AquaBounty Technologies has identified Pioneer, Ohio as the location for its planned large-scale genetically engineered salmon farm. It will be the Maynard, Massachusetts-headquartered company’s first large-scale commercial facility, with planned annual production capacity of 10,000 metric tons – approximately eight times the size of its farm in Albany, Indiana.
Over $200 million will be invested in the project, with design finalization of the 479,000 square foot facility now nearing completion. Construction is slated to begin in late 2021 and it is anticipated that commercial stocking of salmon will commence in 2023. Once in operation, the farm is expected to generate approximately 100 new jobs in the region.
“After an intensive analysis of the site data and the completion of substantial due diligence, this location met our selection requirements,” said CEO Sylvia Wulf. “The village of Pioneer, Williams County, the state of Ohio, JobsOhio and the Regional Growth Partnership have all been a pleasure to work with and are highly supportive of the economic benefits we plan to bring to the community.”
She added: “The state of Ohio currently is finalizing a package of economic incentives to support AquaBounty’s location at the Pioneer site, as the plan for the new farm is contingent upon approval of state and local incentives.”
About AquaBounty
AquaBounty Technologies is a leader in the field of land-based aquaculture and the use of technology for improving productivity and sustainability. The company’s genetically engineered salmon program is based upon a single, specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid growth in early development.
With aquaculture farms already operational in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Indiana, USA, AquaBounty is raising salmon that is free of antibiotics and other contaminants, in land-based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) which are designed to prevent disease and to include multiple levels of fish containment to protect wild fish populations.
