Aquaculture for all

Kingfish Maine lands key planning consent

Marine fish Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) Regulations +4 more

Yellowtail kingfish producer The Kingfish Company is one step closer to commencing construction of its first US-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS).

The proposed site of the Kingfish Maine RAS, just outside Jonesport

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands has finalized the Submerged Lands Lease Application for Kingfish Maine’s installation of intake and discharge pipes. This is a critical permit for the construction of the company’s newest RAS facility, known as Kingfish Maine, which is projected to produce 6,000-8,000 tonnes of Seriola lalandi annually.

“We are encouraged by the approval of our permit application with no special conditions and no public objections,” says Ohad Maiman, founder and CEO of The Kingfish Company. “Prior to submission, substantial design and engineering efforts were required to assure our future operation complies with state and federal regulations.”

“It was important for us, however, to go the extra mile and approach local stakeholders and ask to hear their concerns. We listened, and accordingly implemented several changes to our design prior to permit application so that we could mitigate such concerns, and found the open and transparent dialogue to be important and constructive in that respect.”

The Kingfish Company currently operates a land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in the Netherlands. The company has been awarded a number of sustainable practice certifications: it’s the first land-based farm to receive Best Aquaculture Practices certification and the first Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified source of yellowtail kingfish. It was awarded the 2019 Seafood Global Excellence Award as best HORECA product at the Seafood Expo Global.

At a time where global supply chains have proven vulnerable, and key trade agreements are challenged the case for local, reliable, year-round production and short supply chains has, according to the company, given them “unique business resilience advantages”.

Create an account now to keep reading

It'll only take a second and we'll take you right back to what you were reading. The best part? It's free.

Already have an account? Sign in here