NEIL’S HARBOUR: Victoria Co-operative Fisheries, a long-standing fishing co-operative based in Victoria County’s North of Smokey region, is celebrating 75 years of operating under a sustainable and community-centered business model.
Since its founding in 1955, the co-operative has worked to keep the benefits of the fishery within the local economy – an intentional shift from the exploitative model that existed prior to its establishment.
“Prior to 1955, it was the big buyers coming in from out of town during the peak season and they would buy all the product,” General Manager of Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Osborne Burke said. “It was the old company store concept and in many cases the fisherman owed more than what they landed by the time the year was over.”
Today, the co-operative purchases a wide variety of seafood from more than 140 inshore commercial fishing vessels throughout Victoria County, including lobster, snow crab, halibut, mackerel, and groundfish. These activities provide direct employment for approximately 125 individuals during peak seasons and contribute an estimated $2 million in payroll to the local economy.
What began with modest sales of approximately $20,000 annually has evolved into a multi-million-dollar operation, with annual sales now reaching up to $45 million.
“And now we’re shipping all over the world too, from Neil’s Harbour,” Burke said.
The co-operative exports products to markets in Europe and Asia, with the majority destined for the United States. To support its logistics, the organization operates its own transportation company, capable of delivering as far as Atlanta, Georgia.
“That’s common, Florida, Georgia, we go all over,” Burke explained. “We started our own transport company in the 90s. Trucks don’t want to come here sometimes because it’s off the beaten path.”
Owned entirely by local fish harvesters, the co-operative is governed by an 11-member board of directors. Despite numerous challenges over the decades, the co-operative’s members and the surrounding community have continually stepped up to sustain and grow the enterprise.
“In the last number of years, the biggest impact we had was Hurricane Fiona, which nearly destroyed our facility and in six months we rebuilt it,” Burke said. “And we were back in operation in time for the following season.”
While trade-related uncertainties, such as potential tariffs, remain a concern, Burke emphasized that the co-operative’s most immediate challenge is workforce housing.
“That’s our major challenge really. That 50 per cent of our production workers are from out of the country,” he said. He added that housing solutions would benefit both international and local employees, helping to meet labour demands.
The co-operative’s processing plant currently employs about 100 workers during the snow crab and lobster seasons. The facility is capable of producing over 70,000 pounds of snow crab and 20,000 pounds of lobster per shift. A nearby holding facility can store up to 257,000 pounds of live lobster. With the current lobster season underway, Burke said early indicators point to a strong year.
The organization also operates a seasonal seafood restaurant, the Chowder House, in Neil’s Harbour, which recently opened for the season and employs approximately eight local staff.
Supporting the local community remains a cornerstone of the co-operative’s mission.
“We support a lot of the non-profits, the foodbank, different activities with schools, sports and other things,” Burke said. “We have a limit, but we try to do as much as we can. The co-op is part of the community, and you have to support the community.”