Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced C$100,000 for the new equipment which will enhance the company’s holding tanks so that they can hold more live lobsters for a longer period of time.
“With this investment of C$100,000, the Provincial Government is helping Codroy Seafoods expand its capacity to purchase and hold the premium quality lobster caught off our shores. This will result in more product being purchased from harvesters, more hours of work for plant employees, greater availability of lobster to local buyers, and increased economic activity for communities in the region,” said Mr Hutchings.
Codroy Seafoods began its successful venture into lobster processing in 2010 and has since gained an international customer base. By increasing the company’s capacity to hold product, Codroy Seafoods will be in a better position to manage the large volume of lobster that comes in over the course of the province’s relatively short season, and provide live product to consumers after the season traditionally closes in late June or early July. Being able to hold product longer will also help the company avoid having to sell its product when the greatest volume of lobster is placed on the market, which is expected to help the company achieve better prices.
“This new equipment will help Codroy Seafoods pursue increased sales around the world and provide better service to local consumers so they do not have to rely as much on product shipped in from the Maritimes during the off-season. This means great things for the harvesters we buy from and our workforce of more than 70 employees at our plant. I thank the Provincial Government for its support and look forward to installing the new cooling system this year,” said John Osmond, Owner, Codroy Seafoods.
The project will involve the installation of the cooling equipment and associated plumbing work as well as other labour, all of which will generate further economic benefits in the region.
