The fish plant in Humber Arm South is going to be involved in a project to determine if harvesting snow crab in the fall of the year is a viable fishery.
In early November, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada sought expressions of interest from fish harvesters in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization 3K Area 4, which extends from the eastern tip of the Northern Peninsula southeastward to Cape Freels.
The project entails offering harvesters who still had 25 per cent of their 2017 crab quota remaining, to apply for permits authorizing the harvest of 10,000 pounds of crab using 400 pots.
According to the federal fisheries department, all of the crab caught will be processed at the Benoit’s Cove plant in Humber Arm South now operated by the Barry Group.
Snow crab is usually only harvested in the spring.
The crab will be assessed for quality, including meat yield and shell condition.
The small-scale fishery is not considered a commercial fishery, but is only meant to determine feasibility and market interest in snow crab caught during the fall months.
Requests for an interview with the Barry Group were not replied to.
