The town of St. Mary's, Newfoundland, has been grappling with a decades-long stench problem, all because of 110 vats of smelly fish sauce left behind by a now-defunct seafood processing plant. This is a story of a small town's struggle with a big stink, and the eventual relief that comes with a careful cleanup operation. But it's also a tale of economic opportunity, environmental responsibility, and the complexities of intergovernmental relations. Here's why this story is worth telling and what it tells us about our world.
A Stench Like No Other
The Atlantic Seafood Sauce Company in St. Mary's closed its doors 25 years ago, leaving behind a legacy of fermenting fish sauce. The vats, each about three meters high and 2.2 meters wide, have been a source of embarrassment and discomfort for the town's residents. The situation became even more dire when a storm damaged the abandoned building in January, making it more dangerous and worsening the smell.
Yvonne Bishop, a school-bus driver and deputy mayor, described the stench as "major" and "going through the town, right next to the school all these years and decades." The town's mayor, Steve Ryan, echoed her sentiments, stating that the crisis has been on the agenda at every town council meeting for the past 10 years.
A Complex Cleanup
The cleanup operation is a complex one. The waste will be transported to a landfill about 160 kilometers away in a town called Sunnyside. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is footing the bill, with funds set aside during its 2025 budget. The contract was awarded to Capital Environmental, whose bid was just over $1.74 million.
The consulting engineer who designed the disposal plan, Glenn Sharp, explains that the material left behind ranges from liquid to solid, and will be mixed with peat moss to solidify it and prevent leaks during transport and storage. The mixture will be sealed and buried underground in enormous landfill cells, which will hold an estimated 2,000 cubic meters of material.
A Tale of Economic Opportunity
The story of the fish sauce plant is also a tale of economic opportunity. The plant was initially heralded as smart, sustainable, and good for local employment. The male capelin fish, which were previously dumped, were to be used to make fish sauce, a product that was in high demand in Vietnam. The Canadian government funded the project, and the town was excited about the potential economic benefits.
However, things didn't go according to plan. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency found problems with the covers for the vats of fermenting fish, citing mold and flies in the plant. The products were detained, the plant closed, and the company faced charges under the Food and Drug Act. The town's mayor, Steve Ryan, sees the plant's failure as symptomatic of the need for economic opportunity in small towns like his.
Environmental Responsibility
The cleanup operation is a testament to environmental responsibility. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is stepping up with funds to protect the community, and the town is taking ownership of the land after the company failed to pay municipal taxes. The spokesperson for the province stated that while the government is removing the waste, it does not preclude future legal/enforcement action against the polluter as appropriate.
A Momentous Occasion
The town's residents are looking forward to the day when the last load of fish sauce leaves town. They plan to celebrate the occasion with a bonfire, and the mayor promises it will be a big event. The cleanup operation is a relief for the town, and it marks the end of a difficult chapter in the town's history.
In conclusion, the story of the fish sauce plant in St. Mary's is a tale of a small town's struggle with a big stink, and the eventual relief that comes with a careful cleanup operation. It's also a tale of economic opportunity, environmental responsibility, and the complexities of intergovernmental relations. It reminds us that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope for a better future.
