By jim Brown
jim@peicanada.com

Financed “without one penny” of federal or provincial money a new, multi-million dollar lobster and fish processing plant is set to begin operations in Lennox Island by next May, says chief Darlene Bernard.

She estimated anywhere from 50 to 80 jobs could be created “and there may be more.”

Close to a hundred people attended a news conference in Lennox Island’s Eco-Tourism Centre late Wednesday morning, in which details on the new Minigoo Fisheries Inc. plant were unveiled. Among the dignitaries was Stephen Fay, national director of aborignal banking for the Bank of Montreal, which provided the financing to make the project a reality.

Minigoo Fisheries Inc is the first lobster processing facility to be owned and operated by a First Nation in Atlantic Canada.

The Lennox Island chief went on to say the benefits extend beyond the band’s boundaries.

“These jobs will be filled by people from Lennox Island, from Abegweit First Nation and from off-reserve.”
She said non-native Islanders are also welcome to apply for jobs. 

“We’d certainly be happy to have them come and put in an application. There’s lots (of jobs) to go around.

This is a win-win for all Islanders.”

The finished product would be sold to U.S. and global markets.

“It’s a First Nations product, it’s sustainable and it’s a good thing for all Islanders,” said Bernard.

Lennox Island has a young, untrained labour force,” so we’re very excited we’re going to have the chance to train them and give them opportunities.

“But we’re not going to fill all the jobs here, so we need to have the citizens of Prince Edward Island support us in this and help us to fill those jobs.”
The shell is almost entirely constructed and through the winter months more work will be done on the interior, said Bernard.

Jack MacAndrew, official spokesperson for Minigoo Fisheries Inc., and a member of its board of directors, said “the first call” for lobster suppliers, will be the eight boats owned by the Lennox Island band, followed next by boats operated by the Abegweit band.

But even after the two bands have supplied their share of the lobster for processing, that still leaves over a million pounds that will needed from other fishermen, said MacAndrew.

“You will notice the president of the Fishermen’s Association and all of the local presidents are here today. They are unanimous in welcoming us. They are here to support us and they intend to tell their fishermen this is a good thing for us and a good thing for PEI.”

Minigoo Fisheries’ board of directors include chief Bernard, its chair, Colin MacDonald, president of Clearwater Foods, Gerald Amirault, CEO of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Lobster Institute.

Lennox Island band member Robert Augustine was retained as manager of operations, working with Jon Osmann Aranson, a native Icelander who has an extensive background in the global fish processing and marketing business.