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Caring for Our Resources

NDC Fisheries Limited (NDCF) is a commercial fisheries company owned by Nunacor, the business development arm of the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC). Currently, NDC Fisheries’ quota holdings include nearly 230,000 pounds of snow crab and two shrimp quotas, with access to up to 12 Turbot 2+3k permits and 12 license designations in the stewardship fishery for Northern Cod.

NDCF is dedicated to ensuring eligible NunatuKavut fish harvesters have equitable access to its quotas to contribute to the growth of their shared enterprises. We are proud to significantly contribute to initiatives that support the well-being of the NunatuKavut Inuit. 

A viable and sustainable future

Created to help develop fisheries opportunities for the NunatuKavut Community Council, our primary objective is to ensure the viability of a conservation-focused, financially stable and viable commercial fishing operation with sustainable, long-term growth potential.

Our strategic focus areas include: 

  • Engage young harvesters and supporting succession planning to ensure the long-term viability of our operations
  • Expand on existing partnerships to increase revenues and optimize quotas
  • Develop expertise through strategic talent acquisition and leveraging NCC resources to enhance operational sustainability and growth potential
  • Become a strong participant in industry discussions to ensure the interests of our members and NunatuKavut fishing community are represented

Harvested species.

Since 2004, our sustainability-focused commercial fishing operation has harvested shrimp, snow crab, turbot and cod from their natural habitat, the Labrador Sea.

 

 

QUOTA ALLOCATION PROCESS – LOTTERY ROTATION

To be eligible for entry in a lottery to harvest crab or shrimp associated with NDC Fisheries licenses, a harvester must:

Click to View Eligibility Criteria

  • Be in good standing with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and eligible to harvest as per DFO regulations
  • Newly Qualifying Enterprises must be a vessel owner in the fleet which they are applying (operator removed). Those who met the ownership criteria in 2021 fishing season will meet the ownership criteria moving forward
  • Be a member of the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC)
  • Be a full-time resident of Labrador
  • Have a minimum of three (3) NCC crew members if part of the supplementary fleet, or two (2) NCC crew members if part of the inshore fleet. Please note this does not include the vessel owner
  • Agree to harvest at the royalty percentage as set by NDC Fisheries Limited in SCHEDULE A
  • Agree to land all NDC Fisheries quotas in Labrador
  • Agree to harvest NDC Fisheries quota with their own vessel
  • Newly qualifying enterprises must have a current snow crab/shrimp license in fleet in which they are applying. Those who met the snow crab/shrimp license ownership criteria in 2021 fishing season will meet the criteria moving forward
  • Eligible NCC Harvesters in 2021, and on a go-forward basis, are deemed ineligible if they have sold all their crab and/or shrimp licenses in the respective fleet, even if they still own a vessel.
  • Agree to harvest NDC Fisheries quota first
  • Agree to report catch statistics as required by DFO and NDC Fisheries Limited
  • Agree to report catch information and royalty structure to processing facility upon landing to ensure timely and accurate payment to NDC Fisheries Limited
  • Agree that the failure to harvest the full quota will result in a penalty equal to 90% of unharvested quota value and will result in a disqualification of eligibility from harvesting in the next season

Click to View Rules

Rules

  • Each vessel meeting all eligibility criteria as set out in Schedule C will enter the Species Rotation.  Species Rotations will remain in effect until such time that NDC Fisheries Limited determines that the existing process requires an update and/or change
  • Separate Species Rotations will be set for shrimp, supplementary crab, inshore crab, and other species as applicable
  • Harvesters will have to reapply on an annual basis to ensure eligibility as set out in Schedule C to hold their position in the Species Rotation. Failure to meet all eligibility requirements as set out in Schedule C will result in the harvester being removed from the Species Rotation. Should the harvester meet eligibility requirements again in a future year, they will be added back to the bottom of the rotation
  • New entrants that meet all eligibility criteria shall be entered at the bottom of the species rotation
  • Harvesters deemed eligible as set out in Schedule C shall be allocated an initial quota before the start of the season. The initial quotas will be allocated equally between all eligible harvesters in a Species Rotation
  • Should a harvester be unable to catch some or all NDC Fisheries quota, they must notify NDC Fisheries in writing immediately
  • In the case where a harvester is unable to harvest NDC Fisheries quota, the next eligible harvester as per the Replacement Rotation will have the first right of refusal to harvest the replacement quota and so on until a replacement harvester has been found. Should a harvester be unable to harvest a replacement quota, or refuse a replacement quota when it becomes available, they will be moved to the bottom of the Replacement Rotation
  • All harvesters are required to sign a harvesting agreement with NDC Fisheries prior to beginning of the season

Before the cod moratorium in 1992, the majority of the fishing that took place in Newfoundland & Labrador was for Groundfish. After the moratorium, however, the industry began to shift its focus to Shellfish.

This new fishery became concerned with snow crab and shrimp and, within a single decade, profits grew rapidly. However, despite rising revenues, the volume of landings were actually decreasing. This trend meant that fewer people were being employed as fisherpersons, as crew on their boats, and as labourers in processing plants. We recognized this shift and began to take steps to find ways to help NunatuKavut members maintain employment in the industry.

The goal of NDC Fisheries Limited, therefore, is to produce a conservation-orientated, financially-stable, and viable commercial fishing operation with the potential for sustainability and long-term growth. We also strive to complete these harvests at the best time in terms of availability, price, and quality in order to maximize the benefits for our corporation and NunatuKavut’s fisherpersons.

Crab & Shrimp Harvesting

Our shrimp and snow crab harvesting operation are being used to fuel economic growth and produce long-term, sustainable employment for NunatuKavut harvesters.

Request for Proposals

NDC Fisheries Limited is seeking harvesting applications for the 2025 season (Snow Crab and Shrimp).

Harvesters are required to submit an application to enter the quota allocation process. If you were apart of the quota allocation process in 2019-2024, you must still apply to hold your spot in the process.   To request a Harvesting…

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Greenland Halibut (Turbot) and Northern Cod

SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST GREENLAND HALIBUT (TURBOT) and NOTHERN COD NDC Fisheries Limited is soliciting expressions of interest from fisherpersons who are interested in harvesting Greenland Halibut (Turbot) and Northern Cod during the 2024 fishing season. Interested fishers must submit…

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