the store stated they can not buy from the natives huge fines they stated.

It is correct that a store or other commercial operation “can not buy from the natives’” food fishery allocation. That catch is exclusively for use by First Nations.

It is not correct that “they can not buy from the natives” commercial fisheries. Many commercial fisheries licenses are held by First Nations’ interests.

Gwabalis Fisheries Group

The Gwabalis Fisheries Group is a partnership of the Mamalilikulla, Da’naxda’xw, Quatsino and Tlatlasikwala First Nations who came together to form a successful and growing, 100% First Nation owned and operated Commercial Fishing Business. Based in Northern Vancouver Island, our current business focus is to lease commercial fishing licences and quota while supporting First Nation fishermen; creating employment and training opportunities for our community members; and developing programs that support and build healthy and vibrant communities.

The Gwabalis Fisheries Limited Partnership, formed in 2019, oversees Gwabalis business operations. The Gwabalis Fisheries Society, formed in 2015, is focused on developing programs which promote our First Nations’ fishing culture, customs and way of life.

Our Member Nation territories include the land and rich marine areas around Northern Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland, inlets and islands. The majority of our members live in North Island communities, including Campbell River, Alert Bay, Port Hardy and Quatsino.

I could see how DFO laws could come into play, the hiring practices at DFO are pretty fked to say the least - hire the most inexperienced person right out of school to make policies, governanace and laws. A mess builds empires in government seen that thousands and thousands of times. Be nice if they decentralized the federal level and brought back control/power to the local communities with people that have actually been in the front line and fished etc... that's not the way it is in ottawa at all! been there done that for 24 years seen my share of sht.

we were in port hardy and coal harbour looking for fresh fish - nothing. We were told to go to this place https://www.scarletpointseafoods.ca/ I asked them when I was there - where do you get your fish from. Alaska they said. We can't sell the local fish here they stated.

As a polite Canadian I don’t want to accuse you of anything. So I’ll just point out the discrepancy between what you report and what their website says.

About Us

All our fish is sourced from fisheries that meet internationally recognized Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) environmental standards for sustainable fishing MSC-C-51176. All our fish can be traced back to the catching vessel, date and area caught.

At Scarlet Point Seafoods Ltd. we only harvest and buy seafood from legal fisheries in Canada.

Scarlet Point Seafoods is committed to working with fisheries management agencies, local communities, First Nations, environmental groups, and other stakeholders to ensure effective resource management systems are implemented that promote sustainable harvest of marine resources and maintenance of healthy ecosystems.

That seems pretty unambiguous and consistent with what residents of Vancouver Island on this board report.

Fish don't care about borders.

True. But the people who pay to support the fishing industries sure care about protecting their investments.

Not sure I could live there with the lack of sunshine and all that rain might drive me crazy.

Yes, acclimatizing to climate can be a big psychological task. I have met numerous people from Alberta and points east who moved to the mild BC coast in retirement, only to go back after one or two years living in a rainforest.

A friend from the coast came to stay with me for several weeks in Troncones one winter. In less than two weeks he was complaining that it was sunny everyday. He missed the day-after-day winter rain of Vancouver.

It rains every damn day up there, not fun. We swore every damn day up there due to the rain every damn day. Wasn't fun at all. I can swear at my own country I hope...

Very definitely NOT TRUE! You just went to the wrong places! I would be willing to bet that you didn't get very far out of Victoria! The farther up the island you go, the better the chance of getting local products! You will get lots of push-back on this site if you start bad mouthing Vancouver Island.

As I tell people who visit… “If you want to visit a rain forest, expect rain.”

biking, hiking, beaching, eating etc... wonderful beaches, wonderful biking and some hiking but I have not explored it all has to offer yet. I hope to see more mountains etc...

If you decide to go inland, I suggest a trip to the town of Tequila. If I didn’t own in Troncones, I would be tempted to live in Tequila. It is in high desert country. Days are hot; nights can be pretty cool in the winter. I see that you have been to BC. If you made it to Kamloops in the summer, I think you would see parallels.

In our opinions, the ocean and beaches are what this area is all about.

I used to get my fish and seafood at the mercado. A couple of years ago I was introduced to PKS. It is now my “go to” place for fresh fish and for seafood.

Much of the seafood is frozen. Remember… camarones cannot be landed at Zihuatanejo, so they are always “previously frozen”. As much as I have really enjoyed pulpo in the past, in recent years I have given up octopus as they just seem to be too intelligent to kill. I have always avoided fish/seafood at the big box stores like Soriana/Mega, etc.

Shopping at the mercado is an experience. I know gringos who won’t go in be they don’t like seeing cow carcasses, chicken parts, etc. sitting in the tropical heat. And it can get stifling inside the mercado when the humidity rises. Thos gringose certainly don’t like seeing the flies being swatted away from the animal parts.

I usually buy my fruits and vegetables either at the mercado or in shops behind the mercado. Others prefer the big city experience of air conditioned big box stores like Soriana, La Bodega, or Sam’s Club. Regardless of where you buy fruits and vegetables, be sure to buy some disinfectant like MicroDyn, BacDyn, etc. and use it.

I had an American/Mexican friend who bought fish, seafood, fruits and vegetables locally. She was particular about lettuce though and would only buy the packaged lettuce from Sam’s Club that came with the root still on it.