Edible Toronto

A Tale of Three Fish

• Yellow perch and pickerel jump at the line on captain Todd Loop’s boat on Lake Erie, in Essex County. It’s just one of the fishers connected with Toronto’s Fisherfolk, a fish shop that works directly with fishers to ensure the use of sustainable fishing practices that maintain the balance of waterbodies, including lakes and oceans. Photos by Tristan Peirce.

• Sean Lovell may be deathly allergic to freshwater fish, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his dream to own a fish farm, located just outside Port Dover.

• It takes three years to raise his rainbow trout for consumption, which he and his partner, Jess Bauman, sell at farmers’ markets such as Trinity Bellwoods. Photos by Sarah Wiggins.

• The fish First Fish’s Mickayla Labbé sells at several Toronto farmers’ markets comes from one of the most remote northern places in the world. The social enterprise aims to give back to local Nunavut communities by selling their catch of Arctic char and turbot at markets and to Toronto restaurants.

• First Fish's Acrtic char being sold at Trinity Bellwood's Farmers' Market. Market photos by Sarah Wiggins.

• Fishing takes place near the remote community of Pangnirtung on Baffin Island. First Fish has recently increased its order from local fishers to 45-thousand pounds in the next five months, which would create 17 new jobs. Photo by Ben Carrick.

• With continued success, the founders hope to help the more than 200 people currently looking for work in Pangnirtung. Photo courtesy First Fish.