Improvements to the Commercial Fishery Support Program and a new accreditation for the Hay River fish plant are hoping to help support and renew momentum for the NWT’s commercial fishing industry.
“The Northwest Territories’ commercial fishery has room to grow, and the government is making strategic investments to support this potential,” said Minister Caitlin Cleveland.
The Commercial Fishery Support Program, originally a pilot program but now a permeant one, makes accessing support easier for commercial fishers in the territory by bringing all the GNWT’s commercial fishing support together into one program.
Changes to the program include rebates for fuel, equipment and training support, and up to $20,000 in funding to help offset startup costs.
The Hay River fish plant received accreditation from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in May of this year, allowing fish processed at the plant to be sold in national and international markets outside of the NWT.
The plant provides a consistent and reliable point of sale for commercial fishers, as well as volume-based incentives for deliveries to the plant that are also a part of the additions to the Commercial Fishery Support Program.
“These measures are creating more opportunities for Northerners and helping to realize the full economic value of the NWT’s fishing industry,” said Cleveland.
The territory’s commercial fishing industry has shown significant growth over the past three years, with approximately 850,000 pounds of fish being produced in 2025.
