One day after announcing the October 31 closure of the processing plant, JS McMillan general manager Colin McMillan spoke about some of the issues and concerns arising in the community.
While the processing plant will be shutting down, McMillan said he doesn't see the same thing happening to the reduction plant.
“There is no time line [for an agreement] but I am confident that the stakeholders will rise to the challenge. It's such an important part of the industry on the North Coast and I am sure that the reduction plant will be operating for many years to come,” he said.
“The reduction plant is a sensitive thing for Prince Rupert. It very much enables the industry for salmon and herring and we are committed to working with the processors, the City and the port to keep that running.”
On the subject of what the closure means to the company's quota, McMillan said there shouldn't be a lmuch difference in that regard.
“The fishing is where it is. We have quota that is applicable from one end of the coast to the other and some only in local waters that is caught and landed locally. There is not going to be a lot of change in that regard and the fish that have been coming through Prince Rupert will still be coming through Prince Rupert,” he said.
Rob Morley, communications representative for Canfisco, says processing groundfish is something the company could take up with the closure of the McMillan plant.
“We will certainly talk to McMillan to see what is involved in processing groundfish down the road, bu we haven't had those discussion yet,” he said.
As for what the closure means for the workers involved, McMillan said that is something that is still being worked out.
“The notice of plant closure is the start of the process, now we can start the dialogue with folks and see how we can proceed,” he said.