A large investment was announced Wednesday to help the fish and seafood processing sectors tackle challenges caused by the pandemic.
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Leblanc announced almost $10.1 million for 22 initiatives throughout southern New Brunswick.
This announcement was made on behalf of Economic Development Minister Mélanie Joly and the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan.
Funding will help businesses adapt processing operations with new equipment, materials, and modifications to enhance employee health and safety.
The funds will be divided up between 10 businesses in Cap-Pele and Blacks Harbour.
Leblanc says, “Our Government recognizes that fish and seafood processing businesses are crucial to coastal communities and are drivers of job creation and economic growth in southern New Brunswick. These investments will help the sector adapt to the new realities of COVID-19, bounce back from the pandemic and play a leading role in our economic recovery.”
Blacks Harbour-based Cooke Aquaculture is receiving $3.6 million to help it weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
That includes a $2.6-million repayable loan to add more cold storage capacity at its salmon processing facility in St. George.
The company will also get $1 million to help the processing facility meet COVID-related processing, shipping, and receiving requirements.
Cooke Aquaculture Repayable $2,600,000
Blacks Harbour
To install additional cold storage capacity at the fish processing facility to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. This project will take place in conjunction with augmenting the processing lines, shipping and receiving areas as well as investments in value added processing technology to respond to new retail demand.
Cooke Aquaculture Non-repayable $1,000,000
Blacks Harbour
To enable the company to adapt its New Brunswick-based processing facility to meet COVID-19 related processing, shipping and receiving requirements
WESTMORLAND FISHERIES Repayable $2,823,750
Cap-Pelé
To modify plant facilities and operations, incorporate automated equipment and respect physical distancing needs of employees due to enhanced health and safety requirements related to COVID-19
WESTMORLAND FISHERIES Non-repayable $998,135
Cap-Pelé
To adapt its lobster processing facility, health and safety equipment, and training to meet COVID-19 health and safety requirements
Shediac Lobster Shop Ltd. Non-repayable $565,310
Shediac
To purchase equipment and materials, and enable site modifications to its lobster processing facility to meet COVID-19 health and safety requirements and respect physical distancing needs of employees
Leslie Léger et Fils Ltée / Leslie Léger & Sons Ltd. Repayable $524,890
Trois-Ruisseaux
To modify existing facilities into a cold storage space due to COVID-19
M&M Cormier Fisheries Ltd. Repayable $94,144
Cap-Pelé
To acquire additional commercial seafood storage containers due to COVID-19
EDMOND GAGNON LIMITED Non-repayable $231,600
Grand-Barachois
To purchase materials and implement health and safety measures for employees due to COVID-19.
Elphege and Norbert LeBlanc Ltd. Repayable $56,445
Cap-Pelé
To make site modifications, which include an extension to the facility as well as removing cement tanks and replacing them with tub.
Elphege and Norbert LeBlanc Non-repayable $95,753
Cap-Pelé
To make site modifications to its processing facility to meet health and safety requirements related to COVID-19, including physical distancing measures
Boudreau Farm & Sea Products Ltd. Repayable $28,230
Petit-Cap
To purchase commercial seafood containers for storage of products, in response to stock-related challenges brought on by COVID-19
Boudreau Farm & Sea Products Ltd. Non-repayable $16,350
Petit-Cap
To adjust the processing line to comply with COVID-19 distancing and safety requirements, remove old cement tanks and add steel beams/columns for structural support of the facility in order to create adequate space on the factory floor.
Herring Buying Group Inc. / Repayable $226,800
Groupe d’achat de harreng Inc.
Cap-Pelé
To improve herring storage capabilities with the purchase of additional storage boxes.
AMCO Fisheries Ltd. Non-repayable $97,275
Cap-Pelé
To undertake plant modifications to address employee health and safety requirements, including the expansion of processing space to allow for physical distancing in an existing space previously used for storage.
