A processor in Stoneville is urging DFO to make changes that will allow his company to harvest sea urchins beyond his designated area.

Jerry Hodder of Hodder’s Shellfish processes and ships sea urchins to market in Japan, but the quality of the product is suffering because they’re only able to fish the species from the same area every year.

He says he’s been working on the issue with DFO for the last decade and all he’s asking for is the ability to explore other areas for better quality product.

He fears he’s not getting the appropriate attention because he’s not one of the bigger players in the province’s fishing industry.

“We’re not asking for a license,” says Hodder. “We just want to go there and explore. We don’t know if the urchins we’re looking for are there.”

“We’re not big enough,” Hodder suspects. “Soon they’re going to do crab negotiations, they’re going to be doing caplin negotiations, whatever, and we’re going to be put to the backburner, and our season is going to be started again next year, with no changes.”

Hodder’s plant employs workers for 6 to 8 weeks, but he believes they could be doing more.