Once-doomed Harbour Breton plant poised to reopen

The fish plant in Harbour Breton will reopen Wednesday, more than two years after the southern Newfoundland community's main source of employment was shut down.

The Barry Group, which bought the plant in September, has renovated the plant to process redfish.

Corner Brook-based owner Bill Barry said renovations posed considerable challenges.

"It was a very difficult situation," Barry told CBC News.

"The plant was deteriorated a lot more than we were really aware of, or capable of knowing until we actually got at it We really had to put a whole new roof on the plant."

Barry bought the plant from Fishery Products International for a dollar, but said renovations done over the last nine weeks cost about $1.2 million.

Barry had expected spending about $500,000 on refurbishing the plant.

FPI shut down the plant in 2004, putting nearly 300 people out of work.

Barry said the plant will employ between 75 and 80 people during its first few months of operation, with more likely to be hired in the spring.