Clearwater Seafoods Launches New Argentine Scallop Harvesting Vessel

HALIFAX, May 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Clearwater Seafoods and Glaciar Pesquera S.A. announced that they have recently added a newly designed, state-of-the-art factory vessel to their Argentine scallop fleet, replacing and retiring one of the two existing vessels. The now fully-operational vessel strengthens Clearwater's leadership in innovative, sustainable seafood harvesting.

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The Capesante, Italian for "scallop", joins the company's Argentine fleet based in the port of Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world. The vessel was originally built in Spain in 2002, and has been completely renovated. Now measuring 52 meters long and 12 meters wide, it includes a new, larger fresh-frozen processing plant. The vessel sails year-round in the waters at the edge of the Continental Shelf, up to 200 miles off the Argentine coast.

Products harvested from this vessel will be sold internationally, primarily to the North American, European and Australian markets. The small and delicate, wild Argentine or Patagonian scallops, as they are known in some markets, are perfect for salads, pasta and ceviche, and are used for the company's popular ready-to-prepare Scallops & Sauce, Shrimp with Scallops & Sauce and Scallop Selects. The scallops are shucked, cleaned and individually quick frozen within 30 minutes of harvesting at sea, onboard the company's factory vessels.

"We're extremely pleased to have the Capesante in our fleet," said Eduardo Santiago Gonzalez Lemmi, president and partner at Glaciar Pesquera S.A. "This larger, more efficient vessel allows us to produce the highest quality Argentine scallops, and includes better accommodations for our experienced and dedicated crews."  

The Capesante, as well as the second vessel in Clearwater's Argentine scallop fleet, the Atlantic Surf III, are part of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fishery. The Patagonian scallop fishery was recertified by the MSC in 2012 due in part to the Argentine Federal Fishery Council's excellent conservation management practices. In late December 2014, the Argentine Federal Fishery Council allocated Glaciar Pesquera a Patagonian Scallop Fishery Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) for 45 per cent of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) over the next 15 years.

"This marks a period of record investment at Clearwater," said Ian Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Clearwater Seafoods. "The Capasante's industry-leading innovative harvesting and processing technology supports our commitment to delivering the highest quality wild-caught seafood to our customers around the world."

About Glaciar Pesquera S.A.
A partnership between Clearwater Seafoods Inc. and Eduardo Santiago Gonzalez Lemmi, Glaciar Pesquera S.A. based in Mar del Plata, Argentina, harvests delicately flavored Argentine scallops that are fresh-frozen at sea and exported internationally. Glaciar Pesquera was the first scallop fishery in the world to receive the MSC certification in 2006. The company has received recognition for its social responsibility programs which improve and benefit their communities.

About Clearwater Seafoods Inc.
Clearwater Seafoods (TSX:CLR) is one of North America's largest vertically-integrated seafood companies with over 1,400 employees in offices, plants and vessels around the world. The Nova Scotia-based company operates from 'ocean to plate,' owning its own fishing quotas, vessels and processing facilities, while also providing delivery to its customers worldwide. It's recognized globally for its wild-caught and premium-quality scallops, lobster, clams, coldwater shrimp and crab. Since its founding in 1976, Clearwater has invested in its resource ownership and management to sustain and grow its wild seafood resource. This commitment has established Clearwater as a global leader in sustainable seafood excellence.

SOURCE Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated

Christine Penney, VP of Sustainability and Public Affairs, [email protected], [phone]