Innovative Fishery Products Inc.
Contact: Marc Blinn
Phone: (902) 837-5163
E-mail: marc@innovativefishery.com
Website: http://www.innovativefishery.com
Products: Innovative Fishery Products Inc. (IFP) located in St. Bernard, Digby County Nova Scotia has been in business since 1988 and is primarily involved in wild clam harvesting, processing and exporting. IFP also holds a scallop quota and their vessel “The Midnight Dreamer” out of the Port of Digby fishes year-round. IFP is the largest inshore clam company in Nova Scotia and is involved with other seafood imports and exports.
Softshell clams are harvested throughout the Province while Quahog are harvested on the beaches of St. Mary’s Bay in Digby County. Facilities include Processing Areas, Q&A Lab, and a Depuration Facility. Much of Nova Scotia's beaches are permanently closed to wild clam harvesting due to bacteria unless depuration is used to cleanse the product. IFP has the only Depuration Facility in the Province which they designed and have operated since 1996. Depuration is the process used to clean bacteria out of clams. A large tank system creates ultrapurified water which enables the clams to cleanse themselves and be harvested for consumption.
IFP sells about 20% of its product in Canada with the bulk going to New England and Upper State New York. The New England area is supplied with mostly softshell clams and the New York area imports quahogs. The company has two brands, IFP being the primary one, and the Shamrock Brand in New England. The company also does private labelling for companies wishing to brand their own product.
The company directly employs 65 people during clam harvesting and processing season from April to November, depending on winter weather conditions. IFP purchases clams from independent clam harvesters who are permitted to work on IFPs lease areas. The work is performed by hand at low tide during a 4-hour period and is physically demanding, particular on the backs of harvesters. At one point, 185 harvesters were active but there has been a steady decline in their numbers to 150 in recent years as the workforce ages and is not being replaced.
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Our Office
3569 Hwy 1
Belliveau Cove, Nova Scotia B0W 1J0 Canada