Hay River (Feb 23/04) - The Great Slave fishery is hurting with declining prices, rising expenses and a loss of interest in the trade.

The catch rate for the winter fishery is down by 15 per cent even though fish stocks are in great shape, says Calvin Peddle, field operations manager with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation in Hay River.

The January cold snap meant there was less opportunity to get out on the lake.

"Participation is down in the fishery overall. Pricing hasn't changed much over the years," said Peddle.

There are also a lot less fishermen on the lake.

"There are less crewmen, less head fishermen now and they're using less crew," said Peddle.

The fresh water fishery needs to be modernized and the government should be providing more assistance, says Peddle.

"If they try to do it on their own, they'll fall behind the eight ball and for us to finance that's not feasible either," said Peddle.

Lionel Rundle of Rundle Fisheries, also in Hay River, echoes Peddle's sentiments.

"The fish have dropped that much but everything else is up in price," says Rundle, pointing out that in 1991 the price for fish was $1 a pound compared to today's price of 69 cents a pound.

"The net prices are up. I used to pay $90, now it's $130. Gas is up. Food is up. Equipment and parts are up," says Rundle.

At the same time, fishermen on the Great Slave are using antique equipment.

"We're using old outdated bombardiers from the 1950s with old and outdated motors. Everything is getting worn out. The welder is very busy in the winter time mending bombardiers and mechanics are very busy. You pretty well have to be your own mechanic to make it by," says Rundle.

The territorial government has a program to assist fish harvesters, but the $390,000 in the bank isn't enough, says Rundle.