Connors Bros. is laying off more than 20 per cent of workers at its Blacks Harbour plant.
The company announced Thursday that it had given impacted employees a six-week working notice.
“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,” General Manager Chad Baum said in a statement.
Up to 450 people work at the sardine canning facility depending on the season, according to the release.
Officials blamed a decision by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to reduce the Atlantic herring quota by 24 per cent — from 21,000 tonnes per season to 16,000 — through 2027.
The government has said the stock is in a “critical zone” due to the effects of climate change and needs time to recover.
“We were surprised and disappointed by the DFO’s decision to slash the quota by so much and by the unprecedented four-year directive,” said Baum.
RELATED: Atlantic herring quota dropping 24 percent: DFO
Baum said the company and the industry want officials to re-evaluate the future quota recommendations as there is disagreement among experts on the status of the herring stock.
Staff impacted by the layoff will be offered severance payments in proportion to tenure as well as employee assistance programs and placement services.
Officials said the plant will continue operating with a reduced workforce following the six-week notice period.
John Craig is the mayor of Eastern Charlotte, which includes the community of Blacks Harbour.
Craig said he was shocked to hear the news, adding it will have a considerable impact on the community of around 1,000 people.
“Any amount of job loss hurts the area. You get the domino effect where it affects all the local retail stores and the schools, the children that sort of thing,” Craig told our newsroom.
The province has been informed and is sending down staff next week to talk to the workers who were impacted, he said.
Craig also made sure the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission was informed so they can provide assistance.
The mayor said he is hopeful Connors Bros. will be able to hire workers back in the future.
Connors Bros., a division of Clover Leaf Seafoods Corp., supplies canned sardines under Brunswick® and other brands that are sold in more than 40 countries.
