By Jim Brown

The first load of lobster to be processed at the new Minigoo Fisheries Ltd plant, in Lennox Island, will not be coming from PEI.
It will be brought in the week of April 23 from Newfoundland, where the season opens on April 19. The plant’s official opening is April 21.
Shortly afterwards the spring fishery on PEI kicks into high gear and Minigoo Fisheries officials expect to be purchasing lobster from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal fishermen from throughout the Island.
Product will be shipped to buyers throughout the US and to world markets by May.
On Monday the smell of sawdust filled the air at the site of the 15,000 sq-foot lobster processing facility, which will include many state-of-the-art features, including a fingerprint identification scanning system for workers and tight security for visitors.
Nothing is left to chance, even fingerprints.
Jon Osmann Arason, Minigoo Fisheries vice-president and CEO, had this to say about his standards.
“Of course we’re going to go to the highest audit so we can sell directly into retail stores in Europe and Japan.” It also helps for sales into the U.S.
Requiring workers to have their fingerprints match those on computer files addresses concerns about issues of food quality and tampering.
“That’s what the world is coming to. If I am selling you containers of food, I have to give you the highest assurance that nobody is coming into the plant who isn’t meant to be,” said Mr Arason. ID cards with photos will also be part of the routine for the plant.
“This is a showcase (plant),” he said.
“We will focus on niche markets and get the highest value for our PEI lobster,” said Mr Arason, who hopes eventually to expand sales to Europe, over the US.
Currently, approximately 85 per cent of the industry’s exports are to the US. “That’s too much, even if the market was thriving,” said Mr Arason. “Everything we have (committed) is sold.”
In five years Mr Arason anticipates the plant will be three times its current size, employing as many as 200 workers.
“We’re trying to do something very special here,” he said.
For now, though construction is on schedule, the floor on the first level is largely comprised of a layer of sand and gravel, while the upstairs floor, where the offices are located, is already installed.
All around the plant heavy equipment is being used to lift beams and other structures into place.
As many as 35 workers are busy during peak construction periods.
Mr Arason said Minigoo Fisheries workers will be well fed when they show up for their shifts, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, juices and hot foods, such as chili and bread and soups, provided at $3 a day.
“It’s kind of like a buffet. You work for me, I feed you,” said Mr Arason. “If you work past three hours, you pay three dollars.”
The job pays $10.25 an hour including vacation pay for experienced workers, with those just starting earning $9 an hour, rising to $9.50 after they complete a probationary period of six weeks, said plant manager Leslie Michalewski.
Anywhere from 50 to 60 workers are needed, she said, with about 30 answering newspaper ads so far.
Employees are expected to work six days a week, from spring to December.