COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY RECEIVES $515,000

Released on June 15, 2001

Thirteen commercial fishing co-operatives in northern Saskatchewan are

sharing a Centenary Fund grant of $515,000. The grant represents the final

allocation under a $700,000 program to improve lakeside infrastructure used

for receiving, packing and shipping fish harvested from Saskatchewan's

northern lakes.



The grants will assist co-operatives based at Cumberland House,

Deschambault Lake, Dillon, Fond du Lac, Ile-a-la-Crosse, La Loche, Montreal

Lake/Weyakwin, Patuanak, Pinehouse, Sandy Bay, Turnor Lake and Wollaston

Lake, and the Wapaweka co-operative at La Ronge. Centenary Fund support

was previously announced for co-ops at Dore Lake, Pelican Narrows, Reindeer

Lake and Smoothstone Lake.



The projects will include construction of new fish packing plants and ice-

houses, purchase of new equipment and improvements to existing buildings

and equipment.



The Northern Saskatchewan Commercial Fishing Infrastructure Program is

being administered by the Saskatchewan Commercial Fishermen's Co-operative

Federation Ltd. (SCFCFL) in co-operation with Saskatchewan Northern

Affairs. Local co-ops throughout the Northern Administration District were

invited to submit proposals.



"This program is contributing to revitalization of Saskatchewan's

commercial fishing industry by ensuring the quality of fish is maintained

for domestic and international markets," Northern Affairs Minister Keith

Goulet said. "Each of the seventeen projects will help strengthen the

contribution of commercial fishing to the northern economy."



"We are pleased that the Centenary Fund is supporting these improvements to

lakeside facilities," SCFCFL President John Carriere said. "The program

will help the co-ops to maintain successful fishing operations in their

regions."



Approximately 3 million kilograms of Saskatchewan fish with a lakeside

value of more than $4 million are currently marketed commercially each year

including whitefish, mullet, lake trout, walleye and northern pike. Most

of Saskatchewan's fish production is packaged and marketed by the

Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, a federal crown corporation, based

in Manitoba. Saskatchewan Northern Affairs and Saskatchewan Environment

and Resource Management are working with the industry to maximize

production within sustainable levels and to determine the potential for

additional income to Saskatchewan producers through processing and

marketing initiatives.



-30-



For more information, contact:

Merle Hewison

Graham Guest Saskatchewan Commercial Fishermen's

Northern Affairs Co-operative Federation Ltd.

La Ronge Spruce Home

Phone: (306) 425-4563 Phone: (306) 922-3950