Kingfish Maine's RAS project can move ahead after decisive court victory
Plan for 8,500-tonne facility was delayed by almost four years by opposition group
Dutch land-based fish farmer The Kingfish Company has announced a conclusive court victory in Maine in the US that affirms state permits for an 8,500-tonnes-per-year recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility planned in Jonesport by its subsidiary, Kingfish Maine.
The state’s Supreme Judicial Court has denied the latest and final appeal by an opponent of Kingfish Maine’s combined Site Location of Development Act (SLODA) and Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) state permit.
The opponent, a group called Protect Downeast, is understood to have been funded by the owners of the Roque Island Gardner Homestead Corporation (RIGHC), a family company that owns the private Roque Island and eight adjoining islands which are separated from Kingfish Maine’s mainland shore site by Chandler Bay. This week's court ruling means those opposing the RAS facility have exhausted all legal methods of stopping the project in Maine courts.
The permit for the Maine facility was initially issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in 2021. Opposition groups appealed the permit decision twice - to the Maine Board of Environmental Protection then to the Maine Superior Court. Both appeals were denied.
In this latest court decision, Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court denied the opponent's appeal of the Maine Superior Court decision, upholding the original Maine Bureau of Environmental Protection decision. Kingfish Maine remains fully permitted with all required local, state and federal permits.
A multi-year battle
“This has been a multi-year battle with a small group of opponents which worked to stop our project,” said Kingfish Company chief executive Vincent Erenst. “Due to this opposition, our project was delayed by almost four years.”
The project was first introduced to the Jonesport community in 2019 and the permitting process was completed during the pandemic. The opponents filed multiple appeals of the state and local planning board permits over three years, which severely delayed the design and construction process.
“Our construction timeline for the Jonesport facility was, unfortunately, significantly delayed by several years due to the multiple appeals by opponents,” said Erenst. “Now, with the appeals behind us, the project timeline will be determined by current economic and financial conditions, which we are assessing at this time.
“This is a win for Maine and the United States with regard to seafood production.
“Currently, the US imports more than 85% of all seafood. The Kingfish Company’s Maine facility will specifically address US reliance on imports for protein-rich food sources. When completed, our Jonesport facility will provide local and US production of our high quality and high-value yellowtail kingfish.”
