Commercial Fishing in Alberta
Alberta’s commercial fishermen harvest fish from a limited number of lakes throughout the province.
The lakes have fish populations that can sustain such a limited harvest, and fish populations benefit from the controlled harvest of their surplus production.
The fish are sold into the food markets of Alberta and North America. Consumers in Alberta can purchase these fish fresh and at reasonable prices.
Ensuring that fish are bought and sold within legitimate markets helps protect the resource.
Commercial Fishing Season Information
For important information about season dates, mesh limitation guidelines and species quotas for waterbodies in Alberta, see:
Buying and Selling Fish in Alberta
Buying Commercial Fish
Commercial Fish Sales Receipts
- All transactions involving commercially caught freshwater fish from Alberta require a receipt.
- No purchaser of fish may accept any fish unless it is accompanied by a dated and signed statement from the commercial fisherman or fish plant providing the following information:
- The commercial fisherman's name, address, Permanent Identification Number (PIN) and commercial fishing lake licence number. A fish plant must provide its Fish Establishment Number and Special Dealer's Licence number.
- Quantity by weight of each species of fish
- Lake of origin
- Name and address of the purchaser
- A copy of the receipt must be retained until the fish is consumed and must be made available upon the request of a Fisheries Officer.
- Records may be examined to ensure that all sales comply with regulations.
- Consumers purchasing fish must ensure they receive a receipt to cover their possession of freshwater sport fish species that may be more than the number or size allowed by sport fishing regulations.
- Commercial fishermen must show proper identification and licences to ensure only legal sales of fish occur and to protect their markets and the fishery resource from illegal harvest and marketing.
To protect the resource and the quality of the product purchased, consumers should ensure their purchases are legal.
Legal Sources
As a consumer in Alberta, you have the ability to buy raw or processed freshwater fish — such as whitefish, pike or walleye — from four legitimate sources.
Class A Fish Establishment: Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC)
Tel: 780 495-5103
Located in Edmonton, the FFMC is licensed as the only Class A Fish Establishment in Alberta.
- The FFMC does not normally act as a retail outlet but as the single desk purchasing and distribution mechanism for fish purchased from commercial fishermen in Alberta and western Canada.
- Retail, wholesale and restaurant needs are met by the FFMC contact in Edmonton, or by licenced food establishments as described below.
Class B Licenced and Inspected Fish Establishments
Licensed and inspected Food Establishments holding a valid Class B Fish Establishment Licence may sell fish direct to consumers, restaurants, retail or wholesale food establishments within Alberta.
- The Fish Establishment Licence must be posted clearly in the facility.
- The names of licensed establishments in your area can be obtained from Fish and Wildlife district offices.
- Individuals who have purchased fish from only the FFMC in Edmonton and who are licensed as a Class B Fish Establishment can peddle fish direct to the consumer. They must produce a copy of their licence at the time of the sale.
- Restaurants or fish retailers/wholesalers who have purchased fish from either the FFMC or authorized licensed Fish Establishments
Licenced Commercial Fishermen
Licensed commercial fishermen can sell fresh or frozen fish direct to the end consumer.
- Prior to purchasing the fish, the buyer should ask the commercial fisherman to produce a commercial fishing lake licence for the lake the fish are from along with some identification.
- Fish purchases can only be used for personal use and must be accompanied by a receipt documenting the sale.
- Consumers of fresh fish should check the fish for quality.
- Fish must be
- kept in sanitary boxes
- properly iced to preserve quality, and
- covered to prevent wind-borne contamination
Selling Commercial Fish
Commercial Fish Sales Receipts
- Receipts are required to accompany all commercial freshwater fish sales to ensure the proper transaction of legally harvested fish and to protect the resource.
- Consumers purchasing fish must have a receipt to cover their possession of freshwater sport fish species that may be more than the number or size allowed for in sportfishing regulations.
- Commercial fishermen must show proper identification and licences to ensure only legal sales of fish occur and to protect their markets and the fishery resource from illegal harvest and marketing.
Include the following information on all signed and dated fish sales receipts:
- Fisherman’s name, address, Permanent Identification Number (PIN) and Commercial Fishing Lake Licence number. A fish plant must provide its Fish Establishment Number and Special Dealer's Licence number.
- Quantity by weight of each species of fish
- Lake from which the fish were harvested, and
- Name and address of the purchaser
Fishermen must keep a copy of the receipt for one year and provide it to a Fisheries Officer upon request.
To protect the resource and the quality of the product, commercial fishermen must ensure their product is sold within legitimate markets
Markets
As an Alberta commercial fisherman, you may only sell freshwater fish — taken under the authority of a valid commercial fishing licence and a commercial fishing lake licence — to three legitimate sources:
Class A Fish Establishment: Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC)
Tel: 780 495-5103
Located in Edmonton, the FFMC is the primary purchaser of freshwater fish in Alberta.
The FFMC acts through a network of inspected and licensed fish plants (under contract as agents to purchase and process freshwater fish); and exports the fish to their centralized plant in Winnipeg.
All imports and exports of commercially produced fish to and from Alberta are subject to FFMC approval. The FFMC acts as the single desk purchasing and distribution mechanism for fish purchased in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario.
Class B Licenced and Inspected Fish Establishments
Licensed Fish Establishments, which have also been inspected and licensed as Food Establishments, may purchase fish directly from commercial fishermen.
This is permitted under the authority of an exemption or Special Dealer's Licence issued by the FFMC. All fish plants, under contract as agents to the FFMC, are included in this category. Plants not acting as agents may also purchase fish from the FFMC with proper authorization.
These establishments must provide their Fish Establishment Licence and Special Dealer's Licence numbers when issuing receipts for fish purchased to licensed fishermen. Fish Establishment Licences must be clearly posted in the establishment.
Commercial fishermen cannot sell fish to restaurants or to retail/wholesale outlets for resale.
Licensed Commercial Fishermen
Licensed Commercial Fishermen may sell fresh or frozen fish directly to individual consumers.
Prior to the sale of the fish, the commercial fisherman should produce a Commercial Fishing Lake Licence and identification.
These fish are sold for the personal use of the buyer or family and are not for re-sale.
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