Chatting along the docks is a great way to learn about the industry.

This fellow is a former fisherman who now drives a truck to transport the catch on land. He grew up in the area and remembers as a boy going to the wharf with friends and earning what that the time was big money by helping out for an afternoon — and bringing home $50! He says that due to overuse the fishery has been depleted, claiming that where there were a half dozen cannery operations, only one remains in business.

Although some wanted us to believe that the Vietnamese have taken over the crabbing industry in the area, we chatted for a long while with a First Nation crabman who showed us how the traps operate and explained how their season works. Boat owners pay a half million to a million dollars for a license that allows them to work for about 8 months a year. A boat can carry about 280 of these traps so they make three trips in a day to set all of theirs. A day later they are out picking them up — each one heavier by about 60 of the crabs that flock into them for bait of squid and fish. As the traps are pulled onto the boat the females and small crabs are tossed back and the catch is kept alive for the trip to shore. Especially early in the season when the fishing is really good, they will work for 2 to 3 days without rest and then come in for a quick shower and some groceries and go right back out. We talked to them in the off-season while they were busy repairing their traps and getting ready for the opening of the season in about 30 days. Clearly a hard life that earns them only a minimal income.

Another fisherman was happy to explain that the real culprit is politics. With interest groups ranging from commercial fishermen, sport fishing operations, inland First Nations that rely on fish coming up the rivers, environmentalists, etc., success is starting to be defined more by the ability to influence the media than to haul in nets. The rules restrict the number of days, number of fish, and places where the fishermen can operate as the politicians try to keep all of the various interests happy. This fellow grew up in Namaimo on Vancouver Island. Although he has First Nation status that he could invoke to obtain some additional fishing privileges, he says that, “as a fisherman at heart” he is against it on principle. Nonetheless, he says that “if they”make it too tough to earn a living” he may be forced to do so.

As always, the stories we hear repeated from country to country always seem to expose the perils of progress and growth.