No pelt processing

Barry's Fisheries, which buys processed seals pelts, has yet to contract the Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp Company Limited (LFUSCL) for the job.

LFUSCL general manager Gilbert Linstead said in past years the buyer would have expressed interest by the end of March, a couple weeks before the annual seal hunt.

As of April 2, no deal has been reached, Mr. Linstead said.

"Usually every year we know at this time whether or not they're interested. Right now they haven't expressed any interest," he said.

"So far. I don't know what will happen tomorrow; but so far, they haven't. Usually what they'll do is give us an amount of what they're prepared to buy in this area, and this year they haven't given us an indication of any because there's so much on the world markets, on the uncertainty surrounding the vote on the ban."

Uncertain global markets and the upcoming European Union vote on a proposed seal products ban may cause apprehension among buyers in the province.

European Parliament has postponed the vote to a later date, likely the end of April or early May.

L'Anse au Clair Mayor Nath Moores said he's dubious the seal hunt will play out as in years past because buyers haven't decided what to do, compounded with the fact that Barry's, in particular, has pelts left over from last year.

In past years, the LFUSCL has used its seasonal plant at the L'Anse au Clair wharf to process the seal pelts.

Mr. Moores said possibly losing the contract will have an impact on the entire area.

"Seeing a major impact on L'Anse au Clair, the impact is going to be all over," he said.

Nearly 20 LFUSCL employees from along the Labrador coast work six to eight weeks processing the seal pelts.

"The employees are unionized shrimp company employees, so they get paid a decent wage, so it would be a boost if they got 10,000 or 20,000 seal pelts processed. But, at this point in time, Barry's haven't decided if they're going to buy either pelt this year. They got pelts left over from last they haven't got sold," Mr. Moores said.

He added, however, there is still time to get the work, since the seal hunt doesn't open until April 8.

"They did say that if they buy any pelts the shrimp company will be given a percentage of that quota."