Nordic Aquafarms, which is currently in the process of building one of the largest salmon farming operations in Belfast, Maine, has announced it will invest up to another $400 million to build a second recirculating aquaculture system in Eureka, California.
Through its subsidiary, California Marine Investments, Nordic Aquafarms has entered into an agreement with the Humboldt Bay Harbor District to lease 30 acres for the state-of-the-art fish farm, which will be located 270 miles north of San Francisco, and will generate up to 80 jobs. As is the case with the company’s project in Belfast, Maine, the location aligns with its strategy of positioning its facilities in proximity to its targeted regional markets, according to Bernt-Olav Roettingsnes, CEO of Nordic Aquafarms.
“As we did on the East Coast, we conducted a thorough search over the past few months to find the right location for our West Coast expansion,” said Nordic Aquafarms’ U.S. President Erik Heim. “This site meets all of our criteria for building a safe, clean, and sustainable fish farm, and we have been welcomed by local authorities who are excited about the many benefits this project can bring to the area.”
“The Humboldt location will enable us to reach more than 50 million people within a 12-hour drive or less, which reduces the cost and environmental impact of transportation while supplying the market with super-fresh, sustainably raised local fish,” said Marianne Naess, commercial director, Nordic Aquafarms.
The Belfast project is currently in the permitting phase, and construction at that site is scheduled to begin in the coming months of this year, while the California facility, which will produce either salmon or steelhead trout, will take over a location previously held by the Samoa Pulp Mill that closed in 2008. The site offers access to both seawater and freshwater, and already has an established outfall pipe reaching 1.5 miles out to sea, both a 20-megawatt substation and a 730,000-kilowatt solar system for power, and aquaculture licenses in place, reports Seafood Source.
The Nordic Aquafarms facility will be located close to other seafood producers, including Taylor Shellfish and Coastal Shellfish, however, Undercurrent News states that there is ample capacity at the location for more seafood farming operations, as Nordic will only use 6 million of the 30 million gallons of approved ocean outfall.
“Humboldt County is a leader in the fisheries industry, and our community recognizes that it must continue to build on these strengths in order to achieve further economic success,” Scott Adair, director of economic development for Humboldt County told Salmon Business. “This project fits well with that strategy.”
“Nordic Aquafarms is an innovator within their own industry,” he continued. “Their project will create an opportunity to improve local job quality and career potential, add to the overall vibrancy of the community and enhance the quality of life for our residents. We are very excited about the potential of this project.”
-Lynda Kiernan