Landing the big one on Fraser Street

You have to like it when the fish start coming to you. No muss, no fuss, no sunburn nor windburn either. No throwing out a line, just standing in one!

DFO had a giant fish giveaway last Friday as they handed out a truck full of fish that commercial fisherman can’t keep as part of their quota. From an alley behind the Friendship House they gave away about 150 fish to roughly 40 people in about fifteen minutes.

The Daily News explained the dynamics of the fish giveaway in its Monday edition.


FISHERIES OFFICERS, FISH PLANT HELP SHARE BOUNTY OF FISH
By Sarah Fox
The Daily News
Monday, August 14, 2006
Page One and Three

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans gave back to the community on Friday when they distributed a truck full of frozen salmon to people who had lined up in the alley behind Prince Rupert’s Friendship House.

“We mainly do this to get fish to people who don’t get their food fish,” said DFO officer Blair Thexton. “There are a lot of complaints from elders that are unable to get enough fish and this is one way we try to ensure that some people get it.”

Thexton estimates that he gave away at least 150 fish to about 40 people. The fish that is given out is fish that commercial fishermen are not allowed to catch as part of their quotas but are caught in commercial nets.

Normally this fish is returned to the ocean, or thrown out, but Oceans Royal Fish Plant, in Prince Rupert collects and freezes the fish so that the DFO can give it away to hungry people.

“It ensures that the fish doesn’t go to waste,” said Thexton. “They can’t sell the fish because they are fish that commercial fishermen are prohibited from catching we can give it away.”

Due to the fact the fish giveaway is so popular, the DFO doesn’t advertise when and where they are going to do it. They are notified by Oceans Royal Fish that they have some fish available, two to three days before they give it away.

Usually they call the Friendship House and they put the word out or they drive into one of the North Coast villages and give the fish away there.

“We usually do it by word-of-mouth,” said Thexton. “The Friendship House has their own system where people are notified that the fish are being given away and they come. It all happens very fast.”

This time, the 150 fish were given out in about 15 minutes.

Thexton said that being in a position where he can give away the fish makes him feel pretty good.

“For a good portion of our job, we’re seen as the bad guys,” he says. “So it’s good that we can come out here and give back to the community, interact with the community, and help people who have problems getting fish.”