Grieg Seafood Newfoundland to resume the first phase construction of its Post-Smolt building in Marystown

Newfoundland

This construction phase is expected to continue into the Spring of 2024 and employ up to 120 people at peak.

Marystown, 6th July, 2023

This week, the construction of the first phase of the new Post-Smolt building will commence. The building will be located in the Marystown Industrial Park, next to Grieg Seafood Newfoundland’s First Feed Building and Smolt Building. When completed, it will be equipped with the same Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology as the other buildings.

Completing the first phase is expected to reach an investment of $14 million CAD. The work will be done by a Marco Construction and Olympic Construction joint venture. Both companies are based in St. John’s, NL. During this phase, the foundation and groundwork on the site will be finalized. The second phase will include the construction of the actual building.

Post-smolt is a new technology within salmon farming, where a larger part of the production cycle occurs on land and the time the fish spend in the marine farms is reduced compared to traditional practices. Post-smolt has been linked to lower environmental impact as well as better fish welfare and improved production. The new post-smolt building will allow Grieg Seafood Newfoundland to better utilize this technology while scaling up production in Placentia Bay during the coming years.

Grieg Seafood Newfoundland is committed to develop its operations in Placentia Bay gradually and responsibly. The first generation of fish have completed their first year in Placentia Bay in two marine farms with positive results so far, including high survival and good growth. The first harvest is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The company is currently transferring the second generation of salmon from its land-based facilities in Marystown to three new marine farms in Placentia Bay.

In addition to the $14 million CAD investment for the Post-Smolt building, Grieg Seafood will invest approximately $38 million CAD into its Newfoundland operations during 2023, mainly to develop the marine sites.

Knut Skeidsvoll, Managing Director of Grieg Seafood Newfoundland, said:

“We are happy to announce that we are resuming the first phase construction of our Post-Smolt building. Post-smolt is one of the industry best practices we are implementing into our Newfoundland operations from the get-go. I am also pleased that this investment will contribute to our local communities with the employment of 120 people at peak.

Grieg Seafood Newfoundland remain committed to develop our operations gradually and responsibly. Based on the experience we have so far, Placentia Bay is well suited for sustainable salmon farming. I strongly believe that salmon aquaculture will bring value and opportunities to the communities of Placentia Bay and Newfoundland for many decades to come.”

Rod Ackerman and Mathew Mallamof the Marco Construction and Olympic Construction Joint Venture, said:

“We are excited to embark on this new partnership with Grieg Seafood and look forward to constructing the new Post-Smolt facility in Marystown.”

Mike Williams, Regional Manager NL of the Carpenters Union, said:

“We are excited to be part of this new industry that will create jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador. Carpenters Local 579 has a well trained and skilled workforce and we are eager to work with Grieg Seafood on this world class agricultural project.”

Brian Keating, Mayor of Marystown, said:

“The Town of Marystown is pleased to hear that construction is resuming on the post-smolt at Grieg Seafood NL’s salmon hatchery at the Marine Industrial Park. We are excited at the prospect of increased economic prosperity and employment for our region, and we look forward to helping to build one of the strongest aquaculture sectors nation-wide.”

About Grieg Seafood:

Grieg Seafood Newfoundland currently has an on-land RAS facility consisting of a hatchery, a nursery and a smolt unit in Marystown, as well as five marine farms in Placentia Bay. Grieg Seafood is developing the project based on existing best-practice farming technologies.
The operations look promising so far with high-survival, good growth and no sea lice issues.
Grieg Seafood Newfoundland targets 5000 tonnes of harvest in 2023, increasing to 15 000 tonnes by 2026. The company is still in an early phase and will expand the project gradually and responsibly, in line with biological developments.
Grieg Seafood Newfoundland currently has 121 employees.