Golden Eagle Sablefish was started because of people who loved fish and who adapted to ocean changes over time. A short account of this history.
In the 1990’s sablefish (also known as black cod) was discovered as a local alternative to the declining Chilean seabass and quickly won over chefs and customers alike. Sablefish went from being a discard fish to one prized for its delicate, buttery texture.
At the same time in Canada, wild salmon catches were declining, causing some fishers to switch to salmon aquaculture. However no one was farming sablefish, and given its recent popularity, this is how the farm was started. Farming in the remote coastal community of Kyuquot Sound meant that people who live on the oceans, including the Kyuquot-Checleseht First Nations, were able to continue this way of life, of harvesting sustainable fish for food.
Over the years, we have learned, improved, and perfected how to raise a premium sablefish from egg to harvest size. We paved the path on aquaculture of this new species and have a domestic and export market in several countries around the world.
Today, we are proud to produce top quality sablefish so that people worldwide can enjoy sustainable, healthy seafood from Canada.
Hatchery
Our hatchery is where our sablefish are grown from egg on Salt Spring Island, BC. Our staff are a team of highly trained biologists and technicians who have conducted the necessary research and development to pave the way for sablefish aquaculture. Our juvenile sablefish spend 4 months growing here before continuing their journey in the marine environment.
Marine Farm
Our marine farm is where our juvenile sablefish spend 20 months growing in the pristine oceanic waters of Kyuquot Sound, BC. In total, the fish take about 2 years to reach harvest size.
Partnerships
Our local farm works in partnership with the Kyuquot-Checleseht (Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k:tles7et’h’) First Nations who help us to raise the fish within their territories.