Provincial Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne is playing tough with local processors, allowing outside buyers to come in to purchase cod, at least on a temporary basis.

Byrne intervened when local processors refused to buy local cod, due to an overlap with the capelin fishery.

The Association of Seafood Producers says it has said repeatedly that the cod and capelin fisheries cannot overlap.

Executive Director Derek Butler says their plants need some down time, their workers need a break and they need time to regroup, distribute equipment and plan for buy cod around the province. He says they chase the capelin around the province and their workers need time to rest after 30 or 40 days of steady-go, while the equipment has to be cleaned and reconfigured.

ASP says fish harvesters will have ample time to catch the quota for northern cod in the remainder of the season, which they expect will be over in early October. The Association calls this a “three day bump” on the path to what they hope will be a successful northern cod fishery.