Wild, fresh and right to your plate!

By Doreen Marion Gee

It is rather intriguing to have a fish processing operation tucked away in a high-end residential James Bay waterfront neighbourhood. But “Finest At Sea” fits perfectly into the seaside and boating ambience surrounding Fisherman's Wharf. This thriving operation right in our midst offers a treasure chest of fish-related marvels. Most importantly, they treat customers to an environmentally sound and sustainable “fresh-to-the-table” seafood experience that is truly unique and remarkable.

Bob Fraumeni, owner of “Finest At Sea Ocean Products Ltd.” on 27 Erie Street, reminds me of the weathered rugged sea captain braving the storm in a classic Hollywood movie. His eyes sparkle with memories of a silvery fresh catch gleaming under a Pacific sunset. His love of fishing started early; Bob pushed his first boat into open water at age eleven. As the years went by, “I got bigger and bigger boats.” At first he gave a lot of fish away but soon started selling his catches and building a successful business. His website states, “We have been operating since 1977 as F.A.S. Seafood Producers Ltd. (initially it was “Frozen At Sea”) and “Finest At Sea” was established as a ‘boutique-style’ seafood company here in Victoria...” He bought his present property around 1999 and established his new “Finest At Sea” brand to make his premium quality products available to local residents, stores and restaurants. 

What do you love about fishing? I ask. The seafarer is quick to reply: “The total wildness of it!” as he points to huge crashing waves in a photo from churning waters off the Queen Charlotte Islands. As we talked, I could almost smell the salty sea winds. Bob loves “the freedom” of the fisherman's life: “It's an adventure!” His eight fishing boats go all over the Pacific Ocean as far as the Philippines, and “we catch everything”: salmon, cod, halibut, tuna, sable fish, rock fish, crabs. His beloved “Ocean Pearl” accommodates the long trips, lasting six to nine weeks and sometimes longer. The born fisherman regularly goes out on his boats, unable to resist the pull of the tides and a crisp sea breeze.

 “Finest At sea” is an impressive operation, complete with a processing facility, fish smoker, freezer, deli and food cart. The main house contains the delicatessen boasting a cornucopia of ocean treats: fish salads, fish cakes, pot pies, fish fillets, mussels, scallops, oysters, prawns, lobster. Bob is proud of his “value-added” items such as smoked salmon, soups, sesame smoked oysters and Dungeness crab cakes. Fish is offered fresh, frozen, smoked or canned. A food cart stands outside where skilled chefs whip up fish and chips, halibut tacos and burgers. “Finest At Sea” ships products across Canada and has its own pet food line. Locals get personalized service: “We will custom process the fish you catch, we will look after it properly, we will fillet, freeze it or smoke it – and do whatever you want.”

Bob Fraumeni is dedicated to 100 per cent sustainable and environmentally-friendly fishing – leaving more fish behind than you take. “I spend many days a week in the winter going to fisheries' meetings and working with fishery scientists to keep our stocks well-managed and sustainable. It is a huge part of what I do. It means only taking a yield that leaves good spawning environments – that is the key.” Bob: “All our fish are Ocean Wise” - a label meaning that the fish caught are abundant, well-managed and not over-harvested. In addition, the fishing method must only catch the fish targeted and not impact habitat and sea-life.  All of Bob's fish are 100 per cent wild, high quality and fresh from the briny depths of the Pacific. Freezing methods ensure absolute freshness: “Our vessels are equipped with cutting-edge, deep cold freezing systems.  As any experienced fish buyer knows, freshness can only be guaranteed when the time between expiration and freezing is measured in minutes.”

Eating the fish from “Finest At Sea” is akin to jumping in a boat, catching a salmon, cooking it and eating it right away. Their fish has fresh-from-the-ocean-to-your-plate goodness.  Bob: “Our fish is right from the source and it is looked after right to your plate.” Bob's transparent system is a unique example of best practices and accountability. Remarkably, when customers buy fish at “Finest At Sea”, their receipts also contain the name of the boat where the fish was captured. Bob is passionate about his expedient system: “My fish is of '100 per cent Known Product Origin' - every fish can be tracked back to the boat and the day it was caught!”

With his thriving enterprise, Bob Fraumeni brings a creative oasis of fresh seafood and delectable fish products to our community – all with an eye to protecting our ocean and the creatures that live in it. We are all enriched by the presence of “Finest At Sea” in our neighbourhood. And it serves as more proof of the great diversity of this eclectic and fascinating community.