Saving Seafood

Quinn Fisheries finalizes deal for six Rafael scallop vessels

September 24, 2019 — The following is an excerpt from a story originally published by Undercurrent News:

Quinn Fisheries, a 33-year-old, New Bedford, Massachusetts-based scallop operation, has closed its deal to purchase six of Carlos Rafael’s 11 scallop vessels and their related permits, sources told Undercurrent News.

The acquisition, which was confirmed by Michael Quinn, the operations manager and co-owner of the company with his father and founder Charlie Quinn, doubles the size of the Quinn Fisheries scallop fleet to 12 total vessels and will cost the company about $40 million.

The new vessels acquired include the Acores, Athena, Apollo, Gypsy Girl, Hera II and the Villa Nova Do II, Michael Quinn said.

Undercurrent News had earlier reported how the Quinns had a deal to buy seven of Rafael’s vessels for nearly $46 million, per an Aug. 29 purchase agreement. The deal later was confirmed by court documents related to a lawsuit filed against Rafael by the Buyers and Sellers Exchange (BASE), the New Bedford, Massachusetts-based seafood auction.

BASE’s owners Richie and Raymond Canastra attempted to block the agreement as part of an apparent attempt to acquire the same vessels, which also possess several groundfish permits. They argued unsuccessfully that Rafael violated the rules of groundfish sector 7 related to offering other sector members the right of first refusal.

However, Merita Hopkins, an associate judge in Bristol County, Massachusetts, blocked the temporary restraining order requested by BASE, freeing up the Quinns and Rafael to complete their agreement.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Massachusetts: An industry on the brink

April 9, 2018 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Two computer screens lit Richie Canastra’s windowless office. The co-owner of BASE (Buyers and Sellers Seafood Exchange) seafood auction scrolled through scores of financial data associated with commercial fishing landings at 62 Hassey St.

The numbers that starred back since NOAA implemented a groundfishing ban last November tell a dark story in an industry already struggling to survive.

“With the ban, if we’re not up and fishing by May 1, you might as well just call (groundfishing in New Bedford) over,” Canastra said.

In the four months since NOAA revoked the operational plan for 14 groundfishing vessels, landings at the auction are down 25 percent. With only seven groundfish vessels still fishing from New Bedford, auctions have decreased from daily occurrences to two or three a week.

Prices of fish have also plummeted by an average of 41 cents or 25 percent, he said.

The numbers that flashed on the screen dictated BASE was generating less revenue in the past, but the hardships extended further than BASE.

In speaking with various shore side industry along the Port of New Bedford, the Standard-Times learned BASE’s story isn’t unique. Businesses like Crystal Ice, New Bedford Ship Supply, Southwick Marine Insurance to name a few endure the same financial strain. Even across the port into Fairhaven, businesses like Harbor Hydraulics share in the hardships.

“We’re one company. An ice company. I don’t know how many companies are involved within one fishing vessel. You have fuel. You have ice. You have gear. You have groceries. Right down to the groceries,” said Robe Hicks, the manager of Crystal Ice. “It’s so widespread it’s not even funny.”

The ban stems from the penalties former NOAA Regional Administrator John Bullard implemented against the sector to which Carlos Rafael’s vessels belonged. Rafael is serving a 46-month prison sentence for falsifying fishing quota, tax evasion and bulk cash smuggling.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

Scallop auction owners, friends of Carlos Rafael, tipped as likely fleet buyers

September 25, 2017 — Could old friends of Carlos Rafael’s wind up with his massive New England fishing fleet?

Speculation is building that the Buyers and Sellers Exchange (BASE), an electronic seafood auction firm in New Bedford, Massachusetts, could be the company mentioned in court documents as having signed a memorandum of agreement to buy the 30-something vessels, an unknown number of skiffs, and some 50 state and federal permits to catch scallops, cod, haddock and many other fish found in the Gulf of Maine.

Richard and Raymond Canastra, BASE’s co-owners, were not in their offices on Friday, a company employee told Undercurrent News. But many see it as a likely match.

Raymond Canastra is reported to be a long-time friend of Rafael’s. The two mens’ daughters co-own a seafood brokerage firm in New Bedford.

The Canastra brothers don’t have fishing boats, but if they were able to acquire the Rafael operation, “it would not be a surprise to anyone”, Jim Kendall, a longtime member of the area fishing community and the executive director of New Bedford Seafood Consulting, told Undercurrent.

The Canastras know the fishing industry well, and probably wouldn’t have too much trouble making Rafael’s business work with theirs, he said. There is little money to be made in groundfish, but Rafael’s scallops permits could be quite valuable. Also, it would satisfy the goal of keeping nearly 300 jobs in the area.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News