J. Wattie Canneries New Fish Processing Plant

What's New In Industry

The establishment of Wattie's new fish processing plant represents a big step forward for the fishing industry in Gisborne.

With 58 vessels, out of a registered 88, actually operating from the port of Gisborne, and with the rich harvest available the year round from our coastal waters, the factory is ideally placed to contend with the ever-increasing number of fish landings.

The new factory contains 22,000 square feet of floor space, is equipped for both manual and machine operations, and turns out a varietv of fish products such as frozen fillets (both for local consumption and export), canned smoked fillets, and fish fingers, fish cakes, etc.

At full production Wattle's factory processes approximately 25,000lbs of fish per day, and can go as high as 30,000lbs per day.

The catches come straight from the boats' cold storage and go immediately into the factory's chiller where they are held if necessary before processing. A staff of 50 is employed in the factory which has yet to have more plant installed.