Located in the heart of Lake Erie, Wheatley Harbour is one of the largest freshwater fishing harbours in the World. Wheatley Ontario is also one of the biggest players in the fish-processing industry with direct access to the Great Lakes and shipyards worldwide.
If you are planning to tap into this growing market, we don’t blame you. However, are you educated about commercial fishing and its contributions to the Ontario economy? Do you know about Hike Metal Boat Manufacturer that helps to keep this industry running? If not, don’t worry because that’s exactly what we are going to discuss today.
Keep reading to learn more about Wheatley, the freshwater fish capital of Canada.
Why is Wheatley the commercial freshwater fishing capital?
Wheatley is known as the biggest freshwater fishing hub in Canada and North America. Thanks to its positioning on Lake Erie, Wheatly, Ontario has always been more focused on its aquatic resources.
The fishing industry of Wheatly dates back to the 19th century when the early settlers recognized the potential of the area’s aquatic resources. Each year fisheries across Ontario pull out nearly 11,000 metric tonnes of fish (about 24 million pounds) every year.
It started with small-scale fishing activities. However, with significant infrastructural development over the years, Wheatley was able to lead the freshwater fishing industry of Canada.
Some of the main reasons behind Wheatly’s prominence include
- Abundant Aquatic Resources:
As mentioned before, Wheatley is located next to Lake Erie, which is one of the Great Lakes. This lake, in particular, is famous for its diverse fish population, making it perfect for freshwater fishing.
Some of the most popular species harvested here include yellow perch, walleye, rainbow smelt, and white bass.
- Geographical Benefit:
Not only is the city located near a lake, but its proximity to Wheatley Harbour and major transportation like highways and railways is also what helped the fishing industry boom so fast.
These routes provide easy access to markets across Canada and the United States for exportation.
- Experienced Workforce:
People of Wheatley have been in fishing occupations for centuries now. Thus, most families here are somewhat familiar with fishing customs and regulations. Their family legacies are invaluable for managing fishing operations and are one of the key factors behind product quality.
- Well-developed Infrastructure:
The Wheatley harbour boats have adequate docking facilities, processing plants, and storage facilities like the ones found at Hike Metal. These, together with all the factors mentioned before, help support large-scale commercial fishing operations with new boat manufacturing, retrofitting and repairs.
Boats and equipment used in Wheatley’s fishing industry
When working in water, what matters more than skills and the harbour’s infrastructure is the boats and ships themselves. These vessels are the environment that fisherman strive to be on.
Here are some common boat types used for commercial freshwater fishing.
Trawlers:
These are large, sturdy vessels with trawl nets that are dragged along the bottom of the lake to catch fish. These are mostly used for capturing bottom-dwelling species like yellow perch and walleye.
Gillnetters:
These use gillnets, which are vertical nets with mesh that gets entangled with the fish’s gills. Gillnetters are best for catching fish that swim near the surface or in mid-water, such as rainbow smelt and white bass.
Trap Net Boats:
Trap net boats use large, funnel-shaped nets that trap fish as they swim into the opening. These nets are mostly used in shallow waters and can be used for catching a variety of species.
Being one of the biggest commercial fishing harbours in Northern America, Wheatley’s fishing boats are often full of innovations and customization to improve their performance and efficiency.
- The commercial fisheries ensure that they pick boats that
- Have ample storage
- Durable
- Equipped with advanced navigation systems
- Have specialized fishing gear.
The importance of shipbuilders in Wheatley’s fishing industry
The commercial fishing industry of Wheatley and the custom boat builders that support them here at Hike Metal Inc. share a symbiotic relationship. While the Wheatley harbour can not function without good quality vessels, the shipbuilders also rely on the demand of the commercial fishing industry.
Each commercial fishing harbour uses a minimum of 30-35 commercial fishing vessels to operate, and the role of shipbuilders doesn’t end with selling these vessels.
Large fishing tugs like these, which constantly function in the humid and harsh sun, need upkeep. Regular maintenance and repairs ensures the vessels’s longevity and the safety of the fishermen.
Our Navel Engineers and Shipbuilders provide a range of maintenance services, including:
- Regular inspections
- Damage repairs
- Equipment upgrades
- Retrofit & Overhauls
The Future of Wheatley’s Commercial Fishing Industry
Although the commercial fishing industry is centuries old and had its fair share of ups and downs, there’s still room for growth.
With technological advancements and sustainable fishing practices, Lake Erie’s commercial fishing industry has kept itself afloat.
If you’re planning to enter the market, some areas that are easier to penetrate would be fish processing, recreational fishing and marine tourism.
Contact Hike Metal for Custom Fishing Vessels
If you plan to tap into the largest freshwater fishing harbour in North America, now is the time. We at Hike Metal Products can help you build first-class, high-quality boats on a budget so you can start building your commercial fishing fleet.
Our custom vessels come with 10 years of written Hull Warranties and come in steel, aluminum or mixed metals.
So. contact us today to build or rebuild your dream commercial fishing vessel.
