Feds invest $11.8m into B.C. Indigenous commercial fishing enterprises

The announcement was made outside the St. Jean’s Cannery and Smokehouse in Nanaimo on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.

No funding is earmarked for any local First Nation.

PICFI is a collaborative effort between the federal government and Indigenous partners.

“It puts Indigenous people at the centre of the process to co-develop, co-design, and co-deliver programs that are fundamental to many Indigenous communities.”

This money will be used to purchase commercial fishing licenses and quotas, improve and replace equipment, and other operational expenses.

Port Alberni based Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP will be receiving the most funding from this announcement.

Approximately $1.5 million will be used to secure a three-year agreement to support acquisition of ground fish licenses and quota in support of increasing revenue generation for community harvesters.

A further $88,000 will be used to purchase a packing machine at their St. Jean’s Cannery operation.

Since 2017, PICFI has supported 25 commercial fishing enterprises involving 97 different Indigenous groups in B.C., helped these generate more than $40M in gross revenues annually, and supports 1,100 local jobs.

These investments will support 31 Indigenous commercial fisheries companies representing 117 First Nations across B.C.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow

by Jordan Davidson

Feds invest $11.8m into B.C. Indigenous commercial fishing enterprises

More Local News