Tiare Boyes
2ND GENERATION FISHERMAN
Home Port: Victoria, BC | Vessel Name: Borealis I
“Being a commercial fish harvester for me goes hand in hand with being a conservationist and fighting for sustainable harvest policies so that we can address food insecurity, respect our marine resources and ensure we meet the nutritional needs of today without sacrificing those of future generations.”
1. When and how did you start fishing?
I unofficially started going to sea when I was still in my mother’s womb. My first fishing trip happened when I was less than a year old and I continued going to sea each summer on our family’s fishing vessel as I grew up. I first signed on as a “deckhand” in 2010 when I went out with my friend Holly, another fishermen’s daughter, on my dad’s boat the Fearless II. Our fathers would pull the lines and they taught us to clean the salmon before they went into the freezer; we mostly spent our time playing Crazy 8’s though. My first season as a real (read: “useful”) deckhand was in 2012. I went out with my father (Dave Boyes) my cousin (Angus Grout), my dad’s best friend and his daughter Katelin. Katelin and I were taught to dress the fish and stack them under ice in the hold. We were not strong enough by ourselves to lift some of the bigger fish so we worked together to lift them into the bins.
2. Where do you usually fish?
Usually between Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii in Queen Charlotte Sound or Hecate Strait.
3. What is the best thing about fishing as a family?
Spending uninterrupted quality time together. These days with so many distractions and busy schedules, spending time out on the ocean without internet or phone calls, it is a breath of fresh air. Of course, we work very hard out there and that is another thing I love about fishing with my family. We are not just related; we are also a team that works together to harvest wild, nutritious, sustainable fish to feed Canadian families and families around the world. Out there we depend on each other to get through each day safely and to harvest our catch.
4. What is your most memorable fishing experience as a family?
One day when we were out on the water hauling our lines, a ‘super pod’ of Pacific White sided dolphins passed by. There must have been over 2,000 individuals and it took them what felt like half an hour to pass by! It was incredible and something very special I feel lucky to have experienced with my family.
5. What do you believe everyone should know about wild Pacific halibut and the fishery?
People should know that the families who harvest your wild Pacific halibut are humans. We are not huge corporations. We genuinely care about our fish stocks, our marine resources and the ecosystems they inhabit. I feel so incredibly lucky to work on the water and to experience Canada’s clean waters and abundant wildlife. Being a commercial fish harvester for me goes hand in hand with being a conservationist and fighting for sustainable harvest policies so that we can address food insecurity, respect our marine resources and ensure we meet the nutritional needs of today without sacrificing those of future generations.
6. What do you believe are the most important issues facing the wild Pacific halibut industry today?
Public misconceptions. There is much misinformation out there about commercial fisheries and commercial fishermen; but, in reality the wild Pacific halibut hook and line fishery is a world leader in sustainable fisheries management, and fishermen helped build it into what it is today. We have 100% at-sea video and electronic monitoring and 100% dockside validation, which means that each fish that is encountered is recorded and counted towards catch limits. No one can cheat, no one can lie and this is good for us as fishermen and for the fish, too.
7. How would you describe the future of the wild Pacific halibut fishery?
We have an excellent track record of working with environmental groups, Department of Fisheries & Oceans and various levels of government to ensure fisheries management policies are effective, enforceable and implementable. This is what is needed moving forward to continue to make our fishery the best it can be. We need to work with stakeholders from all groups to find solutions and we should never take for granted the incredible resource we rely on for our livelihoods and for our food security.
8. What three words best describe the wild Pacific halibut fishery today?
Sustainable, nutritious and delicious!
1. What was your first job?
Salmon fishing on my dad’s boat the Fearless II
2. What is your favourite thing to do when you’re not fishing?
Diving in our cold Pacific waters taking photos and videos of our incredible marine life and studying their habits.
3. What is your favourite meal to eat on the boat when fishing?
My cousin Angus Grout makes an excellent pot roast with Greek potatoes!
4. What is your favourite wild Pacific halibut dish?
I like to bake my wild Pacific halibut with a creamy-miso-wasabi-panko crust.
5. What is your favourite movie or TV show of all time?
Lion King
6. What is your favourite song or who is your favourite artist?
Joni Mitchel or Júníus Meyvant
7. What is one thing that most people don’t know about you and may surprise them?
I love knitting!
8. What skill or craft would you like to master?
I have my Uncle’s accordion and I am trying to learn how to play it!
9. Who is your hero and why?
Kids. I volunteer at summer camps teaching kids about marine biology, snorkeling and underwater photography and their capacity for joy and their ability to change their perspectives with new information fills me with admiration! Adults seem to forget the ability to look at the world with an open mind and to keep learning new things.