The fish plant in North Lake is preparing to open again with new owners who plan to employ about 100 people.

The 13-year-old plant, which had changed ownership and closed a few times in the past five years, was recently purchased by a California-based company.

The new owners are brothers Ming Bin Kou and Ming Shin Kou, who own a company called Orient Fisheries. They also own a company called Red Chamber Seafood.

Staff are inspecting, repairing and making changes to equipment before employees begin work May 1, when lobster season opens.

This season, the plant will focus on lobster at first but may do snow crab eventually.

Jack Quinn will manage the plant. He's been involved with several P.E.I. fish plants and was one of the original six owners of now defunct Polar Foods.

Quinn said he's optimistic about the plant's future and describes it as one of the most modern facilities on the Island.

The new owners want to produce a quality product that meets international food safety standards, he said.

They plan to go through some rigorous independent inspections to meet those standards and if they do, they expect to get a higher price and have their product appeal to more customers, said Quinn.