A big change is coming for Manitoba's commercial fishermen.

WMM Fish Coop Director Frank Kenyon explains there are going to be a lot of opportunities for fishermen to grow their income in the coming year. He says there'll be some important meetings for fishermen coming up, and explains why.

"Soon we'll be out of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, the monopoly will be ended. We'll still be able to sell to Freshwater, but we'll be able to take advantage of any other markets we have. So the WMM Coop has about 300 members and has invited four buyers from China and one rom the United States. There'll be one meeting in Gimli on the 18th of October, on the 19th we'll be at the Eddystone Hall, and on the 20th we'll be in The Pas."

Fishermen will now have the chance to double their income thanks to the new foreign markets available just next door in Saskatchewan where fish is flash frozen and shipped overseas.

"Fishermen can then target the carp and the mullets, and the jacks and the whitefish, and leave the pickerel alone," says Kenyon. "The foreign markets aren't for pickerel, they're for lower quality fish, that's what they want. In the past, we've always targeted pickerel and put too much pressure on them because Freshwater Fish Marketing Board only paid us for the small pickerel, where they could get the small fillets from the ones haven't spawned yet. Now this will all change with foreign markets."

He adds it's important people -- especially fishermen -- attend their upcoming meetings this week to prepare themselves for possible change.

"They should make themselves ready to deal with other markets other than Freshwater. These buyers have come from a long way, and they're willing to speak to fishermen in groups or one-on-one and we'll be present. They'll be there with fish prices and fishermen in the next year will be able to decide where they want to sell the fish, so in order to get the best deal they should be properly informed and that's why we're having these meetings."

There are three meetings set this week, with the first happening in Gimli tomorrow at the Lakeview Hotel from 1 to 7 p.m. They're at the Eddystone Hotel on Wednesday from 1 to 4, and in the Pas Thursday from 1 to 4 as well.

 

Poster information:

***********Attention Commercial Fishermen**********

Chinese buyers (Arctic Blue) that are buying fish in Saskatchewan and Mike Schafer from Schafer Fisheries in US (who the WMM Co-op sold Mullet to in 2010/2011) will be at informational meetings in your area

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Tuesday, October 18th at the Lakeview Hotel in Gimli

from 1 to 7pm

Wednesday, October 19th at the Eddystone Hall in Eddystone

from 1 to 4pm

*** The meeting in Eddystone is also the AGM for WMM Fisheries Co-operative Ltd. ***

Thursday, October 20th at the Kikiwak Inn in The Pas

from 1 to 4pm

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Please come and be informed on prices and markets other than FFMC. Foreign buyers will be present to answer questions and talk with fishermen

***Everyone welcome, coffee and goodies provided***

For more information, please contact

Frank Kenyon 204-659-5834

Amanda Stevenson 204-762-5142

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