U.S. Seafood & Aquaculture Projects Bring $4.3 Billion in Potential Spending
The U.S. seafood and aquaculture sectors are significant components of the country's food system, contributing to both the economy and the diet of the country. The U.S. seafood industry includes commercial fishing, seafood processing and distribution. Aquaculture, or fish farming, is the practice of raising fish or shellfish in controlled environments. This sector is growing rapidly in the U.S. as it becomes a vital supplement to wild-caught seafood, availability of which seems to lessen each year. In addition, multiple companies process and distribute both wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish products, sometimes creating prepared, value-added products such as breaded or precooked seafood. Industrial Info is tracking $4.3 billion in active projects at fish and seafood plants across the U.S.
The U.S. aquaculture segment represents more than $2.5 billion in potential spending, but many of these projects are facing increasing scrutiny and permitting challenges from local governments and communities. Most of these projects are set to kick off at a future date, with one of the highest-probability projects expected to start very soon in Virginia. Construction on Pure Salmon Limited's (Abu Dhabi) salmon aquaculture facility in Tazewell County was delayed last year after the discovery of clay in the ground that would not support the weight of the aquaculture tanks. However, Industrial Info's most recent update of the project shows an expected start date this summer.
Pure Salmon said it placed low-mobility grout and wick drains in the soil for settling and surcharge, which is placing weight over a building area to simulate the future weight of the facility and rapidly settle the soil. Surcharge wait times are between four months and a year, depending on soil depth and compaction, according to Pure Salmon. The work that is planned to start in June will focus on earth work and soil remediation, followed by foundation and piping. Pure Salmon now is aiming for a 2028 completion date for the project, which will produce between 10,000 and 20,000 tons per year of salmon. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Food & Beverage Project Database can learn more by viewing the project report.
The first phase of a yellowtail aquaculture facility also is expected to kick off this year in Jonesport, Maine. Kingfish Zeeland (Kats, Netherlands) will construct an 86,700-square-foot, state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture system that is expected to produce between 6,000 and 8,000 tons of yellowtail fish per year. Initial construction is expected to begin this summer, and toward the end of this year, Kingfish plans to launch construction on one of the plant's most important components: the wastewater treatment system. The dissolved air flotation system will be able to handle more than 28 million gallons of water per day. Both components of the project are expected to begin operations in 2025. Kingfish is keeping open the possibility of further expansion. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the reports on the aquaculture facility and wastewater system.
Outside of hatcheries and farming, several projects are on the books for the seafood-processing sector. Rich Products Corporation's seafood brands include SeaPak and Morey's Fine Fish & Seafood. The company is underway with the expansion of its frozen products factory in Brownsville, Texas, more than doubling the size of the facility with a 159,000-square-foot building addition that will include substantial freezer space. The project first turned earth last year and is expected to be completed this summer. New production lines are expected to be completed at the plant next year. Subscribers can learn more by viewing by the project reports on the building expansion and line addition projects.
Another well-known frozen seafood provider, Gorton's Incorporated (Gloucester, Massachusetts), which produces a wide range of fish, shrimp and crab products, is constructing a grassroot production plant in Lebanon, Indiana, to expand its production capabilities beyond its main Massachusetts plant. Construction is expected to begin soon and will entail building a 110,000-square-foot facility to process, cook and package the company's seafood products. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of next year. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.
Southwind Foods (Carson, California) sells a wide range of fresh and frozen seafood products under various brands and is constructing a grassroot production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 40,000-square-foot plant will house packaging and processing machinery to provide the company's products, which range from tuna steaks to wild and farmed shellfish to breaded calamari rings. Work on the plant kicked off last summer and is expected to be completed this fall. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Food & Beverage Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
