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TALKING THE TALK
There Is No Normal
At Halvorson’s
With Jessica Resac, Halvorson Fisheries, Cornucopia
Hard work and being on the lake are rewarding, and I just can’t give it up.
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Why should people buy Wisconsin fish?
Jessica: The Lake Superior fish that we catch at Halvorson Fisheries in Cornucopia, Wis., is extremely clean and fresh. It’s caught daily, processed the same day and goes out to local restaurants and consumers the same day.
What is your job and the biggest challenge you face doing it?
Jessica: I wear many hats at Halvorson Fish- eries. I actually go out on the boats to catch the fish. I help with the filleting process. I help in the fish market. I mend gear and make new nets. I do some of the paperwork and a lot of the computer work associated with federal and state rules, regulations and laws. Probably the latter is the most challenging.
When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in fisheries?
Jessica: I took the summer off from graduate school in 2003. Mark Halvorson asked me to come to Cornucopia, Wis., to help on the fishing boats. I never knew it would be so much hard work and long hours. I’ve left several times to do something different. I returned within a month or so each time. I finally took a position in a hospital lab in December of 2014. Every day I am off from lab, I go fishing or work at the fisheries, sometimes both jobs in one day. Hard work and being on the lake are rewarding, and I just can’t give it up.
What part of your job did you least expect to be doing?
Jessica: The federal and state laws and all the rules, regulations, fees and paperwork/ computer work that is required for a commercial fishery that processes and sells fish. The state of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources commercial fish reports, boat licensing, com- mercial licenses, temperature logs, filleting logs fish sold logs, wholesale reports, HAACP plans for everything we do. I never expected so much paperwork!