Skipper Otto
Sonia Strobel
Co-Founder and CEO
Sonia Strobel is co-founder and CEO of Skipper Otto, a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) based on Coast Salish territory in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Sonia worked for decades in a variety of community-based organizations, non-profits, and as a high school teacher. A member of Community Supported Agriculture programs since the early 90’s, Sonia brought her knowledge of CSA’s to the family fishery, first conceiving of the idea for one of the first CSFs in the world in 2008. Through her innovative, sustainable wild seafood business model, members pre-purchase a share in the catch before the fishing season, guaranteeing harvesters a fair price, protecting a traditional way of life in BC’s coastal and Indigenous fishing communities, and disrupting a seafood system fraught with social and environmental injustice. Skipper Otto is a Certified B Corporation™ and certified Living Wage employer.
Mentor & Advisor
In addition to her role at Skipper Otto, Sonia is an active mentor, advisor, and volunteer. She is on numerous executive and advisory committees including the Local Catch Network and Fisheries for Communities. In 2023, she spearheaded Local Catch Canada where she began convening Indigenous leaders, harvesters, academics, NGO’s, and fishing businesses to envision more just and equitable fisheries and food systems in Canada. She was an inaugural expert in the Seafood Business Accelerator program in 2023, and creator and inaugural mentor in Local Catch's SAIL Mentorship program in 2024.
Catch Sonia
As a sought-after speaker, content area expert, and inspiring advocate for the development of community-based food systems in Canada and globally, Sonia has been a guest on various TV shows, radio shows, and podcasts. She has attended several conferences as a keynote speaker or panelist, has avidly supported of a number of NGO campaigns, and has been been an expert informant and witness at decision-making tables like the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.
Accolades
Sonia has received many awards acknowledging her vision and leadership including: winner of Coralus (formerly SheEO) in 2015; Veuve Cliquot Business Woman Award 2018 Canadian finalist; winner of the Forum’s 2019 Pitch Finale; Inc Magazine's list top 100 female entrepreneurs, 2020; finalist in the BC Food and Beverage Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 2023; and runner up for BC Business Magazines’ 2024 Women of the Year Award: Change Maker.
Interested in connecting with Sonia on community-based fisheries, seafood justice and sovereignty, and food systems topics? Find Sonia on LinkedIn or reach out with media interview requests or speaking opportunities to [email protected].
Join Skipper Otto
Elevate your home-cooked meals with the amazing taste and quality of our seafood while supporting small-scale, independent Canadian fisheries in coastal and Indigenous communities.
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