SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yk Cisco, a family-run bait business, is back after being without a licence for four years.

Orest Hnatiw had his exploratory fisheries licence renewed in October for the first time in four years, allowing him to net and market 1,000 kg of ciscoes. Before freeze-up, he caught 500 kg worth, which he is selling in packages of six at businesses around town. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

Orest Hnatiw and his family have fished Tartan Rapids for ciscoes for the past 20 years and started marketing the bait in 1997.

In 2006, Hnatiw found out his exploratory fishing licence was rejected after a request by the Yellowknives Dene to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The First Nation was concerned about cisco stocks and felt a study of the population was necessary, said Deanna Leonard, the area fisheries management biologist for fisheries and oceans.

In 2005, during his last year of business, Hnatiw's licence allowed him to net 2,000 kg of the baitfish. His new licence has a limit of 1,000 kg, although he is holding out hope that it will increase in the future.

"I'm hoping that I get back to at least 2,000 (kg) for the quota," he said.

Leonard said after testing the stock, the 1,000 kg limit is what is considered sustainable for Yellowknife River.

If the quota were to increase, the department would need to "again conduct a series of at least five years of scientific study," she said.

"For the sake of precaution we have gone back to the initial quota that we feel is safe for the fishery at this time."

A sport fishery licence allows an individual to net enough ciscoes to fill half a five gallon pale, about 175 fish, she said.

The conditions of Hnatiw's exploratory licence, which allows him to catch and market 1,000 kg, include providing a sub-sample of 200 randomly selected ciscoes to the DFO for testing, recording the weight of his harvest and the hours he spends fishing.

Leonard said as long as the testing and data show the harvest and market is sustainable, Hnatiw's licence will continue to be renewed in the future.

The cisco harvest takes place during the October spawning run up the Yellowknife River. Hnatiw said he received his licence on Oct. 22, so he was only able to net 500 kg this year.

"By the time I got my licence it was already cold and it was snowing and the river was frozen, so I only filled half my quota," he said.

The bait will be sold in packages of six by at least four businesses in Yellowknife, including Force One, Co-op, Canadian Tire and Gas Town, he said.

Hnatiw has also been approved by the city for the development of a home fish marketing business.

Todd Slack, of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, said he has yet to see the licence, so he couldn't make a comment.

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