LandbasedAQ.com
Stolt starts the spadework for sole RAS expansion in Portugal
Stolt Sea Farm has held a groundbreaking ceremony in Tocha, Portugal, to mark the start of construction of its new recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility, RAS II, for sole production.
RAS II will allow for up to 95% of the water used for its operations to be recirculated, reinforcing Stolt Sea Farm’s commitment to environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.
The new facility will be similar to the RAS operations Stolt already has on the same site in Tocha, and in Cervo, Spain. Both have exceeded the company’s expectations in terms of performance and return on investment.
Ongoing expansion
The new RAS at Tocha is the latest step in Stolt’s ongoing expansion programme. Earlier this year, the company expanded its sole broodstock facility in Merexo, Spain, and it is also halfway through an extension to its sole hatchery in Cervo. It said both are key milestones on its journey to achieving its 12,000-tonne sole production target by 2035.
Stolt Sea Farm president Jordi Trias said: “Everyone at Stolt Sea Farm is excited to see this project beginning at Tocha. So much talent, effort and collaboration has been put into it by our amazing teams; it makes me immensely proud to see it finally break ground. It was a joyful event, and sets a landmark for our company, as we continue to execute our growth plan.
“Growing in aquaculture is not an easy task, and Stolt Sea Farm continues to be an exception in many ways. This new RAS sole facility will take us one step further towards achieving our long-term ambition and delivering on our company purpose to ensure that future generations continue to enjoy wonderful seafood.”
