Transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC)

Transforming the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

New – Applications are now open for eligible Indigenous organizations to apply for capacity funding to participate in the request for proposals process to acquire the FFMC (November 4, 2024 to January 8, 2025).

The transformation of the FFMC will include an open, transparent, and competitive process. This will be a two-step process:

solicitation of expressions of interest (February 19 to April 5, 2024)
request for proposals (Coming later in 2024)

The competitive process invites all interested parties to submit a proposal. Participation in the solicitation of interest process earlier this year is not a pre-requisite to participating in the RFP process. The competitive process allows the Government of Canada to assess the merits of each proposal.

Transforming the FFMC through a competitive process will help ensure that it:

is competitive in today’s open market
continues to meet the needs of commercial fish harvesters into the future

Among other considerations, bidding criteria for the competitive process will be developed to promote continued market access for rural, remote, and isolated harvesters, and to promote economic reconciliation.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is engaging with:

the FFMC
implicated province and territories
Indigenous governments and organizations
industry

The Government of Canada will consult with Indigenous communities about historic or traditional use of FFMC lands.

We recognize the critical role the FFMC plays in Canada’s freshwater fisheries. We are committed to ensuring its long-term success.

*Note: All comments and questions should be sent to: DFO.freshwater-eaudouce.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Ministerial Advisory Panel on the FFMC

In 2017, the Government of Canada engaged harvesters and communities on the future of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC). The engagement found that many harvesters still value the FFMC and its services but want more control over their industry.

In line with what we heard, we established an advisory panel to explore ways to transform the FFMC so it remains modern and competitive in today’s open market. The panel explored new governance and ownership models that support collaboration and cooperation amongst fish harvesters and involve them in decision making. As part of its review, the panel assessed opportunities for new partnership arrangements with organizations that could play a role in these new models for the FFMC.

The panel provided its findings to the Minister in June 2019.

Transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation: Ministerial Advisory Panel

Interlocutor on the transformation of the FFMC

In September 2019, based on the recommendation of the Ministerial Advisory Panel, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard appointed an Interlocutor to lead the next steps in the FFMC’s transformation process.

The Interlocutor conducted over 30 engagement sessions with harvesters and other stakeholders in the freshwater fishery including Indigenous leaders, non-governmental economic development organizations and representatives of federal and provincial government. In March 2020, the Interlocutor established an Interim Committee of Inland Fish Harvesters to advise him in assessing the feasibility of transforming the FFMC.

The Interlocutor provided his report to the Minister in September 2020, which can be viewed here.

Report of the Interlocutor on the Transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Contact us

FFMC Engagement
Intergovernmental Affairs
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St. 14th floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0E6
Email: DFO.freshwater-eaudouce.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

About the FFMC

The FFMC is a federal crown corporation established in 1969 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Under the Freshwater Fish Marketing Act, the corporation has the exclusive right to market and trade freshwater fish in interprovincial and export markets. This applies to designated products supplied by participating jurisdictions. It is a critical market access point for fish harvesters who live in isolated communities.

The FFMC’s mandate is to:

purchase all fish lawfully harvested and offered for sale in its jurisdiction
create an orderly market
promote international markets
increase fish trade
increase returns to fishers

FFMC seeks to do this through effective marketing, efficient supply chain management and value-added processing of quality freshwater fish products.

Over the past 10 years, FFMC’s operating environment has undergone the following significant changes.

In 2011, Ontario withdrew from the act in favour of an open market, followed by Saskatchewan in 2012.
In 2014, Alberta closed its commercial in-land fishery, but remains a signatory to the act.
In 2017, Manitoba withdrew from the act, creating an open market in the province.

Currently, the Northwest Territories is the only participating jurisdiction under the act. However, harvesters in other jurisdictions may sell to FFMC under contract, and many have already chosen to do so.

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