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Fish farm raises hopes for Belleoram


Last updated May 31 2006 02:04 PM NDT
CBC News
Residents of an isolated community on Newfoundland's south coast say a New Brunswick company's plans to open a salmon farming business there are a godsend.

"It's a dream come true to see some people getting back to work again," said Steward May, the mayor of Belleoram, a village of about 500 residents.


Belleoram Mayor Steward May says townspeople are thrilled to see Cooke Aquaculture launch a fish farming business. (CBC)

For now, Cooke Aquaculture intends to hire just six employees, who have started work on a aquaculture site near the community.

May said there's a more optimistic feeling in the town, with people hoping Cooke's operation takes off.

"With another four or five sites to go, you're looking at another 40 [to] 50 people over the next few years," he said.

Cooke has been conducting interviews for possible future employees.

Belleoram has not had a major fisheries employer since 1989, when a plant closed and put about 50 employees out of work.

Based in Blacks Harbour, N.B., Cooke Aquaculture has established itself as a farmed salmon producer, with operations in the Maritimes and in Maine.

The Belleoram operation represents an expansion for Cooke. "It's just the first step for us," said Cooke communications director Nell Halse. "We really wanted to start operations this year and put fish into the water."

It will take about two years to raise young salmon into fish large enough to harvest. Cooke is considering purchasing a dormant Fishery Products International plant in Fortune as a possible site to process farmed fish.

"We want it in Newfoundland. The Fortune plant is just one of the options that we're considering. Whatever we choose to do has to fit in with our overall business plan as a company," she said.

"There are a lot of pieces to the overall puzzle … that have to be worked out."

Halse said Cooke Aquaculture sees a "huge potential" for aquaculture in Newfoundland and Labrador, although it will take time to put in place various elements of a business plan, such as feed, financing and equipment.
http://www.cbc.ca/nl/story/nf-cooke-cod-20060531.html