2nd Annual BC Sardine
Fest 2006 in StevestonSardine cooking demonstrations and sales at the 2nd
Annual BC Sardine Fest 2006 in Steveston, where 1500
sardine lovers gathered to learn more about Pacific sardines.
Courtesy of the Canadian Pacific Sardine Association
 ver 1,500 people attended the BC Sardine Fest this year, showing such enthusiastic interest in BC sardines as they attended the cooking demonstrations presented by Karen Barnaby (Executive Chef of The | | ©Canadian Pacific Sardine Association—Crowd enjoying the cooking demonstrations at the 2nd Annual BC Sardine Fest 2006 in Steveston. |
Fish House in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC and award-winning cookbook author), Stephen Wong (local journalist, food and beverage consultant and cookbook author) and Kosta Zogaris (award winning fishmonger and owner of Lonsdale Quay’s Salmon Shop and Screaming Mimi’s, North Vancouver, BC). They also sampled fresh and smoked sardine products. Approximately 8,500 pounds of fresh sardines, and 400 pounds of smoked sardine creations provided by Classic Smokehouse of Vancouver, BC were available.
Sardine fisher, Glenn Budden, of the Ocean Venture says from his boat, "We sold out of 8,500 pounds of fresh BC sardines at BC Sardine Fest, and we will be making our way back to the sales dock in Steveston this weekend with more beautiful fish—about 145 grams each—to meet that growing demand. We'll have free BC sardine recipe booklets available, too, featuring unique sardine recipes created by the local chefs who participated in our event both this year and last year. It's just great to see the enthusiastic interest in BC sardines."
 | | ©Canadian Pacific Sardine Association—Entertaining cooking demo by Kosta Zogaris, an award-winning fishmonger from North Vancouver. |
Don Pepper, Executive Director of the Canadian Pacific Sardine Association adds, "It was especially wonderful to have the full support of the professional chefs, seafood experts, seafood suppliers, the Steveston Harbour Authority, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who all actively contributed to make this event even bigger and better than last year. It’s simply great to see the growing interest and demand for BC sardines. It’s positive news for the 50 commercial sardine license holders, and the new BC sardine industry overall. We’re already planning for BC Sardine Fest 2007." Pacific sardines are a highly nutritious and delicious fin fish that migrate through the cool coastal waters of British Columbia. With an iridescent, silvery body and fine, soft textured pink flesh, the flavor is described as relatively stronger and heavier than most  | | ©Canadian Pacific Sardine Association—Sardine lovers crowd Fisherman's Wharf to buy fresh BC sardines at the Ocean Venture. |
white fish species, providing great versatility in creating sardine dishes. They are also recognized as a nutritional powerhouse rich in calcium, protein, iron, potassium, phosphorus and omega-3 fatty acids.
The unique story is an amazing natural 'boom and bust' cycle that can be traced back 2,000 years—explaining why BC’s large-scale sardine fisheries of the early 1900s came to an end in the 1950s, and then started again in the early 1990s when sardines again re-appeared off the BC coast. Today, the conservative fishery is committed to sustainability and provides fresh sardines primarily between May and November, while frozen, salted and smoked product is available year round. The Canadian Pacific Sardine Association is a non-profit, legally constituted organization representing sardine permit holders in the management and marketing of the BC sardine fishery. The association is committed to working with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to maintain the fishery’s sustainability. Working with all permit holders and industry members to ensure consistent delivery of a premium, quality product, while promoting BC sardines in both export and domestic markets.
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