A day in the life...
Producer of the Year and From the Sea winner, second-generation fisher Bruce Collis’ daily catch graces the tables of some of our most renowned high-end restaurants.
Bruce Collis might be a fisherman, but he also sees himself as a custodian of the ocean. Each morning, he heads out in a small vessel to fish the pristine waters of Corner Inlet, Victoria. This vast area is home to a range of species, from King George whiting and southern garfish to seals, whales and seabirds.
“As custodians, we’re out there fishing every day,” he says. “We can see change or things going wrong. We report it, to ensure it’s fixed, and so the industry remains sustainable.”
Collis utilises an environmentally friendly method of fishing known as ‘seine netting’. This encloses fish instead of trapping them.
“The fish swim around in the net; we use small dip nets to catch the ones we want, and all the bycatch and undersized fish, we can return live to go on to grow,” he explains.
Collis is one of only 18 licenceholders permitted to fish in the area. Regulations also permit only two casts of the net per day.
“But that’s a very good thing,” he says. “It’s fair to everyone, and it also means that we’re not putting too much pressure on the fishery.”
For Collis, while being courted by top chefs is a perk of the job (Neil Perry is a big fan), his loyalties will always lie first with the sea.
“The ocean is the key,” he says. “The reason Corner Inlet is such a successful fishery is because it is really, really well managed.”