N.S. Company Builds New Industry

A Nova Scotia company is building a new industry, creating jobs and breathing new life into the province's fisheries.

Blue Wave Seafoods of Queen's County is doing this by processing and marketing products made from silver hake, an under-utilized species.

Demand for silver hake is increasing as worldwide supplies of white fish decline. Silver hake is plentiful in Nova Scotia waters. Blue Wave adds value to the fish by developing food products like Japanese fish cakes, mince for fish sticks and surimi such as imitation crab meat.

"We are now processing silver hake here as well as harvesting it," said Sylvain d'Eon, president and CEO of Blue Wave. "The upgrades we're undertaking will enable us to expand that production significantly."

"Blue Wave has done a tremendous job in reopening the Port Mouton plant and creating much-needed employment in Queen's County," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "The company is providing direct employment for 100 residents. It's also helping to revitalize the inshore fishery by purchasing silver hake from the local fishery."

Blue Wave Seafoods, assisted by a $3.8-million loan from the province, is buying and upgrading a plant it currently leases from the Clearwater Group. A $400,000 loan guarantee to help with working capital will also be provided. If the company meets and maintains employment projections, portions of the interest on the loan will be forgiven.

Blue Wave employs 100 people during peak season. Upgrades to the plant will enable the company to employ many of these workers year-round.

Mr. d'Eon has more than 30 years' experience in processing and marketing traditional and under-utilized species in Nova Scotia. Blue Wave Seafoods and its associated company, d'Eon Fisheries Ltd., have made significant investments and have been instrumental in commercializing the silver hake industry in Nova Scotia.

The Blue Wave Seafoods plant was opened in 1991. The company exports to markets in the Far East, Middle East, Europe and North America.