Pure Salmon has secured environmental authorisation for its planned 10,000-tonne land-based salmon facility in Le Verdon-sur-Mer, France, marking a significant milestone for the project.
The authorisation for the project, which will operate under the name Saumon du Médoc, was granted by French authorities on 3 August 2026. It follows the building permit issued in June, a positive public inquiry commission opinion and a favourable opinion from CODERST, the Departmental Council for the Environment and Health and Technological Risks, issued on 2 July.
The facility is planned for the industrial port at Le Verdon-sur-Mer in Gironde and forms part of Pure Salmon’s international expansion. The company intends to apply operational experience gained from its land-based facilities in Japan, which began operations in May 2026.
Saumon du Médoc will use recirculating aquaculture system technology to produce salmon in a controlled land-based environment. The project is designed to avoid antibiotic use while managing local natural resources and maintaining control over production conditions.
The development is also expected to contribute to regional economic activity, with plans to create approximately 250 jobs in Pointe du Médoc. Pure Salmon says the facility will support domestic food production by producing salmon in France, potentially reducing reliance on imported fish.
A further element of the project is its approach to feed production. Marine ingredients, including fishmeal and fish oil, are planned to come exclusively from fish-processing by-products rather than forage fish.
Saumon du Médoc was established in France in 2022 to develop the aquaculture facility alongside an integrated processing plant. The project has also been recognised under the Choose France initiative.
