Main Brook, N.L. takes another hit

By Aaron Beswick

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

Main Brook, N.L. just can't catch a break.

After years of turmoil with their fish plant, an investor was set to start processing mackerel at the plant. Two boats were prepared to land at the Main Brook wharf and a fish pump was waiting for them when Transport Canada shut down a facility on which extensive repairs were completed this summer.

"This is real frustrating - all the hard work and brain racking trying to get something to create jobs," said Leander Pilgrim of the Main Brook Research and Development Committee. "Finally we've got people to invest in our fish plant, they pull themselves together and get ready to operate and now this.

"The feds are dragging their feet for some reason," he added.

After some $100,000 in repairs were undertaken at the wharf this summer, an engineering report was commissioned by Transport Canada.

However, Transport Canada only received the report on Sept. 23 and refuses to open the wharf until the report has been reviewed.

"If the fish plant doesn't operate, there's nothing else," said Pilgrim. "The woods is not a very stable industry and we need jobs. It's not just us that this plant would benefit, but surrounding communities as well."

Main Brook Fisheries Supreme's only option now is land mackerel at another wharf and ship it to Main Brook for processing - that's considered an expensive alternative.

"It cuts severely into our ability to make a profit," said Peter Swift of Main Brook Fisheries Supreme. "If you can't make a profit, you can't run a plant."

The company's plan was to park a truck nearby and use a forklift to carry fish tubs from the wharf, thereby limiting weight on the structure. According to Swift, the company was set to employ 15-20 people.

"But we're still going to start processing as soon as we get some mackerel," he added.

In its defence, Transport Canada issued a statement saying the wharf was closed for safety reasons and a decision on whether to open it would be made after the engineering report was reviewed.

"The wharf was closed due to structural and load-bearing concerns. The safety of wharf users is the priority for Transport Canada," read the statement.

Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte MP Gerry Byrne finds the situation unacceptable.

"Given the fact that several families, totaling over 100 people in the area, are dependent on this plant for their livelihood and several fishing enterprises too, Transport Canada should put every available resource to analyze this report," said Byrne. "This is a situation of neglect. Enough time has passed, the engineering work was done in June and July, there's no reason the report should not have been available."

(Aaron Beswick is a journalist with Transcontinental Media’s Northern Pen newspaper, which is a contributor to the Sou’Wester.)