Torngat

op is an integral part of a proud cultural legacy in the Labrador fishing industry. There is nothing easy about it. The challenges and hard work are endless, and often daunting, but it’s all part of life, as they know it. Business View Magazine recently spoke with Torngat Fish Co-op General Manager, Keith Watts, and Assistant Manager, Ron Johnson, about this remarkable enterprise. The following is an edited transcript of that conversation. BVM: Can you describe the current operations of the co-op? Johnson: “We started in one community, Rigolet, Labrador for processing on land, and over time, we expanded our onshore operations. Today, in Nain, we continue to process Arctic char, with the intent to again process Icelandic scallops, because we had a stoppage. The char is a cultural fish for the Inuit of Labrador; that is the main purpose we continue to buy and process into various forms, whether it’s head-on gutted fish, fresh fillets, or smoked Arctic char. We process Greenland halibut, or turbot, in the provincial-leased facility in Makkovik. We also process snow crab in our own facility, a separate building that’s linked with the leased facility for cold storage and blast freezing capacity.” Watts: “Originally, the co-op was set up for fish plant workers and fisher people throughout Torngat Mountains electoral district, the most northerly provincial electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador. Each individual is a member of the co-operative and contributes towards share capital, as they provide monies to the co-op through their pay check or fish landings. They have an ownership in the co-op as a member and, through their equity they put in, along with their initial application payment. So, the minimum share would be $500.” Johnson: “As it relates to the sale of finished products, Arctic char is sold locally in the community in Nunatsiavut and throughout the province. Most of the products come to our head office here in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We sell through this as a storefront and we also ship across the province. Mostly due to the logistics of transportation, it’s usually flown from here to TORNGAT F I SH PRODUCERS CO-OPERAT I VE SOC I ETY LTD .