Slow Food Cocagne Acadie received a group of twenty people for their smelt ice fishing activity on the Bouctouche River ice Saturday January 23rd. [Scroll down for the whole story]
With more than 30 years experience, Roger Hébert taught the apprentice-fishermen how to catch fish with a rod. They also learned how to gut the fish. In addition, this course offered a guided tour of a fishing shack. All the participants successfully caught fish that they then brought home. Finally, the group headed to the Kent County Gun Club for their smelt fry dinner.
Laura Reinsborough brought her family all the way from Sackville: ‘‘What an awesome adventure we had! The kids were immediately taken with the activity. Even the two-year-old patiently awaited his first catch! And I know it’s an experience that will stay with them and help shape their relationship with food, land, and sea.’’
Christina Allain, Slow Food Cocagne Acadie and Slow Food in Canada board member, explains that the initiative is part of the international awareness campaign called Slow Fish. ‘‘The goal of the campaign is to support, discover and celebrate sustainable fishing. Smelt ice fishing is so unique to our region that we decided to organize an activity around it.’’ She adds: ‘‘From a food security point of view, anyone can fish smelt. One can fish up to 60 fish a day without a permit. They just need to learn how – which is exactly what we did today! Also, it’s such a delicious fish!’’