A commercial fish plant in Montauk that was gutted by an electrical fire last year will receive a $120,000 state grant to fund a project to rebuild and expand it, New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. said.
Montauk Fish Dock, a fish unloading, packing, processing and distribution facility that serves the Montauk commercial fishing fleet, will receive the sum from Empire State Development, according to a statement released last Thursday, November 7, by Mr. Thiele. The grant is intended to help fund the purchase of machinery and equipment and renovate the dock, much of which was destroyed in the May 2012 fire.
The entire reconstruction and upgrade is expected to cost nearly $560,000, the assemblyman’s office said.
“This funding will help ensure that a historic commercial fishing dock remains a vital part of the commercial fishing infrastructure of Montauk Harbor,” Mr. Thiele said. “By expanding dockside processing and distribution services here on Long Island, we can generate economic revenue and make certain that the fishing community remains on the East End.”
The dock side of the business suffered the worst damage, fire officials said shortly after the blaze. A diesel fuel pump and fish cartons made of waxed cardboard were believed to have helped fuel it, they said at the time.
Colleen Reynolds on Nov 7, 2013