Cádiz, Spain-based Futuna Blue España has been given the green light to begin constructing the world’s largest bluefin tuna farm on the River Guadalete at the end of the month.
Established in 2007, the company aims to develop the species’ reproduction from the early stages of larval growth with an investment of approximately EUR 11 million (USD 13.5 million).
As Europe’s first center for the captive breeding of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), located in the port of Cádiz, the 30,000-square-meter plant plans to breed 500,000 tuna per year.
El Puerto Mayor Enrique Moresco just recently granted permission for the farm following a protracted planning process.
“Unfortunately for El Puerto, the Special Ports Plans were buried in a drawer until mayor Moresco gave them a new impetus,” said Patricia Ybarra, the port’s urban councilor. “Now we only need to complete the environmental procedures to give final municipal approval, and then we can count on a complete tool for the development of this type of facility.”
Miguel Llere, Futuna Blue España’s sales and marketing director, on Monday confirmed that after completing the administrative phase, the company plan to begin clearing land this week. Construction will last for one year.
Last week, Futuna Blue shareholders highlighted the possibility of finding another location due to the long planning permission process, warning that if work did not begin immediately the company would miss its May 2011 production target.
All Aquaculture stories >