Local seafood packaging companies have nothing to fear – PM Gonsalves

Operators of local seafood packaging companies are in a better position to benefit from the industry than Rainforest Seafoods, a Jamaican company which is setting up an EC$10 million seafood processing plant here.

This is the view of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT last week said whereas local operators may fish in our waters, Rainforest Seafoods cannot.

Gonsalves was responding to claims by some that the concessions given to Rainforest Seafoods were excessive and that because of the company’s resources, it will drive local entities out of business.

But the Prime Minister says that is not the case.

“I don’t think they need to worry about that,” Gonsalves said.

He said that while the government has given some concessions to Rainforest Seafoods, the company is not allowed to fish in our waters and must purchase all their seafood from local fishermen.

Gonsalves said the local businesses involved in the buying and exporting of seafood can put their own fishing vessels in our waters apart from buying from local fisherfolk.

“There is enough fish in the sea, there is enough lobster in the sea. It is a question for us to get more fisherfolk involved,” said Gonsalves who opined that maybe the local operators are worried about competition.

“…but when you have competition, it is all for the good. I don’t think they have anything to worry about,” he said.

Mark Jacobs, who runs a local seafood processing and export company, says he welcomes competition, but hopes that the same concessions given to Rainforest will be given to the local operators.
His company, Ocean Marine Shipping Agencies, operates from a base at the Owia Fisheries Complex.

“Competition is always good and we are happy for the development of the sector and we hope to share similar benefits and we take this as a precedent being set,” Jacobs commented.

He added that the markets that Rainforest Seafoods operates in are different to those of Ocean Marine Shipping Agencies, so he does not think Rainforest’s operation will affect them in that regard.

“The setback will be if we don’t get the same benefits, it would be harder and more expense on us, but I am assuming we will. We can’t be mad at competition which will help the industry develop,” Jacobs commented.

However, another operator expressed concern that Rainforest will offer better pricing on the local catch and therefore attract the local sellers.

The Rainforest Seafood processing facility is being built at Calliaqua to European Union (EU) standards and is expected to be completed in 12 months. The company is the largest seafood exporter in the Caribbean with 30 markets including Japan and Greece. The company is hoping to buy, on a large scale, live lobster, conch, sea cucumber and other fresh seafood.

The Prime Minister has said that the Rainforest investment fits into what the government is seeking to do strategically.

“We are in quest of building a modern, competitive many-sided, post-colonial economy which is at once national, regional and global,” Gonsalves said during the signing last month of the contract between the government and Rainforest Seafoods’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Jardim at the Argyle International Airport (AIA).