HAY RIVER - Bob McLeod doesn't know how long exactly it will take for NWT fishers to withdraw from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC).

However, the minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment estimated it will be one or two years.

On Feb. 17, members of the NWT Fishermen's Federation voted to leave the FFMC.

Speaking late last week, McLeod said once the GNWT receives formal notification of the federation vote, it will notify the federal government of the NWT's intention to withdraw.

That will begin a process of consultations with aboriginal groups and others, a repeal of the NWT's Freshwater Fish Marketing Act and negotiations with the FFMC.

"We would have to negotiate our withdrawal," McLeod said, explaining those talks would involve financial and legal considerations.

The vote by the fishers was requested by the minister after he received a recommendation to withdraw from the FFMC from the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure.

"We felt it was time we had some indication from the fishermen," he said.

McLeod admitted he was a bit surprised they passed a motion to leave the FFMC, saying they had decided to stay in past votes.

Fishers have often expressed dissatisfaction with the prices FFMC has been able sell their fish at and the fishers inability to sell directly to markets outside the NWT.

Under the existing system, fish exported out of the NWT to the provinces or elsewhere must go through the FFMC, although fishers are permitted to sell privately within the NWT. The corporation purchases fish, markets it and makes payments to fishers, along with operating a summertime fish plant in Hay River.

McLeod said, without the FFMC, commercial fishers will independently be able to sell their fish outside of the NWT, subject to health certification.

After the FFMC is gone, he said fishers would also become, for all intents and purposes, independent businesspeople.

McLeod said it remains to be seen what kind of assistance the territorial government can offer commercial fishermen once the FFMC leaves the NWT.

Since the Feb. 17 vote by fishers, News/North has been attempting to get reaction from the FFMC without success.