Simulation of a Recirculating Aquaculture System from a Nordic Aquafarms video. | via GIPHY

Press release from Nordic Aquafarms:

EUREKA, CA – Nordic Aquafarms, an international leader in land-based aquaculture, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved proposed investment plans to complete permitting for a RAS aquaculture facility on the Samoa Peninsula in Humboldt County, California.

This will be the company’s second proposed land-based aquaculture facility in the US, and the first commercial scale RAS facility on the West Coast. According to Nordic Aquafarms´ CEO Bernt Olav Roettingsnes, the expansion is aligned with the company´s U.S. strategy of building its facilities close to the regional markets it plans to serve.

“We are now proceeding on both U.S. coastlines after having verified ideal development sites, competitive solutions for power and clean water access, and overall favorable conditions for development ” says Erik Heim, president of Nordic Aquafarms Inc. “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 sustainably raised local fish.”

In 2018, Nordic Aquafarms announced plans to build a land-based salmon farm in Belfast, Maine to serve the East Coast markets. That project is in the final stages of permitting.

CALIFORNIA SPECIFIC:

Nordic Aquafarms Inc. has over the past months carried out a due diligence of all potential opportunities and risks related to building the Humboldt facility. Nordic Aquafarms has also worked closely with local vendors to plan the permitting process for the facility. We are very satisfied with the results of the due diligence and we are now looking forward to starting the CEQA and permitting processes, says Marianne Naess, Commercial Director in Nordic Aquafarms Inc. We are particularly thankful to the local authorities, the Harbor District, and the Humboldt community for their support along the way.

Nordic Aquafarms will immediately start local recruiting to support expansion of activities in Humboldt. Local investment will also rapidly increase. In the first phase the company is looking for a Humboldt-based Project Director and an Engineering Manager who will work closely with the rest of the Nordic Aquafarms´organization in permitting and designing the facility. We will continue with our extensive outreach in the community and permanently staff our office on Third Street in Eureka. Once local management is in place, we encourage residents to stop by the office to get acquainted with the project. Commercial Director Marianne Naess will also hold a public information meeting at the Wharfinger on November 14th to present the company´s plans going forward.

Permit applications are expected to be submitted in the summer of 2020.