"These harbour improvements have had a very positive and measureable influence on the support and growth of our business." -- Mickey Flanagan, CEO, Keltic Foods
Completed in July 2012, the Coal Harbour Wharf Infrastructure Upgrade project built on the success of the 2007 Dock Expansion project to develop the wharf and harbour into a top quality product.
The second phase of the Coal Harbour Upgrade Project added a floating dock to the Wharf to accommodate larger boats, installed walkways and lighting allowing better access for commercial vessels. It also created welcoming signage and totems celebrating the culture of the Quatsino First Nation.
The upgraded Coal Harbour Wharf now has capacity to accommodate additional commercial and recreational boats. Increased offloading capacity in Coal Harbour has enabled commercial fishing and aquaculture vessels to avoid the 10-15 hour trip around the northern tip of Vancouver Island resulting in seafood products being offloaded quicker and fresher, thereby retaining a higher market value. The new facility has effectively solidified Coal Harbour’s role in the offloading of Marine Harvest’s farmed fish. The improvements to the Coal Harbour facility have generated increased fish processing capacity for Keltic Seafoods in Port Hardy by attracting more boats, which would have otherwise been sent to the Lower Mainland for processing. The walkways, lighting and Native totems help to showcase the harbour as an entrance to the beautiful Quatsino Sound. The redeveloped harbour facility welcomes tourists, including marine tourists, to the waterfront and the attractive environment has encouraged many return visits.
Island Coastal Economic Trust approved funding for this project in 2012 through the Capital and Innovation program.
We work in reciprocal relationships with coastal communities across the ancestral territories of the Kwak̓wala, Nuučaan̓uɫ, Éy7á7juuthem, Ligwilda'xw, Pəntl'áč, She shashishalhem, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Hul’q’umi’num’, diitiidʔaatx̣, SENĆOŦEN, Lekwungen, and T’Sou-ke speaking peoples.