Pure Salmon has recommenced construction on its land-based salmon farm in the U.S. state of Virginia, and Nordic Aquafarms has received critical permits needed to advance its project in California.
Nordic Aquafarms announced on 22 May it has received all three coastal development permits needed to move forward with its recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility planned at the site of a former paper mill near the town of Eureka, in Humboldt County, California.
“Having all three of the Coastal Development Permits needed to move forward is a significant accomplishment,” Nordic Aquafarms CEO Brenda Chandle said. “I am proud of this team and appreciate the confidence and support we’ve gained over the last few years from Humboldt County. We hope to have approvals for the remaining permits this summer. Working with the Harbor District to continue this momentum and bring a thriving waterfront to the Samoa Peninsula is coming closer to fruition, and we look forward to contributing to California’s agricultural front.”
The company has shifted its plans for the facility several times and now plans to farm kingfish instead of Atlantic salmon at the site.
“This accomplishment marks a significant milestone in establishing a robust and sustainable aquaculture presence on the West Coast. The timing of such an endeavor couldn’t be better,” Nordic Aquafarms said in a press release. “Our farm will replace imports with fresh, local seafood under the strictest of environmental regulations. Regardless of the increasing market for seafood, particularly on the U.S. West Coast, establishing a farm in California is not simple. Notably, California has the most rigorous environmental laws in the United States and one of the most complex permitting processes.”
It said the permitting process, especially obtaining approval from the California Coastal Commission, was not easy. The company has failed to obtain the needed approvals for its planned farm on the other side of the country in the U.S. state of Maine, and that project is now blocked after a recent vote by the city council in Belfast, Maine.
“It is difficult to overstate the significance of Nordic Aquafarms’ achievement in securing permits for our project. We have successfully navigated the complex regulatory landscape where many others have struggled, giving us a unique first-mover advantage in the California RAS market for the next 10 to 20 years,” it said.
Separately, in the U.S. state of Virginia, an RAS project initiated by Pure Salmon 11 years ago has been restarted after several years of delays.
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.-headquartered Pure Salmon, which is owned by 8F Asset Management, has plans to open a series of RAS facilities around the globe, including China, Southeast Asia, and Africa, helped along by more than USD 350 million (EUR 300 million) in funding. It broke ground on its 20,000-metric-ton farm in 2021 and initially hoped to finish the project by 2023. But, construction was halted in the summer of 2023, apparently due to poor soil conditions. A remediation process was put in place and is now underway, according to the company.
“Due to the type of soil here and the heavy weight of the facility, the land needs to be compacted prior to building; this will help prevent settling once the structure is complete and hopefully mitigate the possibility of cracks in the foundations and underground piping,” Pure Salmon told the Cardinal News.
Pure Salmon is planning to erect nine buildings at the site, including a hatchery and grow-out buildings, totaling 800,000 square feet. It expects to begin hiring in Q1 2027 and commence full operations in mid-2028, with its first harvest conducted 22 months later. It acknowledged the cost of the project had risen to at least USD 200 million (EUR 184.5 million) since it was first outlined in 2021.
“Unfortunately, due to the current global situation, a number of costs have risen over the past two years, leading to a higher overall cost for the project,” Pure Salmon said. “We have begun to see some costs stabilize and even come down a bit, and we are also working on value engineering where possible to help reduce the overall impact on the project.”
A Pure Salmon spokesperson said the company would not provide additional comment on the state of its Virginia RAS or any of its other aquaculture developments.
The local government in Tazewell County, Virginia, where the project is based, is contributing up to USD 10 million (EUR 9.2 million) in infrastructure improvements, including building an access road and upgrading water pipes and pump stations to supply the 300,000 to 400,000 gallons the farm requires daily. Tazewell County Administrator Eric Young is also helping Pure Salmon find employees and worker housing.
Young said he hopes to eventually attract other farms to the site to produce up to 35,000 MT of Atlantic salmon annually, and there is a plan for pet treats to be produced from salmon byproducts sold under Chewy.com’s Marly & Dan brand.
In April 2024, 8F Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer Karim Ghannam visited the site to announce a USD 200,000 (EUR 184,000) contribution to the Southwest Virginia Community College Foundation for a tuition assistance program for local students. The college and Pure Salmon are working on a potential collaboration involving aquaculture industry workforce training.
“The college is currently in the curriculum development phase of a water management and aquaculture program for transfer and non-transfer students,” Robert Brandon, the college’s vice president of academic and student services, said. “The water management program would allow expansion to other industries as well, including water treatment and sanitation. We have been working with Virginia Tech to develop a direct transfer program, and our Workforce and Continuing Education department would offer a non-transfer option.”
