Perch fisherman in the Great Lakes yellow perch industry are found to use informal vertical exchange relationships which bind together fishermen and buyers through "moral obligations." These exchange arrangements while providing an assured outlet also raise substantial entry and exist barriers to perch processing. Available empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that the market is performing poorly in terms of equity for fishermen. Remedies call for the ending of allegedly illegal conduct of the dominant firm and providing alternative outlets for fishermen, possibly through a publicly operated purchase and buy-back program.