Lobster processors figuring out next steps after Coastal Shell closes Richibucto plant
Plant had been the subject of complaints from residents about the stink they say permeated their community
While the closure of the Coastal Shell plant in Richibucto is a relief for local residents who were upset about the smell and the noise, it's made for a bit of a scramble for lobster processors who send their shells there.
"We had very little notice ourselves, just like everybody else," said Nat Richard, executive director of the Lobster Processors Association.
"The controversy had been ongoing for some time, but still, for us, the timing was unfortunate, you know, smack dab in the middle of the spring season."
The Coastal Shell plant, which has been operating since 2016, received complaints and prompted legal action from residents over the smell and noise.
The company ceased operations on June 16, citing financial reasons. A letter from Coastal Shell general manager Jamie Goguen to notify processors who rely on the plant said the company operated at a loss of "over $1.2 million."
Richard said once lobsters are shucked, a fair number of shells are leftover and need to be disposed of. So, over the last number of years, he said processors would send them to Coastal Shell to be used as raw material.
Still, he said he doesn't anticipate any interruption in the operation of processing plants.
Richard said the shells can be used for many things, including the production of organic fertilizer, and there are multiple composting sites around the province that are licensed to handle that type of byproduct.
He declined to give examples of sites that accept fishery byproducts, as the association is still nailing down arrangements.
But according to the Compost Council of Canada website, some of the places that accept "fishery and aquaculture residuals" include Beauséjour Organic Products in Grand Barashois and Cardwell Farms in Penobsquis.
One challenge, said Richard, is that in many cases, Coastal Shell would handle the transportation of shells from the processing sites to their operation.
He said in the interim, they have had to acquire trucks and equipment to make up for that, but he said they are "actively working as well on other contingencies and pursuing other options."
"Obviously we needed to do something very quickly ... we have literally thousands of lobster fishermen in New Brunswick and elsewhere, and plant workers, that depend on us being able to continue our operations."
With files from Information Morning Moncton