In a letter sent to its customers, Coastal Shell Products states that it is no longer able to continue its activities.
For several years, the citizens of Richibucto, in the municipality of Beaurivage, have complained that the plant Coast Shell Productswhich processes shellfish carcasses such as lobster, is responsible for foul odors in the region.
Legal proceedings were even launched by a citizens’ committee in the hope of stopping the company’s activities. Municipal officials also said they would like to see the factory move.
In 2022, the province required the company to reduce its operating hours in order to mitigate bad odors.
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A sign against odors generated by the Coastal Shell Products plant in Richibucto, New Brunswick.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Pascal Raiche-Nogue
In a letter sent to the company’s customers, the plant’s general manager, Jamie Goguen, states that The financial conditions created by reduced operating hours also made it impossible to obtain financial assistance for the implementation of odor mitigation technology.
Thus, the factory will cease operations on June 16.
We thank you for your continued support and will contact you immediately if anything changes that would allow us to resume operations in a sustainable manner
adds Jamie Goguen.
The general director of the Lobster Processors Association, Nathanaël Richard, confirms that around ten of his members received the letter from Coastal Shell. The news is causing concern within the processing industry.
timing Couldn’t be worse in the middle of the fishing and processing season”,”text”:”We had no warning. As you can imagine, factories are actively working on alternatives for disposing and processing their shells starting Sunday. The timing couldn’t be worse right in the middle of the fishing and processing season”}}”>We had no notice. As you can imagine, factories are actively working on alternatives for disposing and processing their shells starting Sunday. THE timing couldn’t be worse right in the middle of the fishing and processing season
says Mr. Richard.
Citizens relieved, but wary
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Claudette Robichaud is vice-president of the Kent Air Quality Committee.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Kristina Cormier
One of the members of the Kent Air Committee, Claudette Robichaud, breathes a sigh of relief to know that the Coastal Shell plant is suspending its activities. She rejoices at the idea that after eight years, she will finally be able to have a peaceful summer.
Today we feel good, we will be able to breathe the air, open the windows, put laundry outside on the line. It’s unfortunate for the company, but they are not in the right place, they are close to the school and residences
she analyzes.
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Diane and Gabriel Comeau say that the odors emanating from the Coastal Shell Products plant made the citizens of Beaurivage stick together to move the issue forward.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Félix Arseneault
Even though the smells emanating from the factory only reached his home three or four times a summer, Gabriel Comeau also said he was relieved.
It wasn’t just the smell that was disturbing, it was also the impact on the community. We know that in the region where there is the factory, there is the school, a home for the elderly, the Kent-North Imperial Center and that harms all of these things.
he said.
Another citizen interviewed by Radio-Canada, Gloria Arsenault, says she had difficulty hiding her joy after hearing the news.
Seriously, what Coastal Shell did in this town and surrounding areas, it wasn’t fair and it was cruel, really, the way we were forced to live. We were prisoners in our house
she said, relieved.
Despite the respite announced by Coastal Shell, the citizens of Beaurivage remain on their guard, adds Ms. Arsenault.
We don’t stop, it doesn’t matter what they do, if they decide to reopen, we don’t stop
she warns.
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According to Gloria Arsenault, the smell of Coastal Shell made her experience hell. It was so strong that she had to wear a mask when moving between her apartment and her car.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Félix Arseneault
The Kent Air Committee confirms that legal proceedings and pressure on the government will continue in order to stop the factory’s activities once and for all.
We are worried that it will start again at some point. We’re not going to abandon the pursuit right away, we’re going to see how it goes and from there we’ll see the next steps we’re going to take.
she said, specifying that a meeting between the committee and the Ministry of the Environment is still planned for this week.
In its letter, Coastal Shell says it has warned the Ministry of the Environment that it will have to try to find another solution to manage waste from the processing industry.
Coastal Shell Products did not respond to our request for an interview.
According to the report by Félix Arseneault
