Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. Photo courtesy freshwaterfish.com
There is a new buyer in Saskatchewan’s fish market, and renewed optimism, as the industry moves away from monopoly marketing to seller’s choice.
Saskatchewan Cooperative Fisheries Limited President Marie Hildebrandt is optimistic about the long-term prospects for fishers, even though low prices and many fishers leaving the industry have taken a bite out of what was a good production year in 2016.
She says within a year prices will be up, there will be a new processing plant in Prince Albert and a new buyer called Arctic Blue is offering up better prices and more flexibility.
“Nobody has even had to sign a contract, they have had it open and it’s their choice,” Hildebrandt said. “They will be putting out a contract, but fishers can get out of it if they want and prices are negotiated every year.”
Since 2012, Saskatchewan fishers have had the choice of either marketing on their own or signing contracts with a federal crown corporation called the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. Hildebrandt says a monopoly limited choices and prices.
“It was really just tying their hands,” she said. “You were stuck with whatever they say they are going to give you.”
FFMC says about 65 per cent of Saskatchewan fishers have signed five-year contracts with the board.
Meanwhile, the corporation is dealing with its own problems. Last month, its president Donald Salkeld was fired with cause. FFMC has been given notice that Manitoba, its primary supplier, is pulling out of the monopoly.
Last year Manitoba provided about 22 million pounds of fish to the corporation, with Saskatchewan supplying in the remaining 4.6 million pounds.