Manitoba Commercial Fishing Industry Overview

The first successful commercial fishery in Manitoba began in 1882 when Reid and Clarke operated one sailboat on Lake Winnipeg and brought their catches to Winnipeg. By 1887, a total of 65 sailboats and seven tugs and barges were operating on Lake Winnipeg. That year 2.5 million pounds of fish were harvested, worth $114,000.

During the 1920s and 1930s sailboats were replaced by gas powered boats giving fishermen increased mobility. In addition, roads and railways (which replaced horse-drawn sleighs) were also expanded into northern communities. This helped reduce transportation costs and allowed fishermen to sell their catch to distant markets not previously attainable.

With increasing numbers of fishers and fish prices being controlled by large fish companies, a need was seen to develop a better fish marketing system. In 1969 the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC) was established. FFMC was given the task of establishing new markets and increasing returns to fishers. The above information appears at this Reference Link

Domestic fishing is fishing for food by those Aboriginals with Constitutionally protected rights and other individuals who legitimately require access to the fisheries resource to meet basic subsistence requirements. Domestic fishing has long been an important activity to First Nations peoples. Fish have, and continue to be a valuable source of food. Fishing also plays an important role in bringing people together socially including the celebration of religious and cultural traditions.

This article by Frank Tough, Department of Native Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan examines the initial development of a commercial fishery in Manitoba and outlines the impact of this industry on the Native economy.

Fishing Communities

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Gimli Manitoba, commercial fishing has nourished Gimli's economy for more than 120 years. The community's origins and traditions as a fishing village are maintained today by the same hardy breed of men who have always plied the south basin of Lake Winnipeg. Currently, the Gimli area is the home of 131 of the 228 commercial fishermen who work the south end of the lake. These Gimli residents catch approximately 1.2 million kilograms of fish a year and earn close to $4 million on a combined basis. Rm Of Gimli website

Riverton Manitoba is situated within the Northeast Region of Manitoba's Interlake and is located along Highway #8. Formerly the site of Aboriginal hunting grounds, Riverton was established by Icelandic settlers in 1876. Several other ethnic groups, including Ukrainian, German, Mennonite, Hungarian and Polish immigrants settled here years later, enriching and expanding Riverton's cultural heritage. Some of the key sites to see are the Centennial park, Betsey Ramsey Grave, the initial stages of the refurbishing of the CP Railway station and our beautiful walking path that leads you along our scenic river. The agricultural and fishing industries have traditionally been the basis of the local economy. Riverton website

Nature of The Fishery

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The Manitoba commercial fishing industry is comprised of over 3,600 fisherpersons who produce 25 percent of Canada's freshwater catch. Lake Winnipeg is the biggest contributor of commercially landed fish species. Of the 13 fish species commercially harvested, pickerel (walleye), Sauger, lake whitefish, northern pike, yellow perch and lake trout are the most highly valued species. Others include white sucker, tullibee, carp, burbot, lake sturgeon, Goldeye and white bass.

The fishery is largely based on the use of nets as the principal means of fishing gear. Fish nets are sometimes set as a single net but are often fished as a series of nets forming a string. A gill net or string of gill nets must be marked at each end with a pole extending at least 1 metre (3’) above the water or ice, with a flag measuring at least 20 by 20 cm (8” x 8”).

The spring commercial fishing season lasts from Late May Early June until mid-July while the fall season starts at the end of August and concludes on Thanksgiving Day weekend. Winter fishing begins as soon as the ice is hard enough to safely allow travel.

On the large lakes you will find colorful whitefish boats, some measuring 40 feet or more in length. The skippers and crews of these gill net boats set out each spring and fall to fish northern and more isolated portions of lakes. Other commercial fishermen stay closer to home and fish near shore in 20 to 22 foot-long boats known as yawls and skiffs. In the winter, fishermen build shelters and fish through the ice. On lake Winnipeg they can been seen traveling back and forth to their nets on bombardiers, the same tracked vehicles that have used in the northern tundra and arctic areas.

Monofilament gillnets are the standard for fishing nets in the province. Mesh size of nets used is regulated to help ensure that only fish of certain sizes are harvested. The resource is also managed through the use of fishing quotas and restrictions upon the amount of licensed fishermen.

Commercial fishing in Manitoba is governed under regulations made under the Provincial Fisheries Act and the Fisheries Act of Canada. The 2005 \06 guide (available online in PDF) provides a brief summary of some of the most commonly applied regulations. The actual regulations in force, not necessarily those in this guide, shall apply.