Dollar Continues To Haunt Commercial Fishers

Dollar Continues To Haunt Commercial Fishers

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 13:27

An official with the agency that processes fish caught commercially in northern Saskatchewan says it will be at least five years before fish prices rebound to what they once were.

Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation spokesman Stephen Kendall notes his group recently issued a combined $800,000 in final payment cheques to fishers on the Prairies.

From 2001 to 2003, the combined payout ranged from $6 million to $8 million.

Kendall estimates the damage caused by the rise in the Canadian dollar since that time has cost the FFMC and fishers $12 million.

He says it has become clear the corporation must reduce its dependency on the American market.

Kendall insists the corporation is working on a recovery plan that includes raising prices and finding new markets, but he says the results won’t come overnight.

Kendall is also aware Saskatchewan fishers are looking at the feasibility of marketing their own fish, but he doesn’t believe that will make a difference.