GRAND BANK, N.L. — The Town of Grand Bank was pleased to learn Clearwater Seafoods will continue to benefit from the full Arctic surf clam quota for 2020.
“Everything seems to be good for this year,” mayor Rex Matthews told SaltWire Network.
According to a CBC report, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan recently confirmed 14 First Nation bands in Atlantic Canada will receive a fourth licence — good for one year — with 25 per cent of the species quota for 2020.
The bands, all 13 Mi’kmaw bands in Nova Scotia and the Maiwpukek First Nation in this province, formed a partnership with Clearwater last year, however.
The Nova Scotia-based company holds the three other licences for Arctic surf clams and has for some time.
The federal government attemped to award a new Indigenous entrant, and 25 per cent of the total allowable catch (TAC) of the species, a fourth licence as an act of reconciliation in 2018.
The effort, it's fair to say, did not go as planned, even resulting in a conflict-of-interest complaint against former Liberal fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc.
Clearwater’s main processing plant for Arctic surf clams is located in Grand Bank, where there was concern receiving less quota would impact the company.
DFO ultimately granted Clearwater the full quota again last year while the fishery is being reviewed.
“We’re hoping to have the same kind of year that we had in 2019, which was full employment, year-round, and we had two shifts on the processing plant here,” Matthews said.
“It was a banner year in terms of production and work at the plant here in Grand Bank, really good.”
Jordan has indicated that review is continuing and a decision has yet to be made on the fishery going forward.
Matthews said the town is taking the minister at her word and is optimistic the review will result in a “fair and reasonable” outcome.
“That’s what we’re hoping and that’s what we’re expecting,” he said.
“We can’t afford to take any cuts to the quota that’s going to have a negative impact on our region.”
The TAC for the Arctic surf clam fishery in 2019 was 35,699 tonnes.
paul.herridge@southerngazette.ca
