Kingfish Maine receives overwhelming community support for its land-based
aquaculture facility in Jonesport, as town residents voted down a proposed
moratorium on aquaculture facilities on Wednesday. The final vote was 91 to 201,
with the majority defeating the aquaculture moratorium.
"We are grateful for the overwhelming local support at the town vote," said Ohad
Maiman, CEO, The Kingfish Company. "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."
"The defeat of the moratorium demonstrates that town residents have confidence
in Jonesport's Planning Board and the existing town ordinances," said Megan
Sorby, Kingfish Maine Operations Manager. "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. We are
thrilled to see the confidence of this town in their own town government and in
the potential of this project in Jonesport."
Also this week, the Jonesport Planning Board accepted Kingfish Maine's building
application and continues its review of the application. Another Planning Board
review meeting is set for August 2nd.
The Planning Board application is the last of the critical approvals needed for
the Jonesport project. Kingfish Maine has received all Maine Department of
Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) and US Army Corp of Engineers permits for
its proposed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility projected to
produce 6,000 - 8,000 metric tons of yellowtail annually upon completion.
"We are grateful for the continued support we receive from the town of Jonesport
and look forward to working with the Planning Board as we proceed through the
municipal process," said Sorby.
Kingfish Maine is owned by The Kingfish Company, which currently operates a
land-based system in the Netherlands. Kingfish Zeeland has been awarded a number
of sustainable practice certifications: It's the first land-based farm to
receive Best Aquaculture Practices certification and the first Aquaculture
Stewardship Council certified source of yellowtail kingfish.
"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"
said Maiman.
For media and investor inquiries, please contact
Media Contact:
Dianna Fletcher, Fletcher Media, +1 207 831 8148
dianna@fletcher-media.com
press@the-kingfish-company.com
ir@the-kingfish-company.com
Company News feed
https://www.the-kingfish-company.com/news
About The Kingfish Company
The Kingfish Company is a pioneer and leader in sustainable land-based
aquaculture. Current annual production capacity at its Kingfish Zeeland facility
in the Netherlands is 1,500 tons of high quality and high value Yellowtail
Kingfish.
Expansion is underway and capacity in the Netherlands will reach 3,500 tons in
the second half of 2022. In the US, permitting for the company's 8,500 tons
capacity facility is progressing as planned.
Production is based on advanced recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which
protect biodiversity and ensure biosecurity. Animal welfare is paramount, and
the fish is grown without use of antibiotics and vaccines. Operations run on 100
percent renewable energy, sourced from wind, solar and biogas. The company's
facilities operate on sea water, avoiding wasting of precious fresh water.
The Kingfish Company's main product at present, the Yellowtail Kingfish (also
known as Ricciola/Hiramasa/Greater Amberjack) is a highly versatile premium fish
species, well known in the Italian and Asian fusion cuisines.
Its products are certified and approved as sustainable and environmentally
friendly by Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices
(BAP) and British Retail Consortium (BRC). It was the winner of the 2019 Seafood
Excellence Award, and it is recommended as green choice by Good Fish Foundation.