This Fish - Forums Archive

Trnaround

2013-03-14 14:29:31

Here is a fantastic system Canada has implemented to trace seafood products to the place it was caught and show consumers what they are really buying. Google "this fish" and get on their site then find " What is this fish/partners /West Coast Trollers area G". We need this in Alaska.

SilverT

2013-03-14 14:54:52

Trnaround,

That's pretty slick. It took me a minute to find the sample code button (above the dialog box). It would be interesting to interview participants and find out if it has provided much financial benefit since its introduction. From a marketing perspective it looks like an incredible tool.

Thanks again,

Lane

Salty

2013-03-14 17:05:56

Silver T,

Great post, thanks. I went to this site a couple of days ago when I saw it in Pacific Fishing Magazine's "Fish Wrap" and sent Ecotrust Canada an e-mail. No response yet.

I am familiar with Ecotrust USA, have been to their headquarters in Portland, was on a retreat with their founder a few years ago, and know they do some good work. Lets follow up and see if we can get a pilot program going here in SE.

Abundance

2013-03-14 20:23:25

It like the idea. It doesnt sound like the sort of thing that would bring immediate benefits, but could pay off further down the line if consumers get used to it.

Salty

2013-03-23 19:10:19

Fellow Trollers,

I have followed up on this site, http://www.thisfish.info/about/what/

and made contact. I am really impressed with the philosophy, the staff contact and am moving ahead to try this program this summer. The young woman contact, Chelsey, I visited with, is from a fishing family and plans to return to the business as a skipper. Their web-site is quite sophisticated and easy to use. Chelsey set me up to enter a profile on my business already. She told me they have over 140 fishermen using their system in BC alone. I highly recommend checking it out.

Thisfish philosophy:

Our thinking is simple: we want to create the world’s most trusted seafood traceability system that empowers consumers and rewards producers.

An initiative of Ecotrust Canada and fishing industry partners, Thisfish is growing a community of like-minded folk dedicated to sustaining the rich traditions and culinary delights of the sea. The three pillars of our approach are to:

ensure an authentic, meaningful experience to consumers hungry for trusted information on the authenticity, quality and sustainability of their seafood;

provide real-time market intelligence and branding advantages for every business in the seafood supply chain from fishermen to fishmongers; and

create an easy-to-use and low-cost traceability system that is accessible to small operators and rural fishermen.

Abundance

2013-03-24 01:28:41

I just spent an hour or two on their site. I do like what I see. I wouldn't mind seeing what they could do for us across the border.

Trnaround

2013-03-24 14:30:11

This system would really fit well with troll fish. It rewards quality,provides an amazing amount of information, educates the consumer and gives the consumer a great story. Implementation would be a challenge on the processor's side but if this becomes the norm and gives the processor an advantage in the market place it could be worthwhile economically. Salty, thanks for looking into this further and posting the link,I hope this gets some momentum because it seems like a great system.

fvsedna

2013-03-25 06:45:11

I too, spent a little time today on this site, thanks, Eric for posting........I want to spend more time there to brainstorm & Imagine what & whom would be involved to Initiate something like or as similar to the Cannucks program. Folks down In America would eat It up...literally. Good Implementation of a program like this, I believe would be a proper & effective rebuttal to the growing controversies of false labeling, farm raised, GMO...etc. Talk about a niche. Can you Imagine ...a crowd of folks gathered around a fish market counter, not to view some moron throwing a salmon out Into the crowd, but viewing a monitor that is playing a video of a troller landing, cleaning, bleeding (pipette), tagging with a color/number coded tag through the cheek, Icing then offloading @ the plant.....then they can view that very same tagged fish laying on Ice @ market. This has been my fairy tale vision for a couple seasons now. The Cannuck program Is far beyond my vision...utilizing the type of technology of today...phone apps that can open up an Incredible visual world of Information by simply scanning some cheesy little square block that resembles a maze puzzle out of Reader's Digest.

Our busy time Is @ hand for many of us & soon to be for all....I believe we should peck away @ this through out the summer...supplying Input & Ideas as we are able..& re-group this fall. Some of us may have an opportunity to take Initiative this season & Inquire about people, programs or processors that may play a role In an outcome. That is a Inquiry In my mind....I seen the list of established processors on the East & West Canadian coasts that participated....so, how would we, as a dawning group approach, say SPC or SSS. Or Icicle, Alaska Glacier to jump on...They already have the tools In place; receiving, processing, marketing & transporting our products. Discovery Channel has done much of the advertising for us, attaining the attention of many folks of Wild Alaska....whom would buy our fish, but without the drama. One goal would Introducing an Intimate & real connection between what we have been saying for some time now; ..."hook & line caught, one @ a time, bled & iced, carefully handled, sustainable"..etc...A buyer @ a market or patron @ a restaurant could virtually see who caught, where & when, the fish they will purchase & eat,

This Is a do-able quest I believe...

Andrew

Salty

2013-03-26 02:50:02

I am going to do it. Others welcome, call in talk to Chelsey. I will talk to SPC this spring. They are the logical troller plant to be involved since they are fishermen owned, quality conscious, etc.

JYDPDX

2013-03-26 22:35:24

Very compelling concept. People really do want to know where there food came from and feedback/information exchanged between fisherman and end user could be tremendously helpful for both parties. I also signed up for an account. Now, how to get this tag business rolling??

Salty

2013-03-27 01:09:57

I had a long talk with their man, Eric, in Ottowa today. I also had lunch with a local processor and hope to meet with another one tomorrow. Next week I will be in BC and hope to meet with their coordinator and perhaps pick up some tags. It sounds like they would love to have a group of Sitka fishermen participate.

I will post what I learn after I get back from BC.

Salty

2013-04-06 18:12:35

Great meeting in BC with Thisfish staff.

Also met with SPC staff in Bellingham.

We will see. Trudging on.

SilverT

2013-04-12 06:55:05

Very cool. Thanks for pursuing this.

Lane

JYDPDX

2013-04-12 23:10:03

Did anything get going with this?

Salty

2013-04-13 02:10:58

Waiting on the processor. Got busy with boat work, haulout, etc. and did not get back to them yesterday and today like I planned.

Monday.