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: spot prawns.
Spot prawns are a species found in the Pacific Ocean and are often caught using trap fishing. Traps are a sustainable fishing method because they allow for selective harvesting and do not cause damage to the seafloor. Spot prawn traps are baited with fish or squid and are set in specific areas to target the prawns. Traps are designed to allow undersized and non-target species to escape, minimizing bycatch.
At Fisherman’s Market, we are proud to source our spot prawns from local, sustainable fisheries that follow responsible fishing practices.
Spot prawns are known for their sweet, delicate flavour and firm texture. They are often used in sushi, and can also be grilled, sautéed, or used in pasta dishes. They are also a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals.
British Columbia is home to some of the world’s most well-managed spot prawn fisheries, and we are proud to source our spot prawns from local, sustainable fisheries. The spot prawn populations are healthy and well-managed by regional fishery management organizations, ensuring that the prawns 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 spot prawns during BCCFW, and experience the taste of sustainably caught seafood. If you have any questions about our sustainable fishing practices or the spot prawns 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. As we celebrate this year’s BCCFW, we want to remind our customers that sustainable fishing not only helps to preserve the marine environment, but also supports local communities and the livelihoods of fishermen and their families. We are proud to be part of this tradition and to continue to support sustainable fishing practices in British Columbia. So, come and join us in celebrating the BCCFW and taste the difference in our sustainably caught seafood.
Spot Prawns: A history of sustainable fishing in BC
Spot prawns, also known as Pandalus platyceros, is a popular species found in the Pacific Ocean and is a staple in the British Columbia seafood industry. The spot prawn has a long history of sustainable fishing in British Columbia, dating back to the early 20th century.
Fishing for spot prawns 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 spot prawns grew, the fishery expanded. In the 1950s, the use of traps became the primary method of catching spot prawns in British Columbia.
It is important to note that the fishing of spot prawns has been a traditional activity for many Indigenous peoples living along the Pacific Coast for thousands of years. The traditional method of fishing for spot prawns involved the use of woven baskets, dip-nets and spears, rather than traps. The spot prawns were an important food source for Indigenous communities and continue to hold cultural significance today.
The use of traps is a sustainable fishing method because it allows for selective harvesting and does not cause damage to the seafloor. Spot prawn traps are baited with fish or squid and are set in specific areas to target the prawns. Traps are designed to allow undersized and non-target species to escape, minimizing bycatch.
In the late 1970s, J.O. Thomas and Associates started to get involved in the spot prawn industry and since then, it has been a leader in promoting and implementing sustainable fishing practices for spot prawns. The company works closely with scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure the fishery is well-managed and sustainable.
Today, the spot prawn fishery in British Columbia is considered one of the most well-managed and sustainable in the world. At Fisherman’s Market, we are proud to source our spot prawns from local, sustainable fisheries that follow responsible fishing practices promoted by J.O. Thomas and Associates. We encourage our customers to support sustainable fishing by choosing spot prawns from British Columbia.
