Whole Oceans, a company planning to build a salmon RAS facility in Bucksport, Maine, U.S.A., announced 2 July that it has hired Joe McElwee to be its chief production officer.
McElwee has 36 years of experience in the in the aquaculture industry, including more than 20 in the design and operation of land-based systems. Most recently, he was the global head of sales for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems.
“Joe McElwee has been farming fish for over 36 years. His knowledge of the technical design and operation of RAS facilities is unparalleled,” Whole Oceans CEO Rob Piasio said. “He is a key member of our senior management and we will leverage his knowledge and wisdom toward our goal of capturing 10 percent of the U.S. Atlantic salmon market. We are thrilled to have Joe on the Whole Oceans team.”
Hiring McElwee comes after Whole Oceans hired Jason Mitchell as their chief operating officer in May.
The company announced its intentions to create a RAS salmon farm in Maine in February 2018. The facility will be located in a defunct paper mill, and is expected to require USD 250 million (EUR 214.7 million) in investment. Piasio told SeafoodSource in April that his goal is to capture 10 percent of the U.S. domestic salmon market.
According to Piasio, the goal is to start construction on the facility before winter of this year.
McElwee said that he’s excited to bring his knowledge to land-based aquaculture in the U.S.
“The aquaculture industry is expanding and developing rapidly, and now is the perfect time for land-based aquaculture in the U.S.A.,” he said. “To have the opportunity to bring my knowledge of the technology, growing experience and business to Whole Oceans, one of the premier land-based developments in the United States, is very exciting.”
