The Newfoundland and Labrador government has said it will help the town of Englee deal with an abandoned fish plant that's falling into the town's harbour.

A spokesperson said the province and the town are facing a complex legal challenge, and that the province is trying to figure out it's next course of action on the matter.

Englee Mayor Rudy Porter said his town has been trying for years to do something about the former Sea Treat Ltd. plant, which is falling into the town's harbour.

"It seems like it's turned into a lifelong obsession to get rid of that facility," said Porter.

Englee, NLEnglee

In March, the provincial government served notice to the Daley Brothers, the plant's owners, giving the company 60 days to clean up the chemicals on the site, and 90 days to remove the building.

Nothing has happened to the building since, and Porter says government officials told him that they are seeking legal advice on the matter.

Porter says the only local employment in Englee comes from the capelin, mackerel and herring fisheries, with capelin fishermen hauling up catch right in the harbour, close to the old fish plant.

"I just shudder to think of anything that's leaking out into that harbour."

Town lobbied for years

The Sea Treat Ltd. fish plant, owned by the Daley Brothers, closed down in 2004.

Since then, the town has been trying in vain to get the company to clean up and tear down the facility.

The Sea Treat Ltd. fish plant in Englee in 2005, before the deterioration. The Sea Treat Ltd. fish plant in Englee in 2005, before the deterioration. (CBC)

Porter says the town considered expropriating the property several years ago, but the provincial government advised them not to attempt that because of liability issues.

A registered letter the town sent to Daley Brothers was sent back, resealed and marked "return to sender."

Dilapidated building causing concern

Porter says the unstable building is causing widespread worry in the town.

"A customer came here to the town office, he just saw a big piece of debris about 12 or 15-feet long, floated out past his place and he said, 'What is it that's going to happen? Is it going to take somebody's life to be lost or someone to be badly hurt for this to be resolved?'"

The Daley Brothers did not return CBC's request for an interview on the matter.