The Fresh Fish Award for Emerging Writers was established in 2006 by Brian O'Dea, an author from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 2011, NLCU - the largest credit union in Newfoundland and Labrador with a reputation for its commitment to local communities and organizations - became the corporate sponsor of the award, which is officially known as the NLCU Fresh Fish Award for Emerging Writers.
Since its inception, the award has kick started the writing careers of many of its short-listed and winning writers, who were subsequently successful in having their works published.
[1] In order to be eligible, an individual must be a member of WANL and a resident of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The first condition is that they have lived in the province for 12 months immediately prior to the release of publication of their written piece.