News and blog
(Halifax, NS)- Following on the success of their first delivery season, Atlantic Canada’s first Community Supported Fishery (CSF) is celebrating the launch of their fall season with complementary fish tacos. Off the Hook CSF is inviting local seafood lovers to meet the fishermen and sample their fresh, sustainable catch outside the Capital Health QEII VG site between 12 and 2 pm.
Starting on September 30th, Off the Hook CSF will be delivering a weekly catch of fresh, sustainably caught haddock, hake and pollock to subscribing customers in and around Halifax, Wolfville and Annapolis Royal. Off the Hook’s subscribers enjoy renewed connections with local fishing communities and our oceans, and have the chance to get to know the fishermen who catch their supper. “The small scale fishermen who make up Off the Hook Co-op are proud of their fresh, high quality catch,” describes CSF Coordinator Sadie Beaton. “These families believe in sustainable fishing practices and are working hard for the future of their communities.”
By securing payment at the start of the season, Off the Hook’s fishermen are ensured a fair price for their catch, while customers get a reliable source of local, sustainable fish. Originally developed in coastal Maine, CSFs are modeled on community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, which help increase access to fresh, healthy food. “I’ve read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and see the same thing happening to fishing as has already happened to farming. And I want to be a part of stopping it.” remarks Beau Gillis, who will provide fresh fish to Off the Hook subscribers through the fall months.
A limited number of shares are available for the upcoming fall season, with the first delivery slated for September 30th. More information and sign-up forms are available at http://offthehookCSF.ca
WHAT: Off the Hook Community Supported Fishery (CSF) Fall Season launch
WHEN: Thursday, September 23rd, 12-2pm
WHO: All are welcome to come by to try Off the Hook CSF’s delicious fresh, sustainable fish, meet the fishermen, and learn about the fall season.
WHERE: Capital Health QEII Victoria General Terrace area, downtown Halifax.
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All participants will be available for interviews following the event. For additional information or to schedule an interview contact:
Sadie Beaton- Community Supported Fishery Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre, Halifax, NS, (902) 442-0999 / (902) 221-1953 [email protected]
Orlie Dixon- Fisherman and Founding Board Member, Off the Hook Cooperative Limited, Freeport, NS. (902) 839-2728.
Beau Gillis- Fisherman and Founding Board Member, Off the Hook Cooperative Limited, Freeport, NS. (902) 839-2003.
This week's Off the Hook CSF fish share delivery is set to arrive in Halifax on the afternoon of Thursday, September 16th. Fishing member Beau Gillis is out on the water fishing as hard (and as safe) as he can so that we can offer each of you doubled shares for this final week! Surprise!
As a way of thanks for all of your kindness and patience- and your bravery as a pioneering subscriber- we'll also be offering a refresher course on filleting, and some table space for you to fillet your fish onsite. Please bring your filleting knife if you have one. We'll even have a vaccuum sealer and accompanying bags on hand so you can get your extra fish ready for freezing if you wish!
If you would like to wear your love for community supported fisheries on your sleeve, we'll have a limited selection of organic Off the Hook CSF tshirts available for sale at the pickup too, $20 apiece, first come first serve.
Those of you interested in participating in our short but sweet fall season can get details and get signed up as well! You'll be privvy to our subscriber appreciation discount, which means that for just $115/ $225, you'll get four weeks of fish, three useful and educational workshops, and a continuation of that warm and fuzzy feeling you get in your heart from connecting with and supporting small-scale fishing families and sustainable fisheries in Nova Scotia.
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See below some by-now-familiar details about the pickup, including a reminder about what to bring, when and where to show up:
When to show up: Thursday, September 16th, between 4 - 6 pm.
Where to show up: Capital Health's Victoria General Site, in the terrace area. Free parking is provided by Capital Health for ten minutes (take a ticket on the way in). Longer parking is available by paid meter on nearby streets.
Please bring a cooler or freezer bag to keep your fish as fresh as possible. Bring your filleting knife and gloves as well if you have them.
Shares that are not picked up by 6 pm will be donated to Hope Cottage for use in free hot meals.
BEST FISHES,
Sadie Beaton
Community Supported Fishery Coordinator
[email protected]/ 442 0999
Apologies for the late notice, but we've just heard news from a really disappointed Beau Gillis who has lost a bunch of his bottom longline gear to some wild tides and heavy winds out at Brown's Bank. Consequently,unfortunately, there will be no fish this week (September 9th).
In his words:
"Just had the very worst of fishing days. I lost over $1000 worth of longline, no fish. The tides are very full, and it was windy... I will spend tomorrow towing an anchor around trying to hook my gear...And I feel the worst because I can't provide for Off The Hook."
Off the Hook Co-operative will be meeting as a group this Friday afternoon to finalize details for the fall season as well as to think about ways to make up this lost share to our lovely and patient subscribers. Please stay tuned and hopefully we'll see you at next week's pickup.
Best,
Sadie
This week's Off the Hook CSF fish share delivery will be arriving this afternoon, Thursday, September 9th. Fishing member Beau Gillis has taken another turn at the helm to get your shares this week from the rich waters of Brown's Bank.
Can you believe that this delivery will be your second-last share of Off the Hook's first season? We can't believe how time has flown! Thanks so much for your kind and patient support as we continue to navigate the relatively uncharted waters of running a Community Supported Fishery.
We are currently working out some final wrinkles before announcing the details of our shorter fall season, likely slated to begin on September 30th. Current subscribers like you will get first priority to participate - please let us know if you'd like to be put on the "VIP" waiting list!
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See below some details about the pickup, including a reminder about what to bring, when and where to show up:
When to show up: Thursday, September 8nd, between 4 - 6 pm.
Where to show up: Capital Health's Victoria General Site, in the terrace area. Free parking is provided by Capital Health for ten minutes (take a ticket on the way in). Longer parking is available by paid meter on nearby streets.
Please bring a cooler or freezer bag to keep your fish as fresh as possible.
Shares that are not picked up by 6 pm will be donated to Hope Cottage for use in free hot meals.
BEST FISHES,
Sadie Beaton
Community Supported Fishery Coordinator
[email protected]/ 442 0999
I hope you are coping alright with this end of summer heat! I am just popping into your email to confirm that your Off the Hook CSF fish share delivery will be arriving this afternoon, Thursday, September 2nd. Fishing member Beau Gillis has travelled to Brown's Bank to get your share this week, squeaking in his catch before Hurricane Earl heads the same way.
See below some details about the pickup, including a reminder about what to bring, when and where to show up:
When to show up: Thursday, September 2nd, between 4 - 6 pm.
Where to show up: Capital Health's Victoria General Site, in the terrace area. Free parking is provided by Capital Health for ten minutes (take a ticket on the way in). Longer parking is available by paid meter on nearby streets.
Directions: /map/directions/77
Please bring a cooler or freezer bag to keep your fish as fresh as possible. Today is predicted to be the hottest day of 2010 so you may want to bring extra ice pack.
Shares that are not picked up by 6 pm will be donated to Hope Cottage for use in free hot meals.
BEST FISHES,
Sadie Beaton
Community Supported Fishery Coordinator
[email protected]/ 442 0999
The weather on our usual fishing grounds, Browns Bank, is not co-operating this week. There is a small craft warning, gale force winds and big seas. The safety of our fishermen is first and foremost, so this week Orlie Dixon will instead be staying in waters closer to home. It is more difficult to hook a good catch in this area, but he will be working hard to ensure that there is enough fish for the CSF this week.
Stayed tuned - we will send an email out by Wednesday at midnight confirming whether Week 6 pick-up is a go.
Another quick note: one Off the Hook subscriber lives and works in Bedford - she is loving the fresh fish, but wondering if anyone else passes by her way and would be willing to split driving duties for pick ups. Please contact her directly, if you want to be in on a fishy carpool: [email protected]
Finger and fins crossed as Orlie heads out...
Shannon Arnold
[email protected]
442 0999
Looking for something fun to do this weekend?
Head down to Freeport, Long Island at the end of the Digby Neck for Freeport days! Three of our Off the Hook fishermen live on the island and would be happy to see any CSF subscribers who stop by.
There will be an Off the Hook float in the parade at 2pm on Saturday, the 21st!
Lots to do - BBQ, lobster chowder lunch, music, pig roast...everything starts at 11am Saturday.
See you there!
Hello!
I am just popping into your email to remind you that your fifth Off the Hook CSF fish share delivery will be arriving tomorrow, on Thursday, August 19th. Fishing member Tony Thurber is out on Brown's Bank to get your share this week, and will be just getting ashore tomorrow morning, in time to do the dockside stuff and get it on the ferry in time to make it to our pickup, 4-6 pm.
Tony's wife Laurie, pictured below with two of their seven children (Dawson and Matthew) will be driving your shares into town and likely helping with the wrapping as well. A fisher herself, she has been absolutely instrumental in keeping this community supported fishery rolling along. Our experiences with this CSF has really highlighted is the key roles played by the wives and families in making these small-scale independent fishing businesses work.
See below some details about the pickup, including a reminder about what to bring, when and where to show up:
When to show up: Thursday, August 19th, between 4 - 6 pm.
Where to show up: Capital Health's Victoria General Site, in the terrace area. Free parking is provided by Capital Health for ten minutes (take a ticket on the way in). Longer parking is available by paid meter on nearby streets.
Directions: /map/directions/77
Please bring a cooler or freezer bag to keep your fish as fresh as possible.
Shares that are not picked up by 6 pm will be donated to Hope Cottage for use in free hot meals.
BEST FISHES,
Sadie Beaton
Community Supported Fishery Coordinator
[email protected]/ 442 0999
This is just a quick note to remind you that your third delivery will be arriving on Thursday, August 12th. Fishing member Beau Gillis went out to Brown's Bank to get your share this week- testing his wee 38 foot boat the "C-Lover" in some windy weather.
Pictured below, hanging out with me at the pickup are what we like to call the Off the Hook CSF "volunteer dream team". Jenny, pictured leftmost, helped out a few weeks back during her visit all the way from Vancouver. George and Ben, to her right, have been showing up every single week to make sure there are some laughs onsite and that our pickups run as smoothly as possible. Feel free to give them some mad props when you see them this week!
See below some details about the pickup, including a reminder about what to bring, when and where to show up:
When to show up: Thursday, August 5th, between 4 - 6 pm.
Where to show up: Capital Health's Victoria General Site, in the terrace area. Free parking is provided by Capital Health for ten minutes (take a ticket on the way in). Longer parking is available by paid meter on nearby streets.
Directions: /map/directions/77
Please bring a cooler or freezer bag to keep your fish as fresh as possible.
Shares that are not picked up by 6 pm will be donated to Hope Cottage for use in free hot meals.
BEST FISHES,
Sadie Beaton
Community Supported Fishery Coordinator
[email protected]/ 442 0999
As your summer plans begin to overwhelm you, you may want to begin freezing parts of your fish share for the long winter season when our co-op will be taking a break from bottom hook and line fishing.
Please find below some tips to ensure that you preserve as much of that Off the Hook freshness as possible:
-Freeze your fish share portion as soon as possible. Meanwhile, chill it over ice or in your fridge.
STEP A- Rinse fish thoroughly under running water.
STEP B- Freeze it. There are several possible methods:
STEP C- Label it with the date and "This haddock/ hake/ pollock is OFF THE HOOK!"
STEP D- Store up to 6 months.
To thaw, simply store in the refrigerator overnight - about 18 hours for a 1-inch thick package. In a pinch, you can also run under cold water- about 1 hour for a 1-inch thick package.
