Coastal Shellfish awaits Government approval for seedling site

The Coastal Shellfish Corporation is looking towards a sheltered area north of Prince Rupert as a proposed location for the closed site for the growing of younger seed scallops, the first stage of the process that leads to harvesting and then processing at the company's Seal Cove facility.

The Company, which is majority owned by the Metlakatla Development Corporation has had a submission for an area known as Naden Islet in front of the Provincial land management office for a few months now, part of the governmental process of review of all such applications.

The location which is found roughly half the way up Tuck inlet is considered a good spot for the seed project owing to its proximity to the Open areas for the final grow out and harvesting, as well as the close nature of the Seal Cove facility.

The documentation provided to go along with their application provides a glimpse into the scallop growing industry on the North Coast, with the requested location one chosen as a way to reduce over crowding which could threaten the viability of commercial success for the project.

The sheltered nature of the site in question is such that it would offer a more optimum location that would not be impacted on by the at times harsh weather of the North Coast that can reduce harvesting opportunities.

The request for use of the site, is part of a desire from Coastal Shellfish to find sufficient sites for expansion purposes.

There is no indication from the Provincial government site as to when a decision may be rendered.

For more items of note related to the fishery industry on the North Coast see our archive page here, for a look at other notes from Metlakatla see our archive page here.