The shores of Lake Ontario host the practitioners of a time-honoured profession.
Commercial fishing along Lake Ontario is facing challenges due to changing environmental conditions and regulations. Overfishing and pollution have led to a decrease in fish populations, impacting the livelihoods of fishermen. Strict quotas and restrictions aim to sustainably manage fish stocks, but this has also limited the fishing industry's operations. Despite these obstacles, efforts are being made to promote conservation and sustainable practices to ensure the long-term health of Lake Ontario's aquatic resources.
Up before dawn.
The darkness is heavy as I rise before the sun, the world still caught in a slumber. Tools in hand, determination in my heart, I step into the quiet day. Each breath carries the weight of dreams yet unrealized, pushing me forward despite the weariness that tugs at my limbs. The rustle of leaves underfoot is my soundtrack, a reminder of the earth's enduring strength. With each task, each stride towards sustenance, I write a page of my story in sweat and soil. The promise of a well-earned meal fuels my resolve, turning the mundane into a dance of survival. In these moments before dawn, as the first light breaks free, I am both creator and creation, weaving together a tale as old as time yet uniquely mine.
Light Up.
A fisherman stops for a cigarette as the sun rises. Seagulls circle as they wait for the men to pull the day’s catch from their nets. The quiet stillness is palpable in the chilly October air.
Reaching.
Pulling nets. You get the sense that what’s at the bottom has more than physical weight — there’s also the weight of the emotional stakes. Their livelihood is on the line.