Small businesses often serve a bigger purpose than just making money or providing a service. In the case of JWP Fishing, John Will Brazil is committed to keeping a traditional industry alive.  

John, a fisherman in Renews, Newfoundland and Labrador, purchased his family’s fishing enterprise in 2014 from his father and recently expanded, purchasing his father-in-law’s fishing licences and his own commercial fishing vessel “Hammer Down.” 

“I grew up surrounded by the fishery, as my father was a fisherman and my mother was a plant worker. I started fishing when I was very young and it has always been a part of my life,” he says. “It also plays an important part of keeping the history of the fishery alive. What Newfoundland was once built on - small fishing communities.” 

Gone Fishin’ 

The inshore fishing enterprise has multiple licences, allowing John and his crew to catch multiple species of fish. When he’s not fishing, John also serves on the Renews-Cappahayden municipal council and is a vocal fishing advocate. It’s businesses like his which are keeping small communities alive, he says.  

“Although it comes with a lot of hard work and challenges such as market fluctuations and market pricing, constant boat and gear upkeep, there is just something about being in a boat, on the water, that outweighs all the bad,” he says. “I am also hoping that my business can be passed down for generations to come.” 

John loves the flexibility of the work and the responsibility of making decisions and participating in his own success. He says the local economy continues to be buoyed by the province’s billion dollar fishing industry, from providing quality jobs on the wharf and in the community, to bolstering local shops, restaurants, and even tourism.  

Hook, Line, and Sinker 

As John grew the business, he also leaned into community connections, reaching out to CBDC Celtic to acquire funding for the growth and success of his business.  

“CBDC helped me through their programs to obtain a loan, which financially allowed me to complete upgrades and maintenance to my enterprise,” he says, explaining that the right choice for him was a General Business Loan which offers competitive interest rates and repayment terms.   

Businesses in all kinds of industries can benefit from the programs and loans offered by CBDCs throughout the province. When you’re ready to build your business, and the community you live in, get in touch with your local CBDC and talk about the options available to you!