Category:
BC Commercial Fishing Week
Date:
January 30, 2023
At Fisherman’s Market, we are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality, sustainably caught seafood. During this year’s BC Commercial Fishing Week (BCCFW), we want to take the opportunity to highlight one of our most popular and sustainably caught species: halibut.
Halibut is a species found in the Pacific Ocean and is often caught using longline fishing. Longline fishing is a sustainable fishing method because it allows for selective harvesting and has low bycatch rates. This means that only the desired size and species of fish are caught, minimizing the impact on the ecosystem and other marine life.
British Columbia is home to some of the most well-managed halibut fisheries in the world, and we are proud to source our halibut from local, sustainable fisheries.
Halibut is known for its delicate flavour and firm, meaty texture. It is often prepared in similar ways as swordfish, like grilling, baking, or pan-frying. It is also a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a healthy and delicious choice for customers.
British Columbia is home to some of the most well-managed halibut fisheries in the world, and we are proud to source our halibut from local, sustainable fisheries. The halibut populations are healthy and well managed by regional fishery management organizations, ensuring that the fish are caught in a responsible manner.
At Fisherman’s Market, we believe that sustainability is not only an environmental responsibility, but also an economic and social one. It is our duty to ensure that the seafood we provide to our customers is not only delicious and high quality, but also responsibly and sustainably sourced. We hope that our customers will join us in celebrating BCCFW and learning more about the importance of sustainable fishing in British Columbia.
We invite you to try some of our delicious halibut during BCCFW and experience the taste of sustainably caught seafood. If you have any questions about our sustainable fishing practices or the halibut we offer, please do not hesitate to ask us. We at Fisherman’s Market are committed to bringing you the best sustainably caught seafood in BC.
Halibut: A history of sustainable fishing in BC
Halibut, also known as Hippoglossus stenolepis, is a popular species found in the Pacific Ocean and is a staple in the British Columbia seafood industry. The halibut has a long history of sustainable fishing in British Columbia, dating back to the early 20th century.
Fishing for halibut in British Columbia began in the early 1900s, with the first commercial fishery opening in the 1920s. Initially, the fishery was small-scale and localized, but as demand for halibut grew, the fishery expanded. In the 1950s, the use of longlines became the primary method of catching halibut in British Columbia.
It is important to note that the fishing of halibut has been a traditional activity for many Indigenous peoples living along the Pacific Coast for thousands of years. The traditional method of fishing for halibut involved the use of woven baskets, dip-nets and spears, rather than longlines. The halibut was an important food source for Indigenous communities and continues to hold cultural significance today.
The use of longlines is considered a sustainable fishing method because it allows for selective harvesting and does not cause damage to the seafloor. Longlines are baited hooks set in specific areas to target halibut. The hooks are designed to allow undersized and non-target species to escape, minimizing bycatch.
In 1923, the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) was formed as a treaty between Canada and the United States, to manage the halibut fishery in the Pacific Ocean. The IPHC sets quotas, regulates the season, and manages the fishery to ensure sustainability. Efforts are also being made to reduce bycatch and promote selective harvesting methods that minimize the impact on non-target species.
Today, the halibut fishery in British Columbia is considered to be one of the most well-managed and sustainable in the world. The IPHC ensures that the halibut population is fished at sustainable levels and that the fishing practices are environmentally friendly. The IPHC was the first bill passed without Royal consent, this was a significant step in the management of the halibut fishery. At Fisherman’s Market, we are proud to source our halibut from local, sustainable fisheries that follow responsible fishing practices set by the IPHC. We encourage our customers to support sustainable fishing by choosing halibut from British Columbia.
