By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
St. Mary’s Mayor Steve Ryan is pleased with progress so far on the much-anticipated cleanup of a long-abandoned fish sauce plant and says decisions have been made about the next step as well.
The cleanup of more than 100 large vats of decomposed fish sauce began in July 2026 and Ryan said in late September that only 20 vats of sauce remained on site.
“It’s coming along. We’re almost there,” said the mayor.
Capital Crane Limited of Mount Pearl was awarded the $1.74 million cleanup contract in June backed by provincial funding.
The work involves mixing the expired fish sauce with peat moss to solidify the waste before it is hauled away by truck to the Sunnyside landfill around 160km away where it is deposited in a specialized waste cell for organics.
Ryan said the contract to demolish the dilapidated building – which lost a wall in a windstorm last winter – was awarded to the same contractor.
“Demolition should take place in November,” Ryan said.
The site, when cleared, will provide another potential fish plant location, he noted. Town council is looking to attract a new operation after Daley Seafoods decided not to rebuild the plant that burned down in a November 2025 fire.
Ryan said provincial Fisheries Minister Loyola O’Driscoll has assured the Town that a new crab processing licence will be available if a new plant opens.
