Latest news with #IcewaterSeafoods
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FFAW tells critics to 'stay in their lane' after Ottawa more than doubles northern cod quota
While those who work in the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador celebrate Ottawa's decision to increase the northern cod quota, an environmental group says the change was motivated by politics. On Wednesday, the federal government announced it was more than doubling the total allowable catch to 38,000 metric tonnes of northern cod — up from 18,000 last year. "It's a level that has been a long time coming, and it's going to produce some very good opportunities for both harvesters and plant workers," Fish, Food and Allied Workers union president Dwan Street told CBC Radio's The Broadcast. Street said she sat down with federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson to explain the FFAW's proposal for the allowable catch, and felt the minister understood the union's call for an increase. "I think [Wednesday's] decision is evidence that she did understand that and listened to harvesters, which I think is the most important thing that we can take from this," Street said. Alberto Wareham, president and CEO of Icewater Seafoods, said the significant increase is good news. "I think [it] will be a lot more cod for Arnold's Cove from the inshore and from the offshore, more year-round employment, more cod available for our customers," he said. However, Wareham couldn't say at this time whether the increase could mean his plant would be open throughout the year. "From Icewater's perspective, we would like to get a lot closer to 45 to 50 weeks a year," he said. Wareham said his business will be ready to start buying cod in the next few weeks. But there has also been some opposition to the quota change. "The minister has chosen to dramatically increase pressure on a still depleted cod stock without any guardrails in place to prevent overfishing," Oceana Canada fisheries scientist Rebecca Schijns told Radio-Canada. "This is not just a science oversight, it's a political position made under economic pressure." Oceana Canada is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to ocean conservation. Schijns said history can demonstrate what can happen when a fragile fish stock is overfished. She called the federal government's decision a missed opportunity to rebuild the cod stock. Schijns said concerning signs are being overlooked, adding biomass levels have remained stagnant since 2017 and the limit reference point that defines the critical zone was cut by nearly two-thirds. "That appears for the stock to look like it's improved on paper, but the reality is far from it," she said. "This isn't science-lead management, it's political optics dressed in scientific language." Schijns said the move could undermine future economic opportunities. However, Street dismissed the concerns from Oceana Canada that the move was politically motivated. "I think Oceana Canada needs to stay in their lane," she said. "NGOs have no business making decisions or having input on decisions that affect the lives of our members or anybody who makes their livelihood on the ocean." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
03-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Icewater Seafoods processes northern cod from offshore N.L. for the first time in 32 years
For over three decades, Icewater Seafood's Arnolds Cove fish plant has relied heavily on cod from other countries to keep itself going year round. But on Feb 24, 2025, the plant processed its first N.L. offshore cod since the moratorium in 1992. Plant workers were thrilled this week to be processing local cod. Not only did it mean they get to work with what they say is higher quality fish, but it means more money will be coming their way. Janet Hynes has been at the plant for 38 years, and remembers the day operations shut down due to the moratorium. "We were devastated," said Hynes. "We didn't really know what was going to happen at that time." On Monday morning, she said workers were excited to come in and process cod from offshore Newfoundland, after over 30 years of not being able to do so. "It was amazing," she said, adding that the northern fish is better quality. Worker Brenda King said the plant was filled with positive energy that week, and that she "can't wait for more money to go into bank accounts." Over the past 32 years, quality control coordinator Brenda Hickey, said she never gave up hope. "I was thinking this is going to come back … and it did. We're super excited," she said. Best cod since 1993 Over the past 32 years, a significant part of the plant's business has been processing fish from Norway and Russia, said president Alberto Wareham. Having to import fish hasn't been easy for the plant, he said. After the moratorium ended, they had to find European markets that would pay a premium for their high quality cod. Now that the moratorium has ended, Wareham hopes to get 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes of cod through the plant, which is enough to keep the plant going for 10 to 12 full work weeks. Having Newfoundland offshore cod back in the plant was a huge moment for the company, said Wareham. "Some of the fish were swimming two weeks ago and we're producing it now." "It's great, excellent quality. It's the best frozen sea cod we put through this plant since 1993," said Wareham. Wareham always hoped he would reach this moment, and now he's hoping the cod stock will increase and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be able to up the quota again this year. "That's what we need," said Wareham. "The inshore fisherman need more cod to catch so they can invest in boats." Sustainability and flexibility Wareham said he also knows how important it is to have a sustainable cod stock. "I mean, our customers require us to have a sustainable cod stock. They're not going to buy from us just because it's a Canadian cod if it doesn't meet your sustainability requirements," he said. "We want this for many generations in the future." Icewater Seafoods also ships cod to the United States, but now that President Donald Trump is saying he will impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods next Tuesday, Wareham says there is a chance they'll have to pivot. Wareham says about 30 to 40 per cent of their production is scheduled to go to the United States. "Our customers can't pay 25 per cent more," he said. "We're going to have the likely stop producing for the USA and switch to producing primarily for Europe."
