Ocean Fleet Services has announced that Daniels Trawlers has completed the acquisition of five double-dredge scallop vessels from New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Blue Harvest.
The acquisition completes a reorganization of the company’s scallop fleet that Daniels Trawlers began in 2022, according to the company.
“As a result, these transactions have now increased Daniels Trawlers’ ownership position to 17 scallop vessels,” Ocean Fleet Services Director of Public Affairs Ben Landry said in a statement. “As per company policy, no terms of the transactions have been disclosed.”
Landry said that Daniels Trawlers plans to “expand its relationship” with Suffolk, Virginia-based Wanchese Fish Company. Currently Daniels Trawlers has an exclusive supply agreement with Wanchese, a supplier of scallops, flounder, and other seafood products. Cooke purchased Wanchese in 2015, a move that represented one of Cooke's first forays into wild-capture fisheries for the company.
Since the acquisition, Cooke has continued to invest in the Wanchese Fish Company, including over USD 2.8 million (EUR 2.81 million) in investments at its Suffolk, Virginia location in 2018.
According to Landry, the new vessels will continue to be located in New Bedford.
“Over the past two years, Daniels Trawlers has continued to utilize the Port of New Bedford as its primary landing port while using local businesses for required goods and services,” Landry said.
Photo courtesy of Blue Harvest
