John is a multi-generation fisher - he’s pretty sure he went from the hospital directly to the fishing boat. He has been fishing with his dad and grandfather for as long as he can remember, and now often fishes the coast with his nine-year-old son Riley. John is from the Kwantlen First Nation in Fort Langley, but now lives in Port Alberni and is married to a Tseshaht fisher who also fishes her own boat in the commercial community economic opportunity fishery.

Silvermate Sockeye & Chinook Salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island, Barkley Sound & Alberni Inlet

Gordie, a third generation fisherman, fishes salmon runs all along the BC coast. He has been fishing since he was a 10-years-old with his grandpa, and once turning 11 he started deckhanding for his older sister. At 16 he started fishing on his own, and has continued now for over 50 years.

Sure Thing Sockeye, chinook, pink, chum salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island & North Coast of BC

Guy has been fishing for over 40 years, and feels fortunate to have fished with his family for many years. His two children, Sebastien and Rosalie, have been crew and fished with him since high school, and fishing with their dad helped both of them go to university. For over 18 years he has also been a mentor and friend to our new salmon fisher Lee Gallagher. Guy now semi-retired, still spends much of his time in the off season advocating for independent fishers in BC.

Michelle Rose Pink Salmon Trolling North of Haida Gwaii

Doug is a multi-generation ‘Namgis First Nation fisherman. Doug fished with his grandpa in the 1960’s and has fished ever since. His children join him as crew on some trips. Learn more about Doug and how he fishes halibut on our blog!

Paper Chase Sockeye, Chinook & Pink Salmon, Halibut Bottom longlining Most areas of the BC coast

Clint began fishing as a teenager alongside his uncle, and has now been fishing with Bruce Martinelli for just over a decade. While he joins Bruce (as well as Rex and Pilar) as crew for some of the early season trips, he heads out on the same boat as skipper with own crew later on in the season.

Tantrum No. 1 Albacore Tuna Trolling Westcoast of Vancouver Island & Haida Gwaii

Luura (Laurent) has memories of his grandparents departing for fishing trips by dog sled when he was a young boy. When Luura goes fishing these days, he goes out alone and punches a hole in the ice by hand with a steel chisel, even when the ice is more than five feet thick! Luura loves fishing and catching healthy, delicious Arctic char for relatives that are no longer able to get out on the land themselves.

Snowmobile Arctic char Gillnet and auger Nunavut

Truong was one of the boat people who fled Vietnam in 1975, and he ended up in Campbell River, BC. He took up fishing when he arrived, and has now been prawning for over 30 years. His sons and daughter have prawned alongside him over the last decade.

Western Sun Spot prawns Trapping Central coast of BC

Dean, a third generation fisherman, fishes salmon runs all along the BC coast. He has been fishing since he was a kid and still fishes alongside his father, Danny a fellow Skipper Otto fisherman.

Old Style Salmon Gillnetting Most areas of BC Coast

Jamie first learned to fish from his uncle and cousin, growing up in Naujaat. He continues to share these skills with family and friends, making the trek out to the fishing grounds, bringing along whoever is available and wanting to learn to fish! When Jamie isn’t fishing, he is being kept busy by his many grandkids.

Arctic Char Gillnet and auger Nunavut

Natasha is a multi-generation cisaa?th (Tseshaht) First Nation fisher who fishes salmon on her custom-built aluminum boat in Alberni Inlet/Somass River with her daughters aged 21 and 10. She is a Tseshaht First Nation Councillor holding the economic development portfolio and has just completed her SFU Indigenous Business Leadership Executive MBA.

Sockeye & Chinook Salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island, Alberni Inlet & Somass River

Willard is a multi-generation cisaa?th (Tseshaht) First Nation fisher, who grew up fishing with his dad and older sister, Natasha in Alberni Inlet/Somass River. He contiues to fish with them, as well as with his kids! His teenage son, Dean and Natasha's adult daughter, Mercedes both a key part of their operations this season.

Sockeye & Chinook Salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island, Alberni Inlet & Somass River

Bruce has been fishing for over 30 years. His wife, Pilar, and their young son, Rex, often join him on some trips. Rex being particularly fond of the ones which include some beach days! Bruce and his brother Steve grew up in a lighthouse on the BC coast and are the first fishermen in their family. Read more of the Martinelli's stories from the sea on our blog!

Tantrum No. 1 Lingcod, Sablefish, Rockfish, Halibut & Albacore Tuna Bottom longline & Trolling Westcoast of Vancouver Island & Haida Gwaii

Richard is a fourth generation fisher who hails from Sointula, BC. And actually fellow Skipper Otto fisherman, Cary Williams first cousin! He first started fishing when he was 12 years old, and has been on the water for over 23 years, captaining his boat and crew for just over 10 years now.

Sointula Sky Spot prawns Troller Broughton Archipelago

Rod Roberts has been fishing salmon since 1969 and was part of the original Skipper Otto fishers, alongside Otto! Now in his 80's, Rod resides in Nanaimo, BC - just close enough to make it over for the salmon openings in Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet, but now fishing alongside Shaun. Rod has maintained and still fishes the same boat, now often joined by his son, Shane. On the more leisurely trips, Shane's young daughter will also be onboard, now learning from her dad and grandpa.

Strider Sockeye Salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island, Barkley Sound & Alberni Inlet

Dafne’s approach to kelp harvesting is well-researched and thoughtful. She harvests her product by hand and chooses to collect less than 10% of kelp beds in order to leave a healthy and sustainable marine canopy. After harvest, the product is gently dried to maintain the most nutrients.

Kelp Hand harvested Coastal waters of Haida Gwaii

Les, a multi-generation cisaa?th (Tseshaht) First Nation fisher, first learned to fish from his dad in the Alberni Inlet/Somass River runs. Les has and continues to be instrumental in fisheries policy, currently on council and holding the fisheries portfolio for the Tseshaht First Nation. An essential part of our operational logistics, he now is often fishing with his two sons and grandson.

Sockeye & Chinook Salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island, Alberni Inlet & Somass River

Richie is a first generation fisher. Having worked on boats as mechanic in his early life, he decided to take the plunge and pursue fishing as a career. That was 40 years ago -- he's been fishing ever since!

Surf Isle Sablefish Bottom longline Hecate Strait

Paul is the founder of Salt Spring Island Mussels. Paul grew his mussel farm from just a tiny operation to now supplying restaurants across Canada, all while staying true to the values of community, environmental conservation, and living wages that we hold so dear. He credits his amazing and talented team for all this success and is very forthcoming about all the trials and tribulations of getting to where they are now.

Mussels Grown and harvested Salt Spring Island & Desolation Sound, BC

Angutimarik was introduced to us through Darryl, as he's Darryl's uncle. also a multi-generational Inuit fisherman from Naujaat, Nunavut. Angutimarik started fishing as a young boy, and is proud to have now taught his own sons how to travel safely on the land so they can continue a traditional lifestyle of hunting, fishing and providing for their community.

Snowmobile Arctic char Gillnet and auger Nunavut

Darryl Siusangnark is a professional harvester who makes his living off the land around Naujaat in Nunavut, and is a key provider of fish for his community, supplying food for elders, food-insecure households, family, friends, community feasts, and commercial sales. He started fishing with his father in early childhood and has been fishing on his own since he was 18. The way he fishes is a bit different from our other fishermen. Along with other Inuit fishers in his community, Darryl braves frigid weather conditions and travels across the wintry tundra by snowmobile to catch fish from below the ice of frozen lakes using an auger and gillnets. Check out Darryl's story on our blog!

Snowmobile Arctic char Gillnet and auger Nunavut

Toan is a third generation fisher and her passion for fishing started when she was a child, her grandfather was a fisher and she was then taught by her father, who owned and operated many fishing boats in Vietnam. She moved to Canada with her family, and has now been fishing for over 30 years. Her vessel is named after her youngest child, and although none of her children fish with her, she often has the help of her husband, Hong, on board as her crew.

Brian N Sockeye Salmon Gillnetting West coast of Vancouver Island, Barkley Sound & Alberni Inlet

Francis is the first in his family to fish, and has kept at it for over 10 years now! He happened on the profession by chance, when visiting his aunt and happened to find work as a deckhand on the Ta-Nika one summer. Once he decided it was going stick went on to purchase that same boat. He resides in Saanich with his wife, Julia and their young family. Although his children are still a bit too young for the summer trips up the coast, he looks forward to teaching them and having them onboard future trips.

Ta-Nika Pink & Coho Salmon, Rockfish Trolling North of Haida Gwaii

Cary is a fourth generation fisher on both sides of his family. His brother and cousins all currently work alongside him on the boat depending on the season. He is based out of Sointula, BC which is where his family has lived and worked for generations. Cary started fishing with his dad when he was 11, but had been on the boat for as long as he can remember.

Island Sun Hake & rockfish Mid-water trawling West coast of Vancouver Island