Another 59 jobs proposed to be cut in latest Sealord blow

Friday, 26 September 2025

Sealord is proposing to scale back parts of its Nelson operation, with 59 more jobs at risk.

The seafood company announced on Friday it had begun consultation with staff on the plan to shift its wetfish and by-products factories and a fresh fish trawler to seasonal.

That would see operations, including fishing vessel the Thomas Harrison, run from May to September during the peak hoki season, instead of year-round.

The news is the latest blow for the Nelson-Tasman economy.

This month, the closure of the Eves Valley sawmill with 142 job losses was confirmed, as well as Sealord’s separate proposal three weeks ago to close its fish coating factory affecting 79 jobs, and Proper Crisps’ plan to shift production to South Auckland.

Chief executive Doug Paulin said the proposal came after a review of Sealord’s deep-sea fishing business, which had identified the need for “significant change” in its export commodity operations based out of Nelson.

He said the option was a way to avoid a full shutdown of Nelson’s wetfish operations, which would have carried far heavier job losses.

“Instead of closing our Nelson site completely, which would impact significantly more permanent employees and be a major economic hit for the region, this seasonal proposal would mean we’re able to retain the majority of our Nelson-based operations and the jobs associated with them,” Paulin said.

The plan would retain 81 permanent jobs and 400 seasonal roles, preserving more than 90% of the economic benefits for the region.

Paulin said Sealord would prioritise roles for affected staff who wanted to return during hoki season, saying the consultation process was “difficult” but necessary.

“This is in no way a reflection on the people. It is driven by the need to adapt to the challenging economic environment with escalating operating costs, deflated global commodity pricing for frozen fish, decreasing volume and ever-increasing regulatory compliance costs over the last 10 years,” he said.

The Nelson-based wetfish factory had been loss-making in every month outside of hoki season, a problem worsened by falling prices, higher costs, and reduced fish volumes.

“Customer demand for wild harvest, sustainably caught New Zealand fish remains strong, but the environment we operate in is increasingly complex and uncertain,” Paulin said.

“This proposal reduces our operating costs, increases returns to a viable level and allows us to invest in what we do best – catching and processing fish during hoki season.”

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said the announcement was more devastating news for Nelson and her thoughts were with the affected workers and their families.

“Christopher Luxon’s economic failures are clocking up and he must front up for the damage he’s dealt to Nelson’s economy,” she said.

“We need a real plan now from the Government and greater engagement with local leaders to support the region to create more jobs.”

Nelson mayor Nick Smith said it was more grim news for the region’s economy. Sealord was a very important employer in Nelson.

“It has been under pressure from rising costs for some time. My hope is that this is the last of its downsizing proposals and that the company’s financial position gets onto a sound sustainable footing.”

Consultation on the coated fish factory proposal closed on Friday, with a decision due on October 3. A decision on the seasonal operation plan is expected mid-October.