New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS) has purchased a new processing site at Cloudy Bay in Blenheim, New Zealand, as part of the company’s Blue Endeavor pilot project.
The company purchased the new site for NZD 8.14 million (USD 4.8 million, EUR 4.1 million), with plans to use the site for future processing factory operations. NZKS CEO Carl Carrington said in a release that any new factory operations are at least three years away, but the purchase is an exciting step in its growth plans for when the firm's Blue Endeavor project is operational.
Blue Endeavor is the name NZKS gave to its open-ocean salmon farm concept, which received full governmental approval to proceed in 2024. The project is intended to establish a new farming site for the company 7 kilometers off the coast of Cape Lambert, New Zealand, in the Cook Strait.
Carrington said the company plans to continue using its factory in Nelson, New Zealand, but that the new location will be a key part of increasing the company’s efficiency.
“We truck fish from Marlborough over the Whangamoa Hill to Nelson to be processed and then back over the hill to be distributed,” Carrington said. “Having our primary processing operations in Blenheim takes a lot of truck movements off the road and better future-proofs our operations to be more resilient to extreme weather events, earthquakes, and other things that affect road transport.”
Marlborough District Mayor Nadine Taylor welcomed the company’s choice. The Marlborough District contains Blenheim in a region encompassing the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island.
“New Zealand King Salmon has been an important part of the Marlborough aquaculture industry for many years; this new investment very much consolidates their position here,” Taylor said. “It makes good economic and environmental sense to move their processing closer to their marine farms and also to State Highway 1, the port of Picton, and Christchurch Airport.”
Taylor also said the district has already been working with the company on planning advice and due diligence on the site.
“We welcome NZ King Salmon’s ongoing commitment and investment into the Marlborough region and the nationally important aquaculture industry,” Taylor said.
