Steve Ryan Oversees Cleanup of Decades-Old Rotting Fish Sauce in Newfoundland Town
Workers have begun a major cleanup operation to remove 900,000 liters of fermented fish sauce from an abandoned Atlantic Seafood Sauce Company plant in St. Mary's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The project, which began this week, aims to resolve a decades-long odor issue that has plagued the small community of 300 people. Steve Ryan, the volunteer mayor of St. Mary's, described the stench as the worst rotten fish smell imaginable, multiplied by 100. The provincial government budgeted $2 million for the operation, which is being managed by Sharp Management. Workers are cutting open 110 vats of fish sauce, mixing the contents with peat moss to solidify the liquid, and transporting it to a specialized landfill. The cleanup is expected to be completed by October. Ryan expressed relief that the town finally secured funding after years of advocacy, noting that the project will finally end his reputation as the 'sauce plant mayor.'