Manitoba to allow fishermen to market their own catch

Freshwater fishermen will soon be able to market their own catch outside of Manitoba.

On the banks of Lake Winnipeg in Gimli, the province announced Tuesday thatit has notified the federal government it will be withdrawing from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Act.

The legislation enables the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC) tobuy, processes and then sellmost of the fish caught in Manitoba waters.

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TheCrown corporation, as a kind of monopoly, sets a price for freshwater fish from Manitobaand markets the products outside of the province.

Rick Wowchuk, legislative assistant to Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox, said giving fishermen options to market their own catch will allow them to "get the best dollar for their product."

"We believe there is potential to increase fishers' incomes by allowing the choice of marketing their own product to the world seafood market," Wowchuk said.

Under the newregime, fishers wouldstill have the choice tomarket their fish through the FFMC or, if they so choose, they can go it alone.

The province will assign an envoy to oversee the restructuring of the commercial fisheries market, Wowchuksaid.

Amanda Stevenson, a commercial fisher atLake St. Martin, called Monday's announcement "incredible."

"It's going to revolutionize the industry and completely change fishermen's lives," she said.

"They'll be able to make better money. They'll be able to access markets they weren't able to before. There's a lot of economic opportunity."

But Manitoba's NDP wasless enthusiastic about the change.

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NDP MLA and green jobs criticRob Altemeyer said the FFMC has provided a stable income to fishermen for many years. He said some smaller communitiesmay have difficulty reaching out toforeign markets.

"Some fishers may benefit from going alone, but many could find themselves struggling to get their fish to market without the corporation, said Altemayer in a news release.

The NDP warned that an exit from theFreshwater Fish Marketing Act could be a repeat of what happened after the Canadian Wheat Board disbanded which the advocacy group,Canadian Wheat Board Alliance, sayscontributed to billions of dollars in losses.

The Manitoba Mtis Federation (MMF) saysit is "cautiously optimistic" about the government's plan.Mtis fishers make up the majority of Manitoba's commercial fishery.

MMF presidentDavid Chartrand said fishermenhave a lot of questions about the changes, such as when fishermen may begin marketing their own catch and what thenew rules mightlook like.

"MMF will commence a process of provincewide consultation with fishers by early fall to develop a co-ordinated response by fishers to the announcement. In the meantime, the MMF will pursue answers from the provincial government to the fishers' questions and concerns,"Chartrand said in a news release.

There are more than 470 commercial fishers in Manitoba, according to the provincial government. Last year,the industry generated $22 million.

Donald Salkeld, who is currently on administrative leave as president and CEO of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp., told CBC News last week that he supports opening up the fish market in Manitoba.

The head office for the FFMC is located in Winnipeg and employs more 150 people. It has been operating in the province since 1969.

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