear has exactly 50 traps.
The crew departs from the dock at 5:00am each and every day
As each trap is brought up from the inky depts of BC’s icy cold inlets and fijords, the contents of each trap are immediately removed, and any bycatch is released alive unharmed.
The crew runs from string to string and goes through all of the gear before the daily closure at 7:00pm daily. Each prawn license enables the fisherman to soak 300 traps, or 6 strings of gear.
SORTING
When the prawns are emptied from each trap, they are sorted on a table and gently placed into the live holding tank.
DEPLOYING THE GEAR
Each trap is re-baited and subsequently deployed once again.
This process occurs day after day until approximately mid June. No farms, no chemicals, no automation. Each trap is hauled one by one. It is no wonder that BC spot prawns are internationally recognized as the best prawns on the open market!
BC spot prawns are internationally recognized as the best prawns on the open market
Due to the highly seasonal nature of the fishery, availability is limited so be sure to enjoy them while you can!
Dave Malcom ~ Salmon, Halibut, Sablefish.
Dave Malcom has been fishing for nearly all of his life. Born into a fishing family, Dave quickly learned about the fast paced industry while exploring the pristine coast of British Columbia.
Dave is not somebody who could be considered a ‘fair weather’ fisherman. Instead, he is one of the few remaining hardcore guys in the industry that fishes nearly 12 months a year. This is what a typical year looks like:
December -April: Preparation for the herring season, including participation in the BC North Coast Pacific Herring Stock Assessment Program.
May: Hook & line halibut fishing – Haida Gwaii.
June – August: Hook & line salmon fishing – Haida Gwaii.
August – October: Hook & line halibut fishing – Haida Gwaii.
Dave has deep roots in BC’s commercial halibut fishing sector. Beginning his career as a deckhand on a hook & line halibut boat back in 1968, it wasn’t long before he purchased his own halibut boat and license in 1973. In fact, Dave had participated in EVERY halibut fishing season from 1968-2009. The 2010 season was the first halibut season that he chose not to fish. Instead, his three sons took the reins and successfully completed the grueling season.
Dave is no stranger to salmon fishing. He started fishing BC’s North Coast for salmon by hook & line in 1972, and continues to this day. As with most other hook & line salmon fishermen, Dave takes great pride in the quality of his product. Every salmon landed on his boat is individually cleaned and cared for within minutes of being brought aboard. It is this type of care and attention to detail that makes sustainably harvested, hook & line caught wild salmon the premium quality product that it is.
