Despite good returns coming ashore, Prince Rupert's fishery is providing for fewer jobs this summer

During Monday's City Council session Councillor Joy Thorkelson provided council members with a brief update on the 2016 salmon season to this point, offering up a glimpse into how the recent changes at the Canadian Fish Plant in the city have started to have an impact on the economic return  from the industry to the city.

Ms. Thorkelson, who is the UFAWU-Unifor representative on the North Coast, noted that while there has been a bumper year to this point for both pink and chum salmon in the region, the numbers of those working at the fish plant on George Hills way are down significantly.

The loading dock at Canadian Fish on
George Hills Way was in full motion this
week as fish landed in 
Prince Rupert headed out of town

Boats making their arrival at the 
Canadian Fish unloading docks 
bringing in the catch
from recent fishing efforts

As July comes to an end, Thorkelson outlined that from her numbers, only 250 workers were currently employed at the George Hills facility, with much of the work that has been required that of minimal work, mainly directed towards butchering the catch quickly and preparing it for turn around to be sent to Vancouver for further processing and shipment overseas.

She observed for Council that at this time last year, when the Canadian Fish plant was running its canning lines, there were close to 750 workers employed.

Adding that the city would feel the economic impact to the commercial fishery in town particularly from the reduced amount of work for those that have not been called back this summer.

Her short report to Council can be viewed from the City's Video archive starting at the two hour twenty nine minute mark.


More items related to the North Coast fishery can be found on our archive page.