SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Those who want to eat locally harvested fish have to look no further than certain grocery store signs and restaurant menus thanks to a GNWT program aimed primarily at boosting the Great Slave Lake fishing industry.

Jeff Kincaid, business development manager at the Yellowknife Co-op, rearranges the store's display of fresh fish. The store is one of the organizations that takes advantage of the territorial government's NWT Fresh Fish campaign. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

The industry has slowed in recent years, although the department has been undertaking efforts to boost it, including plans for a new fish processing plant in Hay River.

As more people seek ways to eat locally grown or harvested products, the logo launched by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment last year is one way to know where to go when shopping or dining out.

The GNWT began a campaign to brand shop-signs and restaurant menus with "NWT Fresh Fish."

Department spokesperson Drew Williams said it's largely aimed at promoting the fishing industry in the territory.

"In essence it comes more from a business side than from a healthy eating and Earth side, although they're all sort of wrapped in there together," he said.

The logo indicates the fish has been caught in Great Slave Lake by area fisherman.

"You're getting a product that is is fresh out of the lake," Williams said, adding that the lake is full of the best tasting fish in Western Canada.

Those that use the logo include the Yellowknife Co-op, Luluz Market and Great Slave Fish Products.

Dale Bardeau at The Cellar Bar and Grill said the restaurant has patrons that specifically come in to dine on the freshly harvested, pan fried whitefish.

While the current menu doesn't have the logo, he said the restaurant does have people who ask about fresh fish - particularly tourists.

"I get tons of people coming in here looking for fresh, local fish and bison as well," he said. "I'd prefer to purchase from within the city if at all possible with a lot of my stuff, but unfortunately I do have to source it from down south for things like pickerel. The whitefish will always be local."

Tracy Therrien, general manager of the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre, said that while not many visitors coming through their doors ask about where to get fresh fish, when they do they direct them to restaurants or locations that offer fresh fish.

"We cannot promote our fish enough. Any opportunity we have to promote our fish is great," Therrien said.

The visitors centre will be using Great Slave Lake whitefish for its Great Northern Shore Lunch Cook-Off on June 4. The event is a fundraiser for the centre.