Building the Next Generation of Fishers

Expanding Youth Mentorship Opportunities Across the Five Nations

At Ha’oom Fisheries Society (HFS), we believe that youth are essential to the future of the fisheries. Rebuilding fisheries capacity is not only about training and certifications, but it is also about creating opportunities for youth to spend time on the water and learn directly from experienced fishers.

Throughout 2026, HFS has continued to support youth mentorship opportunities across the five Nations, connecting youth with Nuu-chah-nulth fishers and creating hands-on learning experiences in different fisheries.

This year’s youth mentorship opportunities included:

  • Ehattesaht-Chinehkint youth participated in multi-week prawn fishery mentorship with fisher and mentor Troy John

  • Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Hesquiaht youth participated in multi-day herring fishing trips with fisher and mentor Vic Amos

  • Upcoming summer mentorship opportunities, where two Ehattesaht-Chinehkint youth will spend 20 days learning aboard Troy John’s commercial fishing vessel!

These opportunities provide youth with more than technical skills; they create connections with their territories, build confidence, and support the transfer of fishing knowledge between generations.

Learning the Prawn Fishery with Troy John

This spring, HFS supported an Ehattesaht-Chinehkint First Nation Prawn Mentorship Program, providing youth with the opportunity to learn directly from experienced fisher Troy John and gain hands-on experience in the commercial prawn fishery.

The mentorship took place over four weeks between May and June 2026, allowing youth to spend multiple days abroad Troy’s boat. Unlike a single-day introduction, this extended mentorship allowed youth to truly experience what commercial fishing involves, from preparing gear and getting the boat ready, to harvesting, processing, maintaining equipment, and wrapping up operations.

Throughout the mentorship, youth gained experience in:

  • Preparing and baiting prawn traps

  • Setting and hauling prawn gear

  • Learning vessel and safety practices

  • Sorting, grading, and processing prawns

  • Finger packing and stacking prawn boxes

  • Supporting offloading activities

  • Cleaning and organizing fishing equipment and storage areas

Youth experienced a full cycle of a fishery and also learned about the important work that happens behind the scenes, including equipment maintenance, repairs, cleaning, and preparing gear for storage.

A total of 15 youth from the five Nations participated in the program over multiple days.

Learning Through Multi-day herring fishing trips with vic amos

In addition to the prawn mentorship program, HFS supported youth participation in multi-day herring fishing trips alongside experienced fisher Vic Amos.

Vic took two youth, one from Mowachaht/Muchalaht and one from Hesquiaht, on two herring fishing trips lasting more than five days each.

These multi-day fishing trips provided youth with firsthand experience in commercial fishing and allowed them to learn what it takes to work as part of a fishing crew.

Through these opportunities, youth gained experience with:

  • Daily fishing operations

  • Vessel safety

  • Working as part of a crew

  • Herring commercial fishing

Multi-day fishing opportunities are especially valuable because they allowed youth to move beyond a brief introduction and experience the rhythm, challenges, and rewards of life on the water.

Continuing the Journey: Summer Youth mentorship with TRoy John

Building on the success of these mentorship opportunities, HFS is continuing to support youth learning on the water this summer.

Two Ehattesaht-Chinehkint youth are joining Troy John aboard his commercial fishing vessel for 20 days of hands-on mentorship in the salmon and groundfish fisheries.

The longer-term mentorship opportunity will allow youth to further develop their skills and gain deeper experience with commercial fishing operations, including:

  • Vessel operations

  • Gear handling

  • Safety practices

  • Salmon and groundfish fisheries

  • Working as part of a professional fishing crew

By providing longer and more immersive mentorship opportunities, HFS hopes to continue creating meaningful pathways for youth who are interested in the fisheries.

Klecko, klecko

Commercial fishing is a skill built through time, practice, and mentorship. The skills, teachings, and experiences shared by fishers like Troy John and Vic Amos help ensure that youth have opportunities to learn practical skills and see themselves as future participants and leaders within our fisheries.

HFS extends a heartfelt klecko, klecko to Troy John and Vic Amos for their dedication, time, and willingness to share their knowledge with the next generation of fishers.

We also thank all the youth who participated, their families who supported them, and everyone who helped make these opportunities possible.

Program highlights

  • 19 youth participants

  • 10 weeks of mentorship

  • Multiple fisheries explored, including prawn, herring, salmon, and groundfish

  • Hands-on learning in vessel operations, safety, gear handling, and fishing practices