News From the Top Deck


When tensions in the Nova Scotia lobster fishery between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishermen erupted into violence last month, we all watched with dismay and fear, concerned for the safety and livelihoods of the Mi’kmaq fishermen. Like you, we worried about how a peaceful resolution would be found and what this conflict meant for Indigenous/ non-Indigenous … Continued

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Gillnetting – how it works

November 6, 2020

Ever wondered how Skipper Otto fishermen catch your fish? A lot of them (including Otto himself!) are gillnet fishermen. This means they use nets that lay vertically in the water like a fence. Lead weights at the bottom of the net and floating corks attached to the top of the net keep the net in place.  Fish swim into the net and get … Continued

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How To Safely Handle & Store Your Seafood

September 8, 2020

Many people find seafood intimidating, from fears of overcooking, to the belief it has to be complicated, to the most common concern: how to safely handle and store your seafood. If you’re worried about storing and handling your seafood safely, check out these simple guidelines and you’ll feel like a seafood superstar in no time! … Continued

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Seafood is Brain Food!

July 17, 2020

Our members often tell us that they’ve noticed they eat more sustainable seafood since becoming Skipper Otto members. Making healthy choices for you, your family and those you feed is not always the easiest thing to pull off, so a big congratulations to those who have found ways to work more seafood into their diet! … Continued

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Sustainable Salmon in 2020

June 15, 2020

I’m not sure if you heard the news, but back in October 2019, an organization representing the larger seafood companies in BC announced that they were voluntarily withdrawing from the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) sustainable fisheries certification program for sockeye, chum, and pink salmon. This means that sockeye, chum, and pink salmon caught in BC … Continued

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We’re so excited to introduce our newest hake fisherman, Cary Williams! Cary is a 4th generation fisherman from Sointula – a small fishing village on Malcolm Island just off Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island. Although Cary’s 91-year old grandfather, Richard, has passed the business on to his 4 kids, he still runs the fishing … Continued

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The Importance of Food Systems & Community

March 27, 2020

In times of crisis like this, uncertainty is the new norm. We’re fearful and anxious about what lies ahead and what we should do next. But a few things have become abundantly clear to me in the last two weeks: the importance of robust, local food systems, and the importance of community. These two values … Continued

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Meet Your Mussel Grower, Paul Simpson

December 4, 2019

I first met Paul, the founder of Saltspring Island Mussels at his home on Salt Spring Island in December 2018 while visiting longtime members Gary and Radha who just happen to be Paul’s next door neighbours. Paul was a gracious host, inviting me into his kitchen where we talked for hours about fishing and the … Continued

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Celebrating 10 Years of Member Pride

October 22, 2019

Skipper Otto has been connecting members to their fishermen for over 10 years now, and the amount of support over the years has been phenomenal. In just 10 years, our family has grown from only 40 members to 2827! As our family grows, our connection to our Canadian sustainable seafood only grows closer. More member … Continued

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Looking Back on 2019 with Skipper Otto

October 21, 2019

It’s been a spectacular year here at Skipper Otto for our 10th anniversary season! As fishing wraps up for the season, I find myself looking back on 2019 with enormous pride at all we accomplished this year and over the past decade. Thank you for being part of this incredible ground-swell of support for BC’s … Continued

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Jennifer

Member since 2013

"We love love love everything we get from you guys!"