The Port Alberni Port Authority and the Tseshaht First Nation are currently working on a $4 million renovation and expansion of the Dock+ regional food hub in Port Alberni, British Columbia. This project will triple the seafood processing capacity of the existing facility to provide more room for production and specialized food storage.
The upgrades include larger commercial freezers and new live-tanks designed to keep shellfish fresh before they are sold. The facility is also adding high-pressure technology that helps with shucking oysters and keeping food safe, which is a new feature for processing plants on Vancouver Island.
This expansion will also provide more room in the shared kitchen area where local residents can start and grow their own food businesses. These improvements are expected to create between 15 and 20 new full-time jobs for people living in the community.
The project received support from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Island Coastal Economic Trust. By processing seafood right at the harbour, local fishers no longer have to ship their products out of town for processing, keeping more money and jobs in the local area.
