Yellowknife, N.W.T. - One of Hay River's MLA is making the push to get the commercial fishing industry back on track in the NWT.

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen said it's a resource which should not be ignored and the potential is there to make it extremely viable.

She said it's a sustainable resource, it's renewable and there would be zero negative impact to the territory's environment.

“There is a quota...a sustainable quota for almost two million pounds of fish and we only harvest about two hundred thousand pounds per year," she said.

 Industry, Tourism and Investment minister Dave Ramsay said the GNWT is supporting the industry right now.

"We provide money on an annual basis to operate and maintain an office in Hay River. We have a 225 thousand dollar grant on annual basis, or support on an annual basis, to help fisherman in the territory," said Ramsay.

Groenewegen said one way the industry could be re-vitalized is by bringing fishermen in from Newfoundland, much like how diamond cutters were brought in from Armenia to help in the diamond industry.

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