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Kingfish acquires waterside permit for Maine RAS project

The Kingfish Company has secured a critical permit for its planned recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in Jonesport, Maine.

The approval by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) of a  Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES) permit paves the way for the company to build a land-based aquaculture facility that has an estimated output of 6,000 to 8,000 yellowtail annually, according to Kingfish Maine.

The MEPDES permit evaluates the facility’s discharge to ensure that Kingfish Maine will maintain the water quality of the area based on the location of the discharge point and the make-up of the effluent water.

The company said it will use the same technology solutions used in the Netherlands to minimize impacts of effluent.

The MEPDES permit is the second of two critical water-side permits required to build and operate its facility. The company has already obtained the first critical permit, a submerged land lease, during 2020.

The Kingfish Company announced its intentions to build a US$110 million RAS facility in Jonesport back in November 2019.

Jonesport is a lobster-fishing community of  about 1,400 residents. Most of the work in the area is seasonal. The prospect of year-round jobs from a facility like the one Kingfish Zeeland is planning is welcome news to some people in the community.