AquaCon secures new Maryland site for 20,000-ton land-based salmon farm 

USA – AquaCon AS, an Oslo-based company, has announced a significant shift in its U.S. operations, securing a new site in Maryland for its ambitious land-based salmon farm. 

The company has recalibrated its plans to produce up to 20,000 metric tons of salmon, moving to a location near Port Deposit, Maryland, following challenges encountered in Federalsburg.

The decision to relocate comes after AquaCon initially withdrew a water discharge permit application in 2022 for its planned 16,000-metric-ton recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) farm in Federalsburg. 

Residents concerned about the potential environmental impact on Marshyhope Creek, particularly the endangered wild Atlantic sturgeon population, strongly opposed the permit.

The new site, a former naval training ground near Port Deposit, is strategically located about two hours north of the previous site, bordering Pennsylvania and Delaware. 

The new AquaCon site in Maryland is expected to benefit from its proximity to major highways and rail transportation, which will provide direct access to large consumer markets on the U.S. East Coast. 

With its optimal water quality and access to public wastewater treatment facilities, the location has been carefully chosen to mitigate operational risks and ensure minimal environmental impact.

This move marks a significant step forward for AquaCon, which has faced several hurdles since first announcing its plans to build multiple land-based salmon farming facilities in Maryland four years ago.

Revised strategy 

AquaCon’s revised strategy involves developing salmon production on the East Coast of the United States. The company plans to produce approximately 50,000 tons of head-on gutted (HOG) salmon. 

The company is working on securing land options and permits for water intake and discharge. It aims for an initial production volume of 48,000 tons, which will be phased in over six years. 

The project will be rolled out in three phases, each with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons HOG.

The AquaCon team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the salmon industry, particularly in land-based facilities and RAS technology. 

Their collective expertise includes experience from building and operating over 70 RAS facilities, covering smolt, post-smolt, and commercial grow-out operations. This deep industry knowledge is expected to be crucial in successfully executing AquaCon’s plans in the U.S. market.

AquaCon is also a member of the Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N), a national public-private-federal partnership funded by NOAA/Sea Grant. Professor Yonathan Zohar leads the network of academia, industry, and federal labs across five U.S. states. 

RAS-N’s mission is to facilitate the growth of environmentally friendly, sustainable, and economically viable U.S. Atlantic salmon RAS production, contributing to better food security and reducing the trade deficit associated with salmon imports.

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