March 20, 2015 — Cooke Aquaculture’s plan to reportedly expand into scallops with a deal for Wanchese Fish Company and vessels owned by New Bedford-based Carlos Rafael is no longer on the table, at least for now, sources said at the Boston seafood show.
Multiple sources close to Wanchese said the deal is off the table, and Rafael confirmed to Undercurrent News a sale of his vessels is not going ahead. On Feb. 9, he said a sale would have to be agreed before March 1, as this is when the new scallop season starts every year.
“The deal is off. I won’t sell unless I get my number. I do not need to sell,” he said, speaking to Undercurrent at the show.
Although he has not named the possible buyer, Rafael has been open about contemplating selling to an “international company”, thought to be Canadian salmon farmer and processor Cooke.
He also has previously said the deal, which is now off the table, would have seen his fleet of 12 scallop vessels operated from Virginia, where Wanchese is based.
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