The Prince Edward Island Seafood Processors Association (PEISPA) is using a proactive approach to address the shortage of labour in processing plants and restore a sense of pride within industry workers in Canada’s smallest province.
A poor transport infrastructure and limited nearby housing are cited as the main problems in attracting workers. PEI has 42 registered seafood processing operations, with 98% of those in rural areas and mostly on the coast. Michael MacInnis, executive director of the association, says many potential workers in the province capital Charlottetown do not have the means to get to the plants, and believes accessible accommodation close to processing plants is crucial to attract more workers.
Encouragingly,
