Pescanova to build worlds largest turbot factory

The new plant will be based in Miras, between Porto and Lisbon, and will create over 200 direct jobs in the region, the company said.

The agreement was signed with the Portuguese government in January, which will subsidise up to 50 per cent of the project through the European Fisheries Fund.

The factory will take up an area of 82 hectares and the company said it will be a world leader in the application of new technology systems for the production of turbot. Most of this will be destined for the European market and Portugal will become the world leader in the production of turbot, a statement said.

The news of this investment has attracted much attention in the Spanish media, especially in the region of Galicia, where Pescanova’s headquarters and turbot farms are located. It has been reported that the Miras factory was initially intended for Cabo Tourinan in Galicia but the regional Government stopped the company’s project, arguing that the location was a protected environmental area under the European Natura 2000 Network. However, the previous regional Government had backed the company’s plans to build the factory in Cabo Tourinan.

A spokesman from Pescanova told World Fishing that the firm will not announce any new investments in Galicia until the region has a legal framework for aquaculture, which is expected to be approved this month.

The company is about to complete the first enlargement of its existing plant in the Galician town of Xove, which will produce 3,000t of turbot per year, becoming the world’s largest turbot factory until the Miras plant is running.