2025, year of the redfish revival?

If we take advantage of the end of the year to announce predictions for the one to come, certain fishermen and other links in the industry dream that 2025 will be the year of the return of redfish to plates. Quebec and Ottawa are supporting them with aid of nearly $3 million.

How much were paid to the fishermen?

Quebec and Ottawa are paying $2.75 million to the innovation division of the Association of captains-owners of Gaspésie to revive fishing for this goldfish, which is not enjoying the expected popularity.

The funds are mainly intended for the purchase of fishing gear or the modification of existing boats. For example, a shrimp boat already has its bottom trawl, but will have to have a different trawl for redfish because the meshes are not the same size for fishing for fish. The funds can also be used to invest in electronic equipment or to fit out boat decks.

The money comes from the Quebec Fisheries Fund, which is a program funded jointly by the federal (70%) and provincial (30%).

How many were caught this year?

Not much.

This is the first year of the commercial resumption of redfish fishing – the fish had been subject to a moratorium since 1995 – but few Quebec captains have launched into redfish. Of the 60,000 tonnes of redfish authorized by Ottawa during the year, around 2000 tonnes were fished, including around 600 tonnes in Quebec.

Why do we want to revive redfish fishing?

Because the stocks of this fish are now healthy, while those of shrimp are starving. With shrimp fishing rights being drastically reduced, the industry must turn to other species.

“The redfish are coming back modestly. He is trying to find a place in the market, but it is not easy,” says Claudio Bernatchez, general director of the Association of captains-owners of Gaspésie.

What is slowing down its development?

Two things, mainly.

First, several fishermen decided that it was not worth it (nor the cost) this year to adapt the equipment and go out to sea for redfish fishing, particularly because it is a species in revival. .

This being the second point: consumers do not know fish and therefore are not inclined to choose it over other species, local or foreign.

“When the moratorium arrived in 1995, consumers and the big chains replaced this fish with something else,” explains Claudio Bernatchez. This other thing still exists! »

According to him, the redfish of 2024 also faces a major challenge: it is small.

“It arrived in such massive quantities that it did not have enough food to ensure its normal growth,” explains Claudio Bernatchez.

A small fish is harder to handle in a kitchen and requires more know-how.

In the Magdalen Islands, the majority of redfish caught this year became lobster bait.

Are we going to see more of them on fishmongers' counters in 2025?

Certainly.

Grocery stores have started buying it again, but small businesses are promoting it more and more, which is making it known.

“The industry must turn to promoting the species,” says Claudio Bernatchez, who believes that the multiplication of initiatives is welcome.

The Chasse-marée cannery in Rimouski made a version in spicy oil — launched this year. We are also starting to see redfish as an ingredient in processed products.

The Fish Market has decided to use redfish to make sausages, in a philosophy of promoting this local fish. “It’s rare that we have the chance to catch a catch,” says Martine Gauvin, co-owner of the Sherbrooke company — which is a retailer and wholesaler-distributor. “There is a craze,” she explains. When we talk about a product that comes from here, people look for it. »

The Fish Market opts for a sausage to give a chance to redfish that otherwise require a little more handling. “We want to make it accessible to as many people as possible,” says Martine Gauvin.

Atkins et Frères, from Mont-Louis, in Gaspésie, has just received aid of more than $100,000 also from the Quebec Fisheries Fund for equipment that will allow it to market its sausage which will contain redfish.