While the commercial redfish fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence started in mid-August, a lack of interest from buyers will see the Newfoundland and Labrador quota caught much later in the season.
The sole processor that will be buying redfish on the west coast of N.L., Barry Group of Companies, indicated to harvesters that they would not be interested in buying redfish until September, according to the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) Secretary-Treasurer Jason Spingle.
“There are buyers across the Gulf in Nova Scotia that do buy. There’s a bit of activity in Québec — we talked to our colleagues there — a very small amount in Gaspé and a little bit in the Magdalen Islands for the local market,” said Spingle. “We haven’t had anyone, as far as I know, land any yet for sure. But we’re hoping to have a fishery start next month and ramp up in October.”
Spingle said the main challenge for would-be redfish harvesters is the number of restrictions put in place surrounding the emergent fishery, which could result in less activity once it does come time to start fishing.
“With respect to depths, area, gear types, observer coverages and the smaller amounts of quotas available, we’re not expecting a huge amount of activity, but we’re trying to do what we can to get as much of the fish going as possible,” said Spingle.
With the N.L. inshore mobile gear fleet receiving 3,365 tonnes in quota and shrimp harvesters in the province receiving a further 2,035 tonnes, Spingle said there is not much profit to be made with redfish wharf prices hovering around 30 cents per pound.
“You need volume, and good catch rates to be able to even look at it,” said Spingle.
“It may help some people stay afloat at this point, and some people hope that it’s going to get better… We’ve got a lot of people in a lot of trouble. We’ve got very little shrimp, but we’re hoping this will help some and there will be some different allocations and quotas established next year to give people more of an opportunity.”
While redfish may not employ as many harvesters and plant workers as shrimp did in its prime, Spingle said the focus of the FFAW is advocating for a better deal for inshore harvesters and exploring markets for redfish.
“Fish prices can change dramatically. New markets can develop. That’s what our focus has been,” said Spingle. “There will still be boats from all three provinces that will still be active, and supply plants and there will still be an industry there. So, that’s what we’re focused on, but we’ll need some things to go our way. In the meantime, we’ll keep advocating the best we can.”
