Lake Winnipeg Commercial Fishery Quota Entitlement System

Abstract

"Lake Winnipeg is one of Manitoba's major commercial fisheries, averaging harvest of 5.8 million kg annually of walleye, sauger, whitefish, northern pike, and perch. Because of economic, biological, and market constraints, increases in lake quota or subsidization programs for fishermen are not the solution. Fisheries Branch has worked with Lake Winnipeg commercial fishermen to develop a system of quota entitlement which maintains overall lake quota but allows flexibility in distribution of individual quotas of fishermen. Introduced in 1985, the quota entitlement system on Lake Winnipeg was intended to result in a decrease in total number of fishermen. It was anticipated that gross incomes would increase, utilization of capital equipment would improve, unit harvesting costs would decline, and consequently fishermen's incomes would increase, creating an opportunity for increase in economic sustainability. The lake quota, however, would still be maintained to prevent overharvest. This paper will present results of an evaluation conducted in 1991 to determine whether the program was meeting these objectives."