OFF THE HOOK

Community Supported Fishery

In the spring of 2010, five bottom hook and line fishermen from the Digby Neck and Islands along the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia teamed up the Ecology Action Centre to launch Off the Hook, Atlantic Canadas first Community Supported Fishery. Like other direct marketing enterprises, Off the Hook provides several benefits to small-scale fishermen, including more family income, more market choices and increased ownership. The fishermen are ensured a fair price for their catch by securing payment at the start of the season, while subscribers enjoy a reliable source of local, sustainable fish. The bottom hook and line fishery is markedly different from the alternative method of catching groundfish in the Maritimes dragging or trawling weighted nets across the ocean floor. Trawlers catch significant amounts of unwanted bycatch and destroy fishery habitat, but almost 80% of the groundfish landed in Nova Scotia is caught by trawling. Not only is the bottom hook and line fishery environmentally friendly, it can also produce a higher quality, fresher product as fishing trips are shorter and the catch is handled carefully by hand. The Off the Hook project supports market differentiation of these two harvesting techniques, allowing bottom hook and line fishermen to demand a better price for their high quality, sustainable fish. Off the Hook now has over 200 members, delivers fish to eight communities in Nova Scotia, and wholesales fish to restaurants and retailers in Halifax and Toronto.

We connect people who eat fish to the people who catch it. Consumers get fresh, delicious, sustainably harvested fish, and get to learn about how it was caught. Fishing families get a connection to the people who eat their fish and they get to set a price for their catch that makes sustainable fishing viable. It makes a lot of sense, and has given the Off the Hook fishermen the incentive to keep fishing.
- Dave Adler Manager, Off the Hook

In the beginning, we thought that the customerfishermen relationship wasnt all that attractive, but now its our favourite part of what we do. Selling our fish to customers who enjoy it.
- Beau Gillis Off the Hook fisherman

Thank you for a incredibly delicious order of cod received last week! If this is the quality of your fish...we are hooked!
- Off the Hook Member -

The Bottom Line

In its 2011 / 2012 fiscal year, the fishing and processing activity of Off the Hook CSF generated $44,150 in Provincial GDP, increased local income by $27,250 and created 0.63 new jobs. While hook and line vessels catch only 20% of the landed weight of Nova Scotia groundfish, they produce almost 40% of landed value. Increasing the viability of groundfish hook and line fleets will have a significant impact on the fisherys contribution to rural employment in the province. Provincial GDP Growth Take-home Income Generated New Jobs 2011/2012 Impact $ 44,150 $ 27,250 0.63

*Based on Statistics Canada Input/Output models. Contact marine@ecologyaction.ca for details Calculations for Off the Hook do not include management staff time or policy work.

www.ecologyaction.ca