New fish plant opens in Hay River, N.W.T., stoking hopes for industry's revitalization

The revitalization of the Great Slave Lake fishery reached a significant milestone this week with the official opening of the new fish plant in Hay River, N.W.T.

Joel Holder, director of economic diversification at the territory's Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), said the fish plant is expected to be fully operational by Nov. 15, when the winter fishery opens on Great Slave Lake. 

"All fish will be going through this facility during this winter's fishery," Holder said. "During that time, we'll be hiring people. We'll be working through the process for training." 

The goal is for the plant to be at peak efficiency by next summer when production levels are typically higher, Holder said. 

One of the central features of the new plant is its state-of-the-art cooling and heating system designed to maintain the temperature of the plant and ensure quality.

"We have a phenomenal product here in the territory, because our lake is so deep," said Caitlin Cleveland, minister of ITI. "So we're preserving the quality of fish in order to get that to market."

The facility also uses a refrigeration system capable of freezing fish in just 30 minutes. This rapid-freezing process is crucial for ensuring the fish retains freshness and flavour.

"[The fish] comes in here and within 24 hours is [a] frozen, filleted, shrink-wrapped product ready for market — which is a big deal," Cleveland said.

In addition to processing whole fish, the plant is also equipped to handle fish roe and convert byproducts into fertilizer. This allows the facility to make the most of each fish, reducing waste and creating additional revenue streams. 

N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson was also on hand during opening day at the plant on Tuesday and helped Cleveland cut the ribbon. He said it's an exciting day.

"We're bringing processing back to Hay River," Simpson said. "Which means we're keeping more money in the community, more money in the North, and we're better supporting the fishers." 

Simpson said it has always been his goal to ensure that fishers are fairly compensated for their hard work, especially given the difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions they face on the lake.

Currently the fish caught from Great Slave Lake are shipped to Manitoba for processing, and Simpson said that cost is reflected in the price paid to fishers. 

Although there wasn't a specific timeline for when fishers could see an increase in fish prices, Joel Holder said it will come eventually.

"As soon as we're processing fish here in the Northwest Territories, and we're removing that transportation cost from it, then there can be an increased cost or increase to the value that we have here," he said.

In addition to the benefits for fishers, the new plant is expected to provide a much-needed economic boost to the local community. Once fully operational, the plant will employ between 15 and 20 people in roles ranging from fish processing and packaging, to management and distribution.

The plant is designed to process up to roughly 680,000 kilograms of fish annually, though the current annual catch from Great Slave Lake is around 317,000 kilograms. The lake's quota is set at 3.5 million kilograms, leaving significant room for the local fishing industry to expand.

"We definitely have room to grow," said Cleveland. "So there is space for more people to get involved in fishing and get involved in this market. And we as the Northwest Territories are here to support that too."