Soft European market for dogfish results in layoff of 40

Ocean Pride Fisheries was created in 1989 to process under-utilized species like the dogfish and sea cucumber.

Last year the company only worked on dogfish for two weeks, says president Milton LeBlanc.

“This year we just opened up for a couple of weeks and it’s not viable. Not the way the markets are in Germany,” he said.

Consumers are receiving misinformation about the dogfish population, added LeBlanc, which he blames on groups like Greenpeace.

“The dogfish, we’re not even touching the quota,” he said.

“The total quota for Atlantic Canada is five million pounds. We’re only taking something like four per cent of the total stock.”

In March, Ocean Pride Fisheries bought North Lake Fish Co-op in P.E.I.

LeBlanc says that plant will be processing lobster from Maine in a few weeks, along with tuna and herring roe in the fall.

The layoffs in Wedgeport are temporary, says LeBlanc. The company, which employs close to 115, is working with DFO and a consulting firm to boost markets in Europe.