Connors Bros. Announces Workforce Reductions at New Brunswick Operation
Downsizing follows government’s decision to reduce fishing quota by 24% in the Bay of Fundy
BLACKS HARBOUR, New Brunswick--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Connors Bros., North America’s leading supplier of canned herring, today announced the layoff of over 20% of the positions at its plant in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. The staff reduction is a result of the Canadian Government’s Department of Fishery and Ocean’s (DFO’s) July 2024 decision to cut the total allowable herring catch for the Bay of Fundy by 24%. The government also stated that this lower allowable catch would hold for the next four years.
“We’ve been operating in this community for over 130 years, and this is a heartbreaking decision but it’s necessary to keep our plant viable moving forward,” said Chad Baum, General Manager, Connors Bros. “We were surprised and disappointed by the DFO’s decision to slash the quota by so much and by the unprecedented four-year directive.”
Baum said the company and the industry will continue to ask the DFO to reconsider its science and to re-evaluate the future quota recommendations as there is disagreement among experts on the status of the herring stock. However, he said the impact of the decision is immediate and necessitated the layoff of over 20% of the processing jobs at the plant which employs up to 450 staff depending on the season.
The company gave impacted employees a six-week working notice today. Staff impacted by the layoff will be offered severance payments in proportion to tenure as well as employee assistance programs and placement services. Following the six-week notice period, the plant will continue operating with a reduced workforce.
Connors Bros., a division of Clover Leaf Seafoods Corp., supplies canned sardines under Brunswick® and other brands that are sold in more than forty countries.
Release Summary
Connors Bros. announces workforce reductions at New Brunswick operation. Downsizing follows government’s decision to reduce fishing quota by 24%.
Contacts
DFO defends cut to herring quota that company claims forced N.B. layoffs
Connors Bros. blamed Fisheries and Oceans Canada for having to cut its workforce
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is defending its July decision to reduce the herring quota in the Bay of Fundy, after a major New Brunswick employer blamed the decision for major layoffs.
"We recognize the economic impacts this decision will have on the families and communities that rely on income from fishing and processing herring," said Lauren Sankey, DFO spokesperson, in an emailed statement late Friday afternoon.
"But such a decision is necessary to ensure recovery and protect the resource for future generations," Sankey said.
Connors Bros., a herring processing company in Blacks Harbour, near St. George, announced this week it's laying off 20 per cent of its workforce, which is estimated to be about 100 people.
"The staff reduction is a result of the Canadian Government's Department of Fishery and Ocean's (DFO's) July 2024 decision to cut the total allowable herring catch for the Bay of Fundy by 24%," a release from the company said Thursday.
The release went on to ask the government to "reconsider its science" and re-evaluate the quota reduction.
Andrea Anderson-Mason, MLA for Fundy-The-Isles-Saint John West, also blamed the reduction for the layoffs at Connors Bros.
"It's incredibly difficult. We have seen the writing on the wall, we have seen the signals," she said.
Connors Bros. laid off 20 per cent of its workforce on Thursday, which is an estimated 100 people. (CBC)
But the federal agency is not reconsidering.
Sankey said Atlantic herring stock in the Bay of Fundy is in the critical zone for the sixth year in a row.
"DFO Science advice indicates that [quota] reductions are needed to rebuild the stock out of the critical zone," she said.
Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dianne Lebouthillier set the herring quota for the Bay of Fundy at 16,000 tonnes for the 2024 through 2027 seasons.
To date, the quota has been cut by more than half, from 50,000 tonnes in 2016 and 42,500 tonnes in both 2017 and 2018.
Stock assessments are based on indicators such as at-sea surveys conducted by the industry that are then independently analyzed by DFO scientists, Sankey said.
Additionally, the herring fishery is conducted in parts of the bay where herring gather in larger groups, "which can give the perception that the stock is more abundant than it actually is," she said.
"As a forage species, Atlantic herring is an important food source for larger fish and whales. Herring also supports an important commercial fishery in Atlantic Canada, and is used as bait in other fisheries, such as lobster and snow crab."
Following the Connors Bros. layoffs, the Fundy North Fishermen's Association warned of challenges for the region's lobster fishery this fall, because herring is used as bait for lobster traps.
The association shared a letter from Connors Bros. with CBC News that said the company could no longer provide herring bait to the lobster industry, following the July DFO reduction, because of the reduced herring available.
"Decisions will continue to be informed by the best available science regarding the stock of Atlantic herring in southwest Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy," Sankey said.
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Layoffs at Connors Bros. seafood plant 'punch in the gut' for community
Blacks Harbour company blames Fisheries Department for recent herring-catch reductions
Connors Bros., a leading supplier of canned herring and a major employer in southwestern New Brunswick, is laying off 20 per cent of its workers, the company announced Thursday.
The plant in Blacks Harbour, near St. George, employs up to 450 people, depending on the season.
A Connors spokesperson did not respond when asked exactly how many people had been laid off.
A news release from the company blames the federal government's July decision to cut the herring quota in the Bay of Fundy.
"We've been operating in this community for over 130 years and this is a heartbreaking decision, but it's necessary to keep our plant viable moving forward," Connors Bros. general Manager Chad Baum said in the release.
The company will continue to ask the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to reconsider its science and to re-evaluate the future quota recommendations, the release said.
The plant will continue operating with a reduced workforce, and affected employees were given a six-week notice.
Connors. Bros. operates as a division of Clover Leaf Seafoods, which is owned by the Bumble Bee Seafood Company, based in San Diego, Calif.
Catch limits will be reduced by about a quarter for the 2024 season, the federal government announced in July, citing declining herring stocks.
Fisheries spokesperson Lauren Sankey said in an email that the department would not be able to offer comment Thursday on the layoffs or the blame from Connors.
MLA says layoffs a major loss for area
Andrea Anderson-Mason, MLA for Fundy-The-Isles-Saint John West, said she's heard from the province that it's estimated about 100 people are laid off but that some local residents say it could be slightly more.
"As you can imagine, this very much feels like a punch in the gut for my community," said Anderson-Mason, who sat as a Progressive Conservative on the government side of the legislature.
While she has spoken with the province to make sure affected workers are assisted, Anderson-Mason said she's disappointed that the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour was not present in the community on Thursday.
MLA
Andrea Anderson-Mason says she wishes the province had done more to
show up in Blacks Harbour on Thursday to help laid-off workers. (Radio-Canada)
"I have heard government offices say we are looking for other places these people can go to work, but it's not always that simple," she said.
Greg Turner, the labour minister, said in an email statement late Thursday that the province is working with the company to support workers and is planning an information session for them "in the short term." Laid-off workers can also contact WorkingNB for job support, he added.
"We understand that this is a significant blow to the workers, their families, the community and the local economy, and our thoughts go out to them at this difficult time," Turner said.
Anderson-Mason said the area is economically depressed, and there is no public transportation, so it's challenging for some workers to simply start working in another community.
"And so sometimes these speaking notes that you get from the province and government don't necessarily reflect the reality that is the situation that we're facing," she said.
Connors Bros. processes herring in Blacks Harbour, about 70 kilometres west of Saint John on the Bay of Fundy. (Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated Press)
Eastern Charlotte Mayor John Craig said he suspects the company will be restructuring to ensure operations can continue, but that doesn't help those who were laid off.
"Every job lost is a major loss for our area," he said, describing it as a "domino effect" on the community. He said provincial officials will be in Blacks Harbour next week to help those laid off.
The work at Connors Bros. was hands-on, manual labour that employed a wide variety of people, including lots of immigrants, and Anderson-Mason said she's heard from seniors and single parents who worked there and are now employed.
Anderson-Mason said the layoffs are not a surprise given the recent DFO reduction of the herring quota.
"It's incredibly difficult, we have seen the writing on the wall, we have seen the signals," she said.
The company defined the small community of Blacks Harbour, which has a population of about 900, Anderson-Mason said.
"I don't want to lose sight of the fact that we have families who were living in very challenging situations. These are not high-paying jobs, but they are really important jobs."
"And they are the jobs that keep food on the table for families."
Fishing group warns of indirect impact on lobster fishery
A southwest New Brunswick fishing association is warning of tumble-down effects on the lobster fishery this fall after the herring quota reduction.
"It's a devastating loss for our coastal communities that could have been avoided," said Amanda Johnson, executive director of the Fundy North Fishermen's Association.
She believes the Connors layoffs could have been avoided if the herring quota hadn't been cut.
Because lobster fishermen often use herring for bait, Johnson said the industry will be squeezed when lobster season opens in November.
The
Fundy North Fishermen's Association is concerned that the herring quota
reduction will impact the lobster industry, which uses the fish as
bait. (CBC)
"It's impacted us as well because Connors is no longer able to supply bait this year for the lobster fishery, which is going to cause severe challenges come this fall when we open," Johnson said.
In July, Connors sent a letter to the association to say the company could no longer supply them with herring bait.
"We appreciate the added challenge this will bring to your lobster fishermen, but we simply do not have enough catch to satisfy our markets and will have no excess fish to sell," Connors president Matt Walsh said in the letter.
Johnson said lobster fishermen are now scrambling to find alternative baits.
"Ultimately, DFO and the Fisheries Act, part of their responsibility is to protect and help coastal communities," she said.
"And these layoffs are not doing that, it's going to impact a lot of people in a negative way."
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28 Comments
Don Corey
Looks like we can once again thank the federal government for being so kind as to inflict more pain on NB.u
Rest assured, there will be no such federal decisions between now and next year's election that will negatively impact jobs in Quebec and Ontario.
Raymond Leger
Sad state of affairs we have here in New Brunswick
Don Corey
Reply to Raymond Leger
This is on the feds. Did you read the story?
Al Clark
Plenty of Gaspareau for bait.
Lou Bell
Let's face it . When it comes to the fishing industry , the Liberals would sooner hand these people fishing rods , put them on longterm EI , and have them fishing off bridges all around Charlotte County . A lack of vision , no foresight , and a complete disinterest for most NBers is the mantra of the Liberal Party , both Federally and provincially here in NB .
Graham McCormack
Reply to Lou Bell
What is it about decreasing stocks of herring that you don't understand.
Lou Bell
Sorry Ms. Anderson-Mason , the blame lays solely with the feds on this . Long term EI here in NB is the norm for many in the fishing industry and has the full support of the Fed Liberals . Not even knowing some people actually want to work in the fisheries industry has gone completely over the heads of our NB MP's LeBlanc and Riguette ! Fisheries is just another of NB's resouce Industries our Federal Liberals have completely stifled . Getting a Federal Government that actually wants to develop our resource industries will certainly be a breath of fresh air . These 2 MP's have done nothing for most NBers and the cash cow will soon be put out to pasture for these two .
Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
Anderson- Mason just doesn't get it . Of course the quota cut was the cause for this layoff . Sloely caudes by the Liberals . It appears she doesn't realize which party she was elected for . The layoff was announced late in the day and there's no way anyone from the province could have been there for counselling . Most , if not all of those laid off just found out about it today . Once again we see the MLA for the area is not up to date as to the duties of a politician . Much like many running for the liberals who were so resoundingly defeated in the last provincial election , many of whom ran for other parties .
Gerry Ford
Bumble Bee Seafood Company, is now owned by FCF Co, Ltd. of Taiwan; they make the calls now.
Allan Marven
Charco means nothing to Fredericton , or Ottawa.
Lou Bell
Reply to Allan Marven
Appears your MLA is out of her element once again .
Doug kirby
This is not one bit fair to that neck of the woods
Allan Marven
Reply to Doug kirby
We're used to it.
Luc Newsome
Fish plant workers have very little in common with Fed government officials
Allan Marven
Reply to Luc Newsome
That's for sure, plant workers wash the stink off when they get home.
Ian Scott
Tough one. I think anyone born there or who fishes there knows the herring and mackeral have almost vanished from inshore. Lobster folks often have to import frozen for bait. It used to be in barrels . Schools of fish could be seen from shore. Now woudl be bait fishing time for next year. Next will be lobster decline as they have nothing to eat except them selves. Pickeled herring quite nice. I wonder in tfw issues are in this too.?
Allan Marven
Reply to Ian Scott
Fyi The lobstermen are the problem. They have decimated the herring and mackerel stocks for bait, to enhance their billion dollar fishery. Flounder too.
Lou Bell
Reply to Allan Marven
Farmed Atlantic salmon .
Allan Marven
Reply to Lou Bell
Read "Salmon Wars" by Collins and Frantz.
Albalita Rose
Canned herring?...sounds awful....
Dianne MacPherson
Reply to Albalita Rose
Kippered herring makes great
sandwiches, for me.
MR Cain
Reply to Albalita Rose
Buttered toast, kippers, mayo, and sprinkle a little parmesan...mmmm!
Albalita Rose
Reply to MR Cain
So like lobster...needs lots of butter and other stuff to be tolerable...got it
Luc Newsome
Reply to Albalita Rose
They are great
MR Cain
Reply to Albalita Rose
Don't need butter; they are great with pieces of cheese and crackers too.
Allan Marven
Reply to Albalita Rose
Try some surströmming.
Allan Marven
Reply to Albalita Rose
Read "Herring Tales" by Donald S Murray. A very interesting read on the history of that . Then "Salt" by Mark Kurlansky for an even more fascinating history of that.
Don Corey
Reply to Albalita Rose
No, you don't get it; far from it actually.
Herring quota in southwestern Nova Scotia, Bay of Fundy reduced again
Total allowable catch reduced by more than half since stocks fell in 2018
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has again lowered the Atlantic herring quota in southwestern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy, this time for 2024 to 2027.
DFO has announced the total allowable catch for the fishery will be 16,000 tonnes per season over those four seasons. The 2023 allocation was 21,000 tonnes.
"Atlantic herring, like many fisheries, faces challenges as a result of climate change, which has led to herring that are smaller in size and that have more difficulty surviving and reproducing in their ecosystem," says a news release from the department.
The Atlantic herring stock fell into a critical zone in 2018 and remains there, according to the department. To date, the quota has been cut by more than half, from 50,000 tonnes in 2016 and 42,500 tonnes in both 2017 and 2018.
Previously, the industry and conservation groups have been at odds over quota amounts.
"We recognize the economic impacts this decision will have on the families and communities that rely on income from fishing and processing herring. But such a decision is necessary to ensure recovery and protect the resource for future generations," said the DFO release.
A statement from the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia on Friday said the DFO's decision was "shocking" and will be devastating for many operators and plants in rural Maritime communities.
It said the herring fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy supports 1,000 jobs and a processing sector in the province and New Brunswick.
"Using DFO's own overly pessimistic science, industry showed that a [21,000-tonne quota] could be maintained while completing the science process and ensuring that the stock would be rebuilt," the statement said.
It said imposing the quota over four years would make it even more difficult for companies to operate in the region.
Action centre applauds four-year quota
Meanwhile, the Ecology Action Centre and Oceans North advocated for the quota to be 13,000 tonnes — but still the organizations were pleased the department set the total allowable catch closer to what they've advocated for than in years past.
Shannon Arnold, the associate director of marine programs at the Ecology Action Centre, commended DFO for implementing the quota for four years — rather than bringing the issue back year after year.
"This is going to allow for like a good chunk of time to step back, redo the science framework, look at creating the required rebuilding plan for this stock and really taking the time."
Arnold said the short-term benefits of a higher quota allocation, which industry advocated for, could undermine the economic future of coastal communities.
Earlier this year, an economic analysis released by Oceans North said a rebuilt Atlantic herring stock could be worth at least $402 million.
"We are still a little concerned that it might not be enough, but it is closer to where we think it should go," said Katie Schleit, a fisheries director at the non-profit conservation group. "Forage fish like herring are important not only for their economic value as a fishery but also for the economic value that they provide in the water as food source."
Under the Fisheries Act, there's a requirement to rebuild fish stocks in the critical zone within a "reasonable time frame."
Michelle Greenlaw, a research scientist with DFO, said the total allowable catch is not necessarily associated with a rebuilding timeline.
"But this could be part of a sustainable fishing strategy to rebuild," said Greenlaw. "We don't have a rebuilding target set in place for the herring stock — usually it's within two generations."
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