News post-smolt
Grieg Seafood’s post-smolt facility construction underway

Construction of Grieg Seafood Newfoundland’s post-smolt facility has started.

The company said that the facility located in the Marystown Industrial Park in southeast Newfoundland will be fitted with a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and will empl0y up to 120 people by 2024.

“Post-smolt is one of the industry’s 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,” said Knut Skeidsvoll, managing director of Grieg Seafood Newfoundland.

Grieg expects to boost production in Placentia Bay over the next few years with the post-smolt building.

The company 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 timing of the second construction phase of the Post-Smolt building may be contingent upon several factors, in particular the completion of a full grow-to-harvest cycle in Placentia Bay,” a press release from the company said. “A viable outcome of the Federal Government’s plan to transition the salmon farming industry in British Columbia is also a factor for consideration, as Grieg Seafood operates in both Newfoundland and British Columbia.”

“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,” said Brian Keating, mayor of Marystown. “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.”

Cost of the project is estimated a US$10.4 million. The facility is being developed by a joint venture between Marco Construction and Olympic Construction.

The first phase of the project involves work on the foundation. The second phase will be the construction of the building itself.

Grieg intends to transfer the second generation of salmon from its land-based facility in Marystown to three new marine farms in Placentia Bay.