Union Opposed to E-Log Plan
FFAW-Unifor is urging Members of Parliament to intervene following the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) rejection of their proposed electronic logbook (ELOG) implementation plan.
The union’s proposal aimed to address critical concerns raised by harvesters and facilitate a smoother transition to ELOGs.
FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street expressed strong disapproval of DFO’s decision, stating, “DFO’s inflexibility in mandating ELOGs without addressing accessibility issues, technology concerns, and cost implications places an undue burden on our harvesters. We call on our MPs to step in and halt this misguided implementation that threatens the livelihoods of our fishing communities.”
The union’s proposal offered a balanced approach, allowing for gradual implementation and incentivizing early adopters. It also considered the unique challenges faced by the fishing community, including limited cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity in many fishing areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.
President Street added, “By rejecting our proposal, DFO has demonstrated a lack of understanding of the diverse needs within our fishing community. We need our elected representatives to intervene and ensure that the transition to ELOGs is done in a way that doesn’t jeopardize the operations of our harvesters.”
FFAW-Unifor is calling for immediate action to prevent the rushed and potentially problematic transition to ELOGs, which could have significant impacts on the fishing industry’s ability to operate efficiently and comply with reporting requirements.
Bering Sea Snow Crab Fishery Reopens
For the first time in nearly three years, Bering Sea snow crab is being harvested in Alaska.
The once lucrative fishery, which shut down in 2022 after a well-publicized population collapse, reopened in mid-October and the first catch was delivered on Jan. 15.
Seafoodnews.com reported that harvesters were allotted approximately 4.72 million pounds of snow crab this season. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, initial reports suggest promising numbers of large, new-shell snow crab in the far northern portions of the fishery. However, catch-per-unit effort (CPUE) remains relatively low at 134 crabs per pot.
Snow crab prices hover around $3 per pound, an improvement over past seasons but still not enough to erase the struggles of the past few years.
President of Bay Ferries, Northumberland Ferries is Now the Owner
Bay Ferries Limited and Northumberland Ferries Limited recently announced that President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Wilson, is now the new owner.
The sale to Wilson from the previous ownership group, comprised of the family of the late Mark MacDonald, Danny Bartlett, Don Cormier and Gerry Stevenson, was completed in February.
“I very much want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the previous ownership group for not only working with me to finalize the purchase and sale, but also for their belief and trust in me to continue to advance the best interests of the companies and the amazing group of people we employ throughout the Maritimes,” said Wilson.
“Former chairman and CEO Mark MacDonald recruited me to this business four years ago and I am committed to building on the proud legacy he has left delivering safe, reliable, locally owned transportation services across the Maritimes and into Maine.”
Wilson has been with the companies since May 2021, starting as Vice President, Marine Operations, becoming Senior Vice President in August 2022 and then Acting Chief Executive Officer in August 2023. He was confirmed in the role of President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2024.
“For more than 80 years, the companies we now know as Bay Ferries and Northumberland Ferries have been transportation partners for the communities we serve,” added Wilson. “We don’t take these relationships for granted and I am committed to working with our government and community partners to better meet and exceed the expectations our customers have for us.”
A resident of Halifax since 2021, Wilson grew up in South Rustico, Prince Edward Island, and maintains property on the Island. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, later completing the Stanford Executive Program from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Prior to his career in the marine transportation sector, Wilson served 23 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, with increasing senior engineering responsibilities and active service in the Persian Gulf. He then spent 11 years in various senior executive positions at BC Ferries. During this time, he worked six years as Vice President, Engineering, through which he held overall asset management responsibility for the company’s 36 vessels and 45 terminals and oversaw several major terminal and vessel construction and rebuild programs.
Seafood Expo North America Announces 2025 Conference Program
Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America (SENA) recently announced its 2025 conference program, which will begin on Sunday, March 16.
The program will include more than 30 sessions and address a range of topics impacting the seafood industry including the following: seafood consumption and consumer trends, policy trends and regulatory issues, AI, labour rights, and marine plastics, among others.
Case studies and expert insights across various fields will be provided, with keynote speaker, macro-economist, geopolitical financial expert, and best-selling author Nomi Prins, PhD, kicking off the program.
The 2025 SENA, which will take place in Boston, Massachusetts from March 16 – March 18, marks the event’s 43rd anniversary. Companies from more than 49 countries have already confirmed their attendance.
The conference program will focus on specific topics such as new and existing regulations, policies and best practices around seafood traceability requirements, SIMP, forced labour, human rights issues and FSMA, to name a few.
Below are some of the sessions that attendees can expect to attend:
- The Demise of the Chevron Doctrine and the Legal Implications for Fisheries and Aquaculture, discussing the legal and practical implications of these decisions and how the fisheries and aquaculture industry should be prepared to respond accordingly.
- A discussion around SIMP 2.0, featuring speakers from FishWise, NOAA Fisheries, E.U. IUU Fishing Coalition and more, addressing traceability requirements and highlighting NOAA Fisheries’ latest activities on import controls, the regulatory landscape and more.
- Fall in Love with Seafood: Driving Consumer Behavior Change and Seafood Sales, which will discuss existing challenges and notable solutions to increase American seafood consumption, led by Andrew Zimmern (Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, and writer) and Seafood Nutrition Partnership.
- The Power of Seafood, which will present the results of The Food Industry Association’s (FMI) annual survey on seafood shopping habits.
- A conversation on marine plastic pollution and the issue of lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) or “ghost gear,” led by a member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI)/Ocean Conservancy.
- Gender Equity Index Tool guided presentation by Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) and The Justice Collective (TJC).
Other sessions will address the following areas: trends and actions being taken to prevent IUU and fraudulent fish from entering the U.S. market; how AI can automate and improve quality and food safety inspection; seafood trends; consumer behavior and innovations; restaurant, menu, and supermarket trends; winning practices to make seafood a consumer’s preferred protein; sustainability efforts around marine plastic pollution; promoting gender equity in the seafood industry; and next generation seafood entrepreneurship and diversity in a competitive market.
Fire Destroys N.B. Smokehouse
A Feb. 14 fire destroyed a smokehouse at the back of a seafood processing plant in Petit-Cap, New Brunswick.
The Cap-Acadie Fire Department received the call about a structure fire at Elphège & Norbert LeBlanc Ltd. on Quai Road just before 4 p.m.
Around 40 firefighters from Cap-Acadie and Port Elgin were on scene for about four hours.
On July 9, 2024, a major fire destroyed buildings at the same Elphège & Norbert LeBlanc Ltd. facility.
No one was injured in either fire.
The provincial Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Canadian Meat and Seafood Subscription Company Offers Rebate During Tariff Pause
EMERGE Commerce Ltd., an e-commerce brand portfolio, recently announced that truLOCAL, its Canadian meat and seafood subscription brand, is offering first-time customers a 25 per cent off discount for 30 days.
Ghassan Halazon, truLOCAL President and EMERGE CEO commented, “At truLOCAL, we believe supporting local and eating healthy isn’t just a movement, it’s a way of life. Politics aside, it’s been an inspiring week witnessing and participating in the coming together of Canadians to double down on local. Count us in, it says it right there in our name and we plan to stay true to it. This 25 per cent off discount is our invitation to Canadians to lean into the truLOCAL way.”
Grieg Seafood Names Magnus Johannesen as New CFO
In February, Grieg Seafood ASA announced that Magnus Johannesen would be transitioning from the role of Global Finance Officer to Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective February 5, 2025.
As part of the planned transition, Atle Harald Sandtorv is stepping down from his role as CFO, which he has held since 2009.
CEO Andreas Kvame expressed gratitude for Sandtorv’s leadership and commitment to Grieg Seafood over the course of his tenure.
“Atle Harald has played an instrumental role in the shaping of Grieg Seafood for more than 15 years, having secured the financing and capital structure enabling our growth and development over this period,” said Kvame.
Before arriving at Grieg Seafood in October 2024, Johannesen — who holds an MSc in business administration from Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) with specialization in auditing and accounting — previously held the role of Chief Investment Officer at Frydenbø Group and interim CFO of the investment company Rexir Holding from McKinsey & Company.
“Magnus has shown a strategic mindset and analytical skills that makes me confident he will be a great contributor to the continued development of Grieg Seafood,” said Kvame.
As part of a mutual agreement with Grieg Seafood, Sandtorv continues to support the transition while the seafood company settles into the shift in leadership.
Americold to Build a Cold Storage Facility in Port Saint John
Americold Realty Trust recently announced plans to develop its first import-export hub in Canada at Port Saint John in New Brunswick.
This facility will be the first-of-its-kind globally to bring together Americold warehouse solutions with the maritime logistics capabilities of DP World and the rail logistics solutions of Canadian Pacific Kansas City.
“Developing a state-of-the-art facility in Port Saint John marks an exciting step forward for Americold as the company expands into a strategically compelling geography serving high-volume international routes, providing unparalleled opportunities for integration with our premier partners in DP World and CPKC,” said George Chappelle, Chief Executive Officer at Americold.
“Port Saint John has been the beneficiary of significant investments in recent years from both DP World and CPKC, and the infrastructure they have built has attracted major global shipping lines to this location. We are confident the opportunity for Americold to bring world class cold storage and value-added services to the Port — and to enhance food flows primarily between Central and Eastern Canada and Europe, South America and the APAC region — represents an attractive path to long-term value creation for both our customers and our shareholders.”
Americold will invest between $75 and $80M to develop this conventional import-export hub that will provide approximately 22K pallet positions in Port Saint John. This facility will connect Americold with two of its key strategic partners, DP World and CPKC, in one location to provide a more optimized cold chain for food moving between Canada and its global trading partners. This facility will primarily serve to connect Central and Eastern Canada and Europe, South America, and the APAC region.
Opportunities NB will invest up to $1.01 million in the form of a payroll rebate to assist Americold with the creation of up to 100 jobs by the end of 2029. This expansion is expected to contribute up to $37 million in direct provincial GDP.
