Loss of crab plant major blow to Cottlesville and area, says FFAW
A fire that destroyed the crab processing plant in Cottlesville early Sunday morning has slowed the area's economic heartbeat on the eve of the 2015 fishing season.
The plant employed about 120 seasonal employees from throughout the New World Island area.
It's loss has resulted in a deep sense of uncertainty for many workers and their families in an area where processing jobs are vital to the local economy.
The workers are represented by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers' union (FFAW).
Will Reid has represented workers at the Breakwater Fisheries plant for about 20 years. He said the plant did a "fair bit" of crab each season, and its loss will be devastating.
"The timing couldn't be worse," he said.
A pelagics plants located nearby was not damaged, but it's unknown how much processing will take place at that plant this season.
The disaster hit at a time when the crab sector on the northeast coast is feeling the pinch of a shrinking resource, and many workers are struggling to get enough work to quality for employment insurance benefits.
Reid said some of the workers may be accommodated at plants nearby, but he said the options are not good.
Provincial government planning a response
He said some workers in the Twillingate plant struggled last season, with many workers taking jobs in the Comfort Cove plant.
"There's not much crab production left on the northeast coast," said Reid.
The union leader had not spoken with officials from Breakwater by Monday afternoon. He said it's unknown how the company will disperse the crab it normally processes and whether the plants that do acquire it will be able to hire some Cottlesville workers.
The issue was discussed in the House of Assembly Monday with Premier Paul Davis saying there have been discussions at the highest levels about a government response.
"We are assessing the circumstances of the impact, and we'll be responding to the people in that area," said Davis.
With files from Jamie Baker