Pure Salmon France has secured a major milestone in its plans to develop a large-scale land-based salmon farm in Verdon-sur-Mer, following a positive opinion from the public inquiry commission on environmental and construction permitting.
The decision marks a significant step forward for the €275 million project, validating several years of technical and environmental studies and allowing the company to move into the next phase of approvals. Construction is targeted for the second half of 2026, with first production expected by 2030.
“This positive opinion is a decisive step for our project,” said founder of Pure Salmon, Stéphane Farouze. “It reflects the robustness of our approach, our environmental commitment and our desire to offer sustainable, local and innovative salmon production.”
The proposed facility will use recirculating aquaculture system technology to produce up to 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon annually. The fish will be raised, processed and packaged entirely in France for the domestic market, reducing reliance on imports and long-distance transportation.
The project places strong emphasis on environmental performance, including water recirculation rates exceeding 99%, advanced waste and effluent treatment and measures to protect surrounding freshwater and estuarine ecosystems.
Alongside environmental considerations, the development is expected to deliver significant regional economic benefits, including the creation of around 250 jobs and positioning the facility as a key industrial asset in the Médoc area.
Pure Salmon Technology will be responsible for the design and engineering of the facility, including water treatment systems and process optimisation.
Managing director Luke Kellgren Parker said: “We are pleased to see the project progressing. Our role is to bring solid technical experience into the design, and we look forward to supporting the realisation of this project.”
Further administrative steps are now under way as the company progresses toward full project approval.
