A fish plant owner in Central Newfoundland is upset with the provincial government for going to fish buyers from outside the province instead of offering to locals.

Government opened up the cod market to outside buyers on Monday after the Association of Seafood Producers quit buying in order to transition their plants to cod from capelin. Alicia Hodder, who employs 30 people at a plant in Stoneville in Gander Bay, says at the time, she should have been given an opportunity to get in on the action.

She told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly Friday morning that she has indeed been given a license, but only for a 14-day period. While that helps a little she would have preferred something longer term. She says fishermen in smaller boats are not able to sell to the big plants so cod and other licenses would be a perfect fit for her.

She uses herring as an example. She say people who put out herring nets cannot sell to the big plants because they don’t have enough volume, but would be able to sell to her plant in Stoneville.