Grimsby looks set to land the UK’s largest onshore salmon farm after a £120 million proposal was approved by North East Lincolnshire Council.
Aquacultured Seafood Ltd’s plans for the facility, to be built on New Clee Sidings – port land beyond the current docks footprint – were given the go-ahead, with the figurehead indicating work could start next year. The 40,000 sq m site will process 5,000 tonnes a year, feeding into the cluster it will form a flagship element of.
Mike Berthet, founding member of ASL and a former director with Grimsby-based M&J Seafoods, said: “Today is a major milestone in our journey to establishing a new, responsible and sustainable form of fish farming in the UK. As someone who has worked in the local fishing industry for 40 years, I am delighted that Grimsby continues to be a leader in this sector.”
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“It is a groundbreaking development in the heartland of UK seafood processing. We will now take the good news back to our financial house in the City and to our existing shareholders, and put out shoulders to the wheel to raise the funds as quickly as possible, so we can get on site and start the build.”
A total of £75 to £80 million is required for the build, with a further £40 million for the state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture systems that are set to be deployed, as well as working capital to manage the initial growth phase ahead of first processing.
Mr Berthet said: “I’m really grateful for the support of local seafood business community and the wider business community for all the help we have had along the way.
“I really do hope that once we are up and running the community will feel proud of what we have been able to bring to the Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes community.
“The nub of it for us is producing healthy, nutritious protein which the United Nations has clearly stated is the most economical use of land and water, and it couldn’t be in a better place – to do that while bringing new skill sets to Grimsby and to train the sector’s first aquarists here, is an excellent addition to the seafood sector.”
(Image: NELC)
Councillors on the authority’s planning committee voted seven to four in favour of the farm, with an initial deferment proposal defeated as a full environmental impact assessment was sought. Officers had recommended approval.
Objections had been led by Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK making an impassioned plea to councillors and warning over issues at other farms.
However, Mr Berthet assured the committee, technology partners had operated in Poland for seven years without issue.
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber
