Arctic Canada Construction Ltd. (Arcan) in Hay River has been awarded the design-build contract to construct a new fish processing plant in Hay River. 

The plant, which will be managed by the Tu Cho Cooperative, is central to the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)’s plans to restore the Great Slave Lake commercial fishery as outlined in the 2017 Strategy for Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery.

In addition to Arcan, seven local (Hay River) construction companies will participate in the construction project, which is expected to begin in June and be completed by September 2022.

The new fish plant will have high-automation processing technology with ice making, impingement freezing machines, and cold storage. Plant processes will initially include receiving, scaling, filleting, freezing, packing, and shipping.

The facility will have the capacity to incorporate additional equipment into its production line for secondary products such as: roe and dried or smoked fish products. Processing volumes and hours of plant operation will vary by season.

Quotes

“This is a foundational step in our on-going work alongside the Tu Cho Cooperative to revitalize the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery.  The operation and production of this plant will increase returns for new and lifelong fishers working on the lake and create new jobs for residents in the processing, packaging, selling and transporting of NWT fish.

- Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

“We are excited by this announcement; the new fish plant is good for the future and for us fishers. We are looking forward to better fish prices and finding markets for all our fish. It will work!”

 - Cameron Beaverbones, Tu Cho Fishers Cooperative

Quick facts

• Construction of the new CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)-certified Hay River fish plant is supported by the Government of Canada and the NWT Fishermen’s Federation. The strategy is being advanced alongside a business plan developed by the Tu Cho Cooperative
• A contract for Stage 1 Design (Preliminary Design) was issued on April 5, 2021 for $155,750.
• Once Stage 1 is completed, Stage 2 (Design Completion and Construction) will proceed, with an expected overall contract value (including equipment cash allowances) of $12,932,000.

Related links

• Tu’Cho’ Fishers Co-operative and GNWT to Advance Revitalization of GSL Fishery 

• Great Slave Lake Fishery – So what is the vision?

• Strategy for the Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery

For More Information, please contact: 

Drew Williams

Asst. Director Strategic Communications

Industry, Tourism and Investment

1-867-767-9202 (ext: 63037)

Drew_williams@gov.nt.ca