Company will move forward with permit applications for land-based salmon farm.
BELFAST, Maine – Nordic Aquafarms has completed nearly all of its due diligence on the 40-acre site in Belfast where it plans to build a state-of-the-art land-based salmon farm. Company CEO Erik told area residents at a public information tonight that the company will now proceed with pre-engineering and preparation the various state and local permit applications that will be necessary for the company to begin construction next year on the first phase of the project.
“We have confirmed that necessary conditions are in place on the site for our planned aquaculture production, including the availability of clean, abundant and sustainable groundwater from test wells,” said Heim. “We now have over 90 percent confidence related to site conditions and requirements and as a result will be moving ahead with engineering and permitting.”
Meanwhile, site planning has progressed to the point where Nordic Aquafarms provided the meeting with renderings of the planned facility, showing what the buildings will look like and how they will fit into the landscape. In presenting the computer-generated images, including aerial and ground perspectives, Heim reiterated Nordic Aquafarms’ commitment to develop a “green” facility with “soft” integration into the land-scape.
He also announced that staffing for the company’s first U.S. facility is also progressing. The company is finalizing an agreement with its first U.S. hire, a Maine native who is returning home from Florida to support development activities in Belfast, where the company will be opening a field office this summer.
In addition, Heim is moving to Maine in October to head up U.S. operations, and Marianne Naess, an experienced executive who has held senior positions at McKesson and Aker Solutions, also will be moving from Norway as Director of Operations. A small corporate office that will serve as U.S. headquarters for Nordic Aquafarms will be established in Portland late this summer.
“We are very pleased with the progress that we made since announcing the project in January. Our due diligence at the site and strong support from the City of Belfast confirm that this is a great location for this exciting project,” said Heim. “The scope and pace of our work will increase significantly in the weeks ahead.”