After several years of challenges, things are looking for the commercial fishing industry on Lake Manitoba. That's from Lake Manitoba Commercial Fishermen's Association South Basin Director Allan Gaudry, in response to the province's intention to opt out of its Freshwater Fish Marketing Act participation. The move would allow an open market for Manitoba's commercial fishers to sell their product, rather than to only utilize the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

The industry on Lake Manitoba has been facing extreme challenges in recent years, stemming from flooding and changes to the fish populations in Lake Manitoba. While species such as pickerel or yellow perch used to make up a majority of the association's profits, their numbers have dwindled in recent years, as Northern Pike -- a low-value species through the current marketing model-- populations began to grow. Gaudry says the announcement has rejuvenated optimism in the industry, noting the prospect of an open market is incredibly exciting.

"This announcement is going to make it happen, so we're excited. Everybody is optimistic. Everybody is excited about going fishing again, and it's making fishing fun again. It's great news to hear the province is moving forward with open marketing for the fish in the province of Manitoba. It's great news."

The future of the industry looked so bleak at the end of the 2015 ice fishing season that the directors voted in favour of a resolution to lobby the government to buy out their licenses, unless there was a move away from a single-desk marketing strategy. Gaudry says while there's not much that can be done regarding the shift in populations, moving to an open market could make Northern Pike a much more viable species for the industry.

"We have markets out there that could triple the price of the Northern Pike that we've been getting currently. Those markets will open up for us, and those are the opportunities we've been waiting for. This is an exciting day, with exciting plans for commercial fishers."

While the Manitoba government's informed the federal government they intend to withdraw their participation in the act, the plan is to still have the marketing corporation available to those who would like to access it. Consultations still need to take place with various stakeholders including the industry, the federal government, and indigenous and Métis fishers. Gaudry says it's a process they're looking forward to being involved in, adding they hope to see progress as soon as possible.

While the opening of the market could still take a while, Gaudry's seeing a sort of resurgence in the industry, even just hours after the announcement was made. He's already hearing from young people in the area who are asking about licensing and equipment, as they hope to move into what could be a revitalized industry.

"This is really a wake up for the industry again. It's been dormant for a few years now, and now it looks like things are looking up."