1ST GENERATION FISHERMAN

Home Port: North Vancouver, BC | Vessel Name: Ocean Quest

“I absolutely love the adventure, freedom and opportunity to see the coast with all its marine life including humpbacks, orcas and dolphins.”

1. When and how did you start fishing?
My parents’ friend was a fisherman and when I was 21 both my mom and sister suggested that I apply to work for him when he was looking for crew. They thought I would be good at it and it appealed to me. After much persistence and about four or five phone calls later, he finally hired me. I first started working as a crew member and then later running the Ocean Quest. I’ve been fishing and also conducting safety orientations on fishing boats ever since.

2. Where do you usually fish?
Usually around the bottom end of Haida Gwaii and in Hecate Strait.

3. What is the best thing about fishing?
I absolutely love the adventure, freedom and opportunity to see the coast with all its marine life including humpbacks, orcas and dolphins. Very importantly, I can work hard and earn a decent living during the season with a schedule that allows me to raise my young kids.

4. What is your most memorable fishing experience?
It was an absolutely incredible experience in 2020 when we had a rare harbour day during the season. We were anchored off of Cape Scott when about 15 orcas were swimming about 10 feet away from us. We rounded out the day with a very satisfying beach clean-up that resulted in 186 bottles and 10 large bags of garbage, a black bear sighting and a wonderful campfire in the evening.

5. What do you believe everyone should know about wild Pacific halibut and the fishery?
Everyone should know that it is one of the best managed fisheries in the world that has a low environment impact. In fact, other fisheries model themselves after the wild Pacific halibut fishery. It is also a fishery that is largely made up of small family businesses.

6. What do you believe are the most important issues facing the wild Pacific halibut industry today?
The biggest issue facing the fishery is public perception. The public doesn’t understand that the wild Pacific halibut fishery is very different. It is managed to a much higher standard and is sustainable. Every fish that we harvest is fully accounted for. We have cameras on-board every boat to record the catch and at the dock a government-approved observer records all the fish landed and each halibut is tagged.

7. How would you describe the future of the wild Pacific halibut fishery?
It’s a bit uncertain and sometimes it’s hard to be super excited because there are now so many variables affecting the fishery. There is always biological uncertainty because the abundance of halibut fluctuates over time and fishermen are used to that and we can deal with it. But if measures to protect marine areas or other species are developed without collaboration with fishermen, it increases the uncertainty for fishermen and our families.

8. What three words/phrases best describe the wild Pacific halibut fishery today?
Sustainable
Healthy
Provides a delicious and top quality food product

1. What was your first job?
Babysitting to start but then working as a banquet server at the Park Royal Hotel in North Vancouver, BC right out of high school.

2. What is your favourite thing to do when you’re not fishing?
Camping, biking and spending time with my kids

3. What is your favourite meal to eat on the boat when fishing?
Thai coconut fish soup

4. What is your favourite wild Pacific halibut dish?
Panko crusted wild Pacific halibut or prosciutto wrapped wild Pacific halibut with basil

5. What is your favourite movie or TV show of all time?
Step Brothers

6. What is your favourite song or who is your favourite artist?
Hozier

7. What is one thing that most people don’t know about you and may surprise them?
I used to wrestle and play rugby in high school

8. What skill or craft would you like to master?
Microsoft Excel program

9. Who is your hero and why?
My mom and dad! They are the coolest and hardest working people. My mom is especially awesome as she raised us kids a lot on her own because my dad was regularly away working.

Cheri Hansen