[ISL] "Miminegash is a town haunted by a dying fishing industry"

[rfmcdonald]

Writing in The Guardian of Charlottetown, Teresa Wright examines at length the decline of western Prince Edward Island fishing community Miminegash. The story of this community is being repeated throughout Atlantic Canada, at least.

Perched at the edge of the westernmost side of P.E.I., Miminegash is almost like a ghost town, haunted by the memories of a fishing industry now almost extinct.

Skeletons of fishing boats and gear dot the perimeters of people’s yards. Homes are modest, some as weathered as their inhabitants.

The few roads that make up the community of Miminegash branch out in a V-formation from the heart of the community – the harbour.

This is where everyone in the seaside community spent their days and nights in what locals call “the good old days” when Irish moss was plentiful.

Back then, big families with 15 and 18 kids were bursting from homes in the community.

Trucks were lined up all the way down the roads leading to the two Irish moss plants in Miminegash, filled with dried moss to sell.