Quin-Sea's Simon Jarding says company is buying from under 40 fleet (three or four boats anyway)
In response to a SEA-NL warning that Quin-Sea Fisheries, owned by Royal Greenland, could be in for trouble if it doesn't start buying crab from the under 40 fleet, Simon Jarding says the company bought catch just this past weekend from "several" smaller boats at its Old Perlican plant. At least he didn't say 'Go f--- yourself.'
The snow crab tie-up ended May 19th, but Quin-Sea has refused to buy from possibly hundreds of boats in the under 40' fleet until as late as June 11th. In the meantime, bigger boats in the over 40' fleet are reportedly load and go.
SEA-NL issued a news release Monday: Trouble brewing if Royal Greenland doesn’t start buying crab from under 40
For reaction, U.S.-based Undercurrent seafood news interviewed Jarding, Quin-Sea's head guy in the province, who said the company is suffering from a labour shortage at its three crab processing plants, which is slowing production.
Jarding denied allegations Quin-Sea is punishing smaller boats for the six-week tie-up.
— Simon Jarding, managing director, Quin-Sea Fisheries.
At the same time, enterprise owners in Southern Harbour, Fortune, Grand Bank, and Bay de Verde confirm Quin-Sea has yet to buy from boats in the under 40 fleet in their areas.
Owner-operators also speculate Quin-Sea may be buying from bigger boats that the company is financially tied to, only there's no way to know.
What's clear is Quin-Sea's failure to address accusations that the company is either punishing the inshore fleet or putting it off seriously fans fires of suspicion, frustration, and division.
It's bad enough a foreign country is calling the shots in this province's inshore fishery, so turning its back on the small-boat fleet will not end well.
According to DFO's latest figures, 4,167 tonnes (8%) of Newfoundland and Labrador's 54,279-tonne quota for 2023 has been landed.
The snow crab season ends June 30th in most areas, and even with extensions there could be a hell of a lot of crab left in the water.
Ryan Cleary,
Executive Director, SEA-NL
Seaward Enterprises Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (SEA-NL) is a professional, non-profit organization that serves as the distinct voice for licensed, independent owner-operator inshore fish harvesters. Visit sea-nl.ca to join.