The Kingfish Company is moving forward with its plan to build a land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in Jonesport, Maine, after town residents overwhelmingly voted against a proposed moratorium on all aquaculture.
The moratorium vote was called after a petition was circulated by local residents opposed to The Kingfish Company’s plan to construct a yellowtail farm with an eventual capacity of producing 8,500 metric tons of fish annually. The project has faced resistance from some local lobstermen and environmental groups.
On 20 July, Jonesport residents voted on whether to enact the aquaculture moratorium, but the proposal was defeated by a vote of 201 to 91.
The Kingfish Company CEO Ohad Maiman said, following the vote, his company plans to move forward with the next steps of the project, which include receiving approval from the Jonesport Planning Board, which meets next on 2 August.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming local support at the town vote,” Maiman said. “When we chose the Jonesport site, we spent significant time getting to know the community and making certain we were welcome. This vote confirms that that we have made the right choice.”
Maiman said he hopes to continue to build his company’s relationship with the residents and government of Jonesport.
“We will continue to share our plans and activity with full transparency as we always have, and look forward to be a good neighbor and partner to the entire Jonesport community,” Maiman said.
The planning board’s approval is the last step needed before construction can begin on the farm. Previously, Kingfish has received approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection approvals the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
The moratorium’s defeat is a sign that residents “have confidence in Jonesport’s planning board,” Kingfish Maine Operations Manager Megan Sorby said.
“We have said from the beginning we want to be in a town that will welcome us as a collaborating business partner, one that will provide jobs and economic benefits to the community,” Sorby said. We are thrilled to see the confidence of this town in their own town government and in the potential of this project in Jonesport.”
In its second-quarter 2022 financial results released 14 July, The Kingfish Company reported strong demand for its yellowtail in Europe and the U.S., and a strengthening financial position amid rising production volumes.
Photo courtesy of The Kingfish Company
