Pure Salmon has plans to invest about USD 228 million (EUR 192.5 million) in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in Southwest Virginia, U.S.A.
The facility, called “Project Jonah,” will be located at the border of Tazewell and Russell counties, will employ over 200 residents and raise and process up to 20,000 metric tons of salmon annually. The investment will be one of the largest private capital investments in the area’s history.
“We are pleased to have chosen Southwest Virginia as the location for our Pure Salmon facility. Our decision was driven by the early support and continued assistance we have received from Delegate Morefield, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, Tazewell County, Southwest Virginia Community College and the College Foundation as well as the benefits of economic development policies such as HB222,” a Pure Salmon spokesperson told according to a report from ABC 4 WOAY. “Our aim as a company is to produce clean, healthy and fresh locally produced salmon while providing increased opportunities for the local community.”
Officials from the three counties have been discussing the project for six years, sending delegates abroad to research economic opportunities for Southwest Virginia. In 2015, a contingent of local officials traveled to observe large-scale aquaculture projects similar to the one proposed by Pure Salmon.
“The facility we saw under construction was amazing. It was unbelievably large, and our project is going to be 10 times that size,” said Travis Hackworth, a member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors about one of those trips. “The number of jobs required will give opportunity to so many of our residents to stay home and not have to move away for work. We are thankful to have this tremendous opportunity.”
Pure Salmon bought 203 acres of land near Southwest Virginia Community College in the summer of 2020, and applied for land-disturbing permits this autumn. Site preparation will begin later this winter. The project is expected to be completed in 2023.
Pure Salmon, which is backed by Singapore-based private equity manager 8F Asset Management, has invested in a huge expansion of land-based salmon farming around the world, and has plans to launch operations across the globe with projects planned in Japan, France, North America, China, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Pure Salmon has completed site surveys and geotechnical studies for its Virginia farm and RAS designer AquaMaof “is scheduled to start working on the initial RAS technology design for this larger facility,” it said in March.
Photo courtesy of Pure Salmon
