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Taste of BC Aquafarms seeks approval of new Canadian RAS project

Canadian-based steelhead salmon grower Taste of BC Aquafarms has submitted to the country’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans for a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) salmon farm.

The proposed facility in Campbell River, British Columbia will have an estimated annual production of 1500 metric tons of head on gutted steelhead salmon. The company said this is equivalent to 13 million meals of sustainably raised salmon.

The proposed site is co-located with a local distillery and barley farm. The 380-acre site features abundant fresh water with capacity for future expansion. The salmon farm will operate with zero discharge off-site by capturing the water and nutrient discharges from the facility to fertilize adjacent crops.

The company expects to build several land-based farms in Canada.

The facility will use Taste of BC’s module-based RAS. Construction is anticipated to commence Q2 2023 with an investment of approximately CA$35million.

Taste of BC Aquafarms is a subsidiary of Miami-based Blue Star Foods Corp. In a press release, Taste of BC managing director, Steve Atkinson, said his company’s plans complement the federal governments current strategy to transition to land-based aquaculture.

“Since the Government of Canada has committed to a transition of the ocean-based salmon farming industry to more sustainable and environmentally sensitive technologies, we are excited to be able to lead in the development of land-based salmon farming here in BC. Our approach certainly meets their objectives, and we anticipate strong support from DFO for this project,” he said. “Salmon farming is a vital part of our economy here on Vancouver Island and we look forward to being a major part of its future. This is the first of several farms we intend to build.”

“Our current facility in BC has proven our technology, growing salmon since 2013 and harvesting since 2014, with an annual target of 100 metric tons. This new proposed facility will be built in modules essentially replicating what our team has done successfully over the years, and will be situated on land that has ample room for additional expansion in the future,” according to John Keeler, chairman and chief executive officer of Blue Star Foods.