FISH FORWARD

BY DON LAMONT

Fish Forward is a partnership of provincial, national, and international organizations working to ensure the sustainability of Manitoba Fisheries.

To make that happen this group plans to help commercial fishers acquire and maintain Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-certification.

It was interesting to hear what Kurtis Haynes, Program Director for MSC Canada had to say. Haynes has travelled the globe, encouraging groups to work towards sustainability. He believes Manitoba is at the top of the list when it comes to working towards that goal.

“Partnerships like Fish Forward are instrumental in encouraging and rewarding both sustainable fishing and consumption” Haynes stated.

Manitoba now has two eco-certified commercial fisheries. Cedar Lake was awarded the classification on November 3rd.

After the collapse of that fishery in 1996, the commercial fishers approached the provincial government to discuss the need for change. They agreed to voluntarily close the fishery from 1998 to 2003 to let the stocks rebound. They also agreed to reduce the number of commercial licenses. The Cedar Lake group also got involved in a Collaborative Stock Monitoring Program that is critical to determine sustainable harvest levels.

In 2021 with the help of all levels of government Cedar Lake entered the MSC assessment process.

Floyd George Receives His Msc Certification

I had a chance to sit down with Floyd George, President of the Cedar Lake Fisheries Inc. He believes in ten years you won’t have a market for fish that isn’t eco-certified. “Achieving MSC certification and working with Fish Forward helps us reach new buyers and makes sure the fishing industry is alive and well for generations to come.”

The organizations leading Fish Forward are: Indigenous Services Canada, the Province of Manitoba, the MSC and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Dimple Roy is the Director of Water Management for IISD. She said this organization came together to close some of the gaps and challenges that groups were facing to get their certification. This group can supply guidance and help with funding along the way. They are also putting commercial fisher together with buyers for their sustainable product. You can check out more on their new website at fishforward.ca.

In Manitoba there are over 300 lakes that are commercial fished. During the winter months, Manitoba is the largest supplier of freshwater fish in Canada.

The commercial fishing industry employs 2,300 Manitobans annually and 85 percent of those are Indigenous. For most it is their main source of revenue.

Most of our fish do not stay in province with over 80 percent of the 13 million kilograms harvested per year shipped internationally. There is a real demand growing within this province among restaurants and grocers to sell local MSC certified local fish.

In Manitoba there are over 300 lakes that are commercial fished. During the winter months, Manitoba is the largest supplier of freshwater fish in Canada.

Waterhen Lake was the first freshwater fishery in Manitoba and Canada and the second in the world to achieve eco-certification in 2014. Waterhen was re-certified in 2020.

According to MSC, much of the seafood available in this province is shipped from afar. This contributes to greenhouse gas emissions or is produced in a way that collapses ecosystems. More and more Canadians (over 60 %) agreed that sustainable harvest is the way to go. As we grow our sustainable commercial fisheries in this province, it helps everyone and the planet.

For those who have trouble seeing the future with our commercial fishing resource, Fish Forward can help. n