Decision on Fortune fish plant expected next week

A decision on Ocean Choice International's contentious plan for the Fortune fish plant is expected within a week.

OCI first floated the idea a year ago, shortly after it closed the doors of the plants in Marystown and Port Union.

The plan would involve shipping out nearly 80 per cent of unprocessed fish, while processing the remainder through Fortune.

Fisheries Minister Derrick Dalley told CBC's Fisheries Broadcast that he hopes to make an announcement within days.

"I've committed to try and get this done one way or the other before Christmas," Dalley said. "I've only got a few days left."

The plant workers in Fortune voted unanimously to support OCI's proposal two months ago.

However, the plan went south when the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union blasted the idea of a foreign vessel catching fish in Newfoundland waters.

The resistance of the FFAW was cause for protest from dozens of the union's own employees in late October.