West Coast Wild Scallops is a small family fishing business owned an operated by Joel and Melissa Collier out of Courtenay, BC. Joel Collier is a 4th generation fisherman from a long line of fishermen on his mother's side. Joel took over the family business in 2014, fishing BC Spot Prawns and all 5 species of salmon. In fishing, you are always looking out for way to diversify. You never know what any given year may hold, and having options to fish something else during a bad year may save you. This is why he got involved in the swimming scallop (also known as Pink and Spiny Scallop) fishery. Joel started fishing swimming scallops in 2017. At this time, no one had been fishing them for several years. With no established market, fish buyers were not interested in buying them. Rather than admitting defeat, Joel and Melissa created West Coast Wild Scallops in order to market and sell their catch. Selling scallops is much harder than one would think. They were relatively unknown and looked much different than what the average seafood consumer thinks when you hear "scallop". While Joel learned and further developed the fishing method, Melissa took on marketing and sales. After years of hard work and pounding the payment, they have made some great relationships with retailers, wholesales and local consumers. They plan to continue to build the fishery and their business and hope that one day, swimming scallops will be as well known and sought after as salmon and spot prawns. Want to know more? Head t our website to learn about swimming scallops, the fishery, and the history of Joel's fishing family.