Following prior approval of the project's Favourable Environmental Impact report and a construction license, the authorities in Galicia – the Spanish region where Stolt Sea Farm's (SSF) state-of-the-art flatfish hatchery is located – have given the company the go-ahead for expansion. With this upgrade, the facility will reach an annual capacity of approximately six million turbot juveniles and ten million sole juveniles.
Stolt Sea Farm's flatfish hatchery – located in Cervo (Lugo, Galicia, Spain) – is already the world's largest and has established itself as a leader in the sustainable production of turbot and sole using pioneering techniques. In particular, its Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for sole has kept SSF at the forefront of the land-based aquaculture industry for more than 50 years.
As mentioned, with the expansion announced today, the facility will reach an annual capacity of about six million turbot juveniles and ten million sole juveniles. This, in turn, will mean a significant increase in the annual production capacity of sustainably farmed seafood. Once the new facility is fully operational, it is expected to reach 8500 tons of turbot and more than 3000 tons of sole.
"This is a very important landmark for us," said the President of Stolt Sea Farm, Jordi Trias. "This exciting project demonstrates the confidence we have in the strength of our business and is crucial to our strategic growth plan, which includes reaching our annual production target of 23,000 tonnes of turbot and sole by 2035."
Construction is expected to start in October 2023 and the new facility operational by mid-2025. Another of the important points highlighted by the company in the announcement of the expansion of its flatfish hatchery is the new jobs that will be generated in the local community of Cervo, both during construction and later in the operation itself.
"Our Cervo expansion also underlines our commitment to creating opportunities for our employees and people in the local community," Trias highlighted. "Ultimately, the new hatchery will support increased sales and the continued growth and success of our business, so that future generations continue to enjoy wonderful seafood."
The go-ahead for the expansion and the increased production it will bring is further good news for Stolt Sea Farm, which started 2023 with a better-than-expected outlook by posting an operating profit before fair value biomass adjustment of $5.6 million (€5.07 million), up from $3.3 million (€2.99 million) in the previous quarter.
Stolt Sea Farm (SSF) is a division of Stolt-Nielsen Limited (SNL). Leader in land-based aquaculture, SSF is the premier provider of high-quality turbot and sole, in an environmentally sound manner. It has its main operations in Spain, with the majority of its production facilities located in the Iberian Peninsula. Stolt Sea Farm sells its products in more than 30 countries worldwide, with more than half of those sales outside Spain.