Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

Comeau Sea Foods, a commercial enterprise - At the time of Confederation in 1867, Clare’s population lived self-sufficiently. A portion of the villagers’ diet came from the sea: fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Local village names such as Grosses-Coques (“Big Clams”) and Rivière-aux-Saumons (“Salmon River”) attest to the abundant marine resources that were harvested to feed the newly-arrived families.

Brothers Bernardin and Clarence Comeau of Saulnierville started fishing lobsters from simple boats during the 1930s. Back then, the fishery was subject to very little regulation. In 1946, they founded the company Comeau Sea Foods, which has grown to be a mainstay of the local economy. The company first penetrated international markets through the sale of salted and smoked herring. The types of herring products sold subsequently increased exponentially. The company became a leader in the scallop fishery, which continues to be very lucrative. The Comeau brand is now found on several value-added products in local, national and international grocery stores.

Throughout its development, Comeau Sea Foods supported the shipbuilding industry, including local boatyard A. F. Theriault and Sons, while also providing feed to the mink industry. Today, the company remains one of the region’s largest employers.

Comeau Sea Foods has chosen to focus most of its efforts on sea products other than lobsters. However, since 1997, Riverside Lobster International has specialized in the sale of lobster products. The company has developed an impressive workforce and an enviable international market by offering a superior product, processed using cutting-edge technologies.

Topic: Commercial Enterprises and other livelihoods

Date: [ca. 1963]

Reference: Collection Albert Melanson Centre Acadien Photo 4

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