A leading Norwegian aquaculture player looks set to double Atlantic salmon production in Canada''s province of Newfoundland.
The Provincial Government and Grieg Newfoundland AS (Grieg) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the company’s intention to establish aquaculture operations in the region.
The CAN$251 million project is expected to create approximately 325 direct and 235 indirect/induced person years of employment, based on preliminary estimates, associated with production, harvesting and processing, with further opportunities in the supply and service sectors.
Per Grieg Jr from the Grieg Group, said: "The potential for salmon farming in Newfoundland and Labrador is huge using modern sustainable farming methods. We believe the province can be developed into a substantial producer of fresh salmon products for the whole North American market.”
Grieg's plans include a new CAN$75 million state-of-the-art hatchery and nursery facility in Marystown that will produce seven million smolts annually to stock 11 sea cage sites for the grow out and harvest of 33,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon.
Four bay management areas will be developed along the western side of Placentia Bay and near Long Harbour. The facility will be the largest in Canada and one of the largest in the world utilising the latest technology. Grow-out operations will include new cage and netting system technology, automated feed systems, well boats and value added processing.
Grieg said that it expects construction of the hatchery to be completed by 2017 with construction of the grow-out sites also beginning in 2017.
It expects annual production to reach 33,000 tonnes by 2023.
