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The Ramea Economic Develoment Corporation ('REDC') is a group of community volunteers with the mandate to implement the recommendations outlined in the community's Strategic Economic Plan. The strategy outlines an action plan for the economic recovery an d development of the Town. The strategic plan identifies specific objectives and projects in such areas as, the fishery, tourism, craft development, small scale manufacturing and human resource development.
Ramea's Strategic Economic Plan is based on the following vision:Our vision for Ramea is that of maintaining a prosperous, healthy and distinct community with a sound social structure and a reasonable standard of living. Our prosperity shall be based upon full employment and a diversified economy accomplished throug h a highly skilled workforce and community cooperation, thereby, achieving the full use of our human and natural resources.
The 'REDC' has prepared a multi use plan for the fish plant. The fish plant is a large facility that can be adapted for several uses in an effort to rebuild Ramea's economy. The facilit y can be used for tourism and craft development opportunities, small scale manufacturing operations and a multi species fish processing facility.
Ramea has been a major offshore fish harvesting and processing centre for decades. Its people have crewed large fishing vessels that have harvested deep sea fish since the mid 1800's. There has also always been a small, vibrant inshore fishery operated from Ramea. The mix of species landed in Ramea includes: cod, redfish, haddock, yellowtail, pollock and other flatfish as well as herring, mackerel, scallops, lobster and salmon.
Currently, there are eighty-seven (87) classified fisherpersons and forty-four (44) registered vessels in the community. Information on the fish plant and its labour force is contained in Sections 4 and 5 respectively. Several initiatives are currently underway to diversify the local fishery into underdeveloped and underutilized species and to expand into fish farming. These are referred to elsewhere in this document.
The Ramea-Burgeo Region has a great deal of potential as a tourism destination area. It has at its disposal a wide variety of both natural (marine and terrestrial) and cultural resources. F urther discussion of the area's natural resources is contained in Section 3. Opportunities exist for these resources to be packaged to generate both resident and non-resident travel. Current tourism activity that can be expanded includes the followi ng:
Other exciting activities that can be offered to the visitor include; a south coast boat tour with Ramea as a stopover point, island hopping day trips to the over four hundred (400) islands in the Ramea / Burgeo area and trips to the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, which lie approximately fortyeight (48) kilometres due east.
An annual August Ramea Day has been held for several years and two Come Home Years have been staged. The Rock Island Music Festival was held in mid August 1993, with approximately four hundred (400) participants. Plans are underway to make it an annual event, centred around Ramea Day. A two and onehalf day affair with eighty percent (80%) local talent, the festival features music, pot luck suppers, treasure hunts, bicycle races and fish jigging contests.
There is a wide range of handicraft skills in the community, including woodworking, knitting, crocheting, painting and carving. These skills have been developed and passed down over the years to look after the necessities of life as well as the recreatio n needs of residents. Many residents supplement their income by producing crafts and interest is high for further commercial development of the local craft industry.
The businesses in the community include a hospitality home, cable television company, general store, commercial bank, furnace servicing business, liquor store, two lounges, pharmacy and craft shop. Interest is high among local residents in the developmen t of additional small businesses.
The community has a strong tradition of subsistence activities, including boat building and hunting / fishing. The majority of houses were built by the owner and most are owned outright. Residents typically share skills and energy with each other in wor king on individual and community projects.
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