DUNCAN, B.C. – Fishing communities on Vancouver Island are leading the country in seafood traceability thanks in part to a $50,000 grant provided by the Island Coastal Economic Trust. The grant funded Ecotrust Canada, the West Coast Trollers Association, BC Dogfish Hook and Line Industry Association, and the Vancouver Island Seafood Buyers Association to develop a seafood traceability system called Thisfish.

Launched by Vancouver-based nonprofit Ecotrust Canada in collaboration with the commercial fishing industry, Thisfish is an online traceability system that allows consumers to trace their seafood back to the fisherman who caught it using computers, tablets and smartphones.

“This seafood traceability project is helping to bring a traditional resource industry into the Internet Age,” says Mayor Phil Kent, Chair of the Island Coastal Economic Trust and Mayor of Duncan. “The Trust is pleased to be involved in this type of innovative marketing and branding initiative, which supports our vision of enhanced global competitiveness for our regional resource industries.”

Almost five million pounds of seafood from Pacific and Atlantic fisheries were traceable through Thisfish in 2011. One third of the total, or 1.6 million pounds, was landed in Vancouver Island communities. Fisheries with the highest levels of traceability took place on the Island. About 18 percent of all troll-caught Chinook salmon on the West Coast of Vancouver Island was traceable through Thisfish, along with 17 percent of halibut, 10 percent of Barkley Sound Sockeye and nine percent of sablefish.

“This initiative began in 2008 when Vancouver Island fishermen approached Ecotrust Canada to develop homegrown technology to trace our catch,” says Kathy Scarfo, President of the West Coast Trollers Association and a project partner. “We have pioneered a traceability system that is now catching on across the country and beyond.”

“Ecotrust Canada is especially proud of the close, collaborative work we did with fishermen,” says Brenda Kuecks, President of Ecotrust Canada. “Teams of computer engineers, web developers, project planners and fishermen worked together to build a high-tech, user-friendly solution for seafood traceability. It was an unconventional approach to innovation, but the results speak for themselves.”

Using Thisfish, fishermen identify their catch with a unique code that follows the catch through the supply chain. Fishermen upload the codes and catch information to Thisfish.info. Seafood companies can also upload details on the processing and handling of catch. Ultimately, consumers use the unique codes to trace the origins of their seafood on Internet-enabled devices. The system also lets you send electronic messages to fishermen.

In 2011, 262 fishing vessels landed catch traceable through Thisfish, including 120 vessels in British Columbia. Eleven different Pacific species of fish were traceable through Thisfish.

TABLE 1 | Rank of Vancouver Island ports by volume of catch traceable through Thisfish in 2011

The Island Coastal Economic Trust was established in February 2006 under an Act of the Province of British Columbia. It provided a $50-million endowment that is managed by an independent Board of Directors comprised of thirteen members – eight Mayors and five provincial appointees from the prescribed area. The Board’s mandate is to make strategic investments in economic development priorities including forestry, transportation, tourism, mining, energy, economic development, agriculture and aquaculture, and small business. The ICET region encompasses all Regional Districts and municipalities on Vancouver Island north of the Malahat as well as the Powell River and Sunshine Coast Regional Districts. ICET has approved over $46 million for over 80 projects on the Island and Sunshine Coast since implementing its grant program in 2007. The total impact of these investments is estimated at over $245 million.

A full overview of ICET can be found at www.islandcoastaltrust.ca

Ecotrust Canada is an enterprising nonprofit whose purpose is to build the conservation economy. The Vancouver-based nonprofit works at the intersection of conservation and community economic development promoting innovation and providing services for communities, First Nations and enterprises to green and grow their local economies.

For images, illustrations and video contact:

Eric Enno Tamm, Thisfish - Marketing and Communications, Mobile: 613-218-8802, eric [at] thisfish.info

For further information call:

Phil Kent, Chair, Island Coastal Economic Trust and Mayor of Duncan, Tel: 250-709-0186, mayor [at] duncan.ca

Al Baronas, Chief Executive Officer, Island Coastal Economic Trust, Tel: 250-334-2427 Extension 223, info [at] islandcoastaltrust.ca

Brenda Kuecks, President, Ecotrust Canada, Mob: (250) 701-2212, brenda [at] ecotrust.ca

Kathy Scarfo, President, West Coast Trollers Association, Mob: (250) 537-7766, kathy [at] saltspring.com