Why should fisherman pay the levy? Before the BCSMC was formed, fishermen had no say in how their salmon were marketed. Marketing was controlled by processing companies without input from the fishermen. Budgets were very small. Now, fishermen control how their levies are spent by their representation on the BC Salmon Marketing Council's Board of Directors. Fishermen are also represented on the Council's Quality, and Marketing advisory committees. As a result of BCSMC's marketing projects, the entire industry, including fishermen, will benefit. What is generic marketing? Generic marketing is the marketing of an industry's product, like wild-caught salmon, without reference to any company's brand name. The purpose of generic marketing is to benefit an entire industry group by increasing product awareness in key markets. "Wild about Canadian Salmon! Go Wild! Buy BC!" are some of the examples of generic marketing directed at wholesalers, importers and retail outlets. Generic marketing includes advertising, brochures, recipes, information material and promotion as well as research into new markets, product forms, packaging, quality and distribution systems. Does the BCSMC promote farmed fish? No, the Council only promotes wild-caught BC salmon.

What happens to my money? The company buying your fish deducts the levy and sends it to the Marketing Council. Using this money as hard evidence of fishermen's commitment to competing effectively in world markets, the Council is able to lever additional funding from the federal government, the provincial government, and from private industry partners. This money is spent on wild Canadian salmon in domestic marketing programs, export marketing programs and quality improvement programs. For more information on how your levy monies are spent, see the Marketing Council's Annual Report or phone the office for the latest program reports. Are the processing companies paying a levy? The processing companies which own their own boats and fishing licences pay the levy in the same way an independent fisherman does. All companies absorb administrative costs associated with collecting and remitting the levy. Companies also develop private marketing and advertising for the products they produce. Is the Council going to increase the amount of the levy I pay? No. the levy is set at 1/2 of 1% of the landed value (i.e. 50 cents on every $100), and there are no plans to increase it.