While it is not quite the increase they were hoping for, Icewater Seafoods in Arnold’s Cove is excited for the “significant” amount of production that will come from a doubling of northern cod quotas.

Ottawa revealed yesterday that the total allowable catch is increasing from 18,000 tonnes last year, to 38,000 tonnes this year.

President Alberto Wareham says the industry proposal for this year’s quota was 49,000 tonnes.

While the actual increase falls short of that, Wareham says it will mean a lot of work at the local level, and will push them towards having year-round production in the town.

As a result of last year’s quota, he says it was the first time since the early 90s that the plant didn’t have to import product from places like Russia or Norway to keep things running. In fact, Wareham says they processed only Canadian product last year, which will “definitely” happen again this year with the new increase.