Russian workers coming to Ocean Choice

Ocean Choice, the Island's largest lobster processor, has recruited about 40 workers from Russia to work in its Souris plant.

The first group of 19 workers will arrive on P.E.I. Tuesday. A group of about the same size is expected in two weeks.

Company president Blaine Sullivan says the company has been recruiting around the Atlantic provinces since it purchased the remains of the province's previous main lobster processor, Polar Foods, in 2004, but it hasn't been enough.

• FROM MAY 2, 2006: $31 million lost on Polar

"We are going further afield to find the help we need agreeable to working for a full eight months," Sullivan said in a news release.

"This is a kind of experiment for us."

Ocean Choice is paying for the workers' flight from Moscow to Charlottetown and has arranged for housing in the Souris area. The company says there is no government financial assistance for bringing in the workers.

Following a morning orientation session, the new workers will be on the processing line Wednesday afternoon.