Clearwater Seafoods in N.S. lays off workers at plant in Lockeport: Mayor

The mayor of Lockeport in southwestern Nova Scotia says Clearwater Seafoods — the largest employer in the coastal town — has laid off about half its workers and shut down lobster processing at the local plant.

Mayor Derek Amalfa says the plant will continue to process scallops, but he could not comment on exactly how many jobs would be lost.

Clearwater’s website says the plant, known locally as Pierce Fisheries, was acquired in 1986 and employs 145 people who processed about four million kilograms of sea scallops and lobster annually.

Amalfa says the town — home to 480 people — is reeling from the sudden loss of jobs.

He says officials with the Halifax-based company told him the layoffs were necessary because economic factors and other trends made the lobster processing business unsustainable.

The company did not respond to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2025.