Nordic Aquafarms’ plans for a yellowtail kingfish RAS facility off the coast of California have moved a significant step forward with the granting of a permit for the plant’s wastewater.
The company, Nordic Aquafarms Inc, which is a subsidiary of its parent based in Norway, originally planned to build a 33,000-ton RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) salmon farm in Humboldt Bay Harbor on the US West Coast, but decided in April of this year will be transferred to yellowtail kingfish. It hopes to start production next year.
It states that yellowtail requires 10% less energy to produce than Atlantic salmon grown in the same recirculating system, and as a marine species, it does not require fresh water to grow.
The latest development for the project comes from a unanimous decision of the California North Coast Regional Water Quality Board to adopt the order of the National Pollution Elimination System that gives the permit for the discharge of dirty water.
The company said: “Nordic is dedicated to fulfilling the conditions of the order which includes extensive water monitoring. With another permit obtained, Nordic is pleased to continue on the path forward in the permitting process.
CEO Brenda Chandler added: “We look forward to being in front of the Coastal Commission this November to continue the positive momentum.
“This summer the Nordic application was also approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to raise yellowtail kingfish and with each successful step, we look forward to starting construction and becoming available.”
Nordic’s Norwegian parent company already operates two kingfish RAS facilities in Denmark and has switched Norway’s Fredrikstad Seafood RAS from salmon to kingfish.
Plans for a 33,000-ton salmon farm near Belfast, Maine on the US coast have stalled, however, after the Maine Department of Environmental Protection suspended two of the company’s licenses.
