BELFAST (NEWS CENTER Maine) — A Norwegian aquaculture company, Nordic Aquafarms, has chosen Belfast to build one of the world's largest land-based salmon farms.
Governor LePage made the announcement Tuesday in Belfast and said the salmon farm will initially create 60 new jobs in Maine.
Nordic Aquafarms, which is headquartered in Norway, says they bought 40 acres on the outskirts of Belfast with plans to build one of the world's largest land-based salmon farms on Northport Ave.
The company says they are investing $150 million in the project initially but when final stages of the facility are done it will be an investment around $500 million.
Officials with the project say the Belfast facility will be able to produce 66 million pounds of salmon annually when it is completed.
Company CEO, Erik Heim, says construction will begin in 2019 with business operations starting in 2020.
Nordic Aquafarms, the City of Belfast, and the Belfast Water District have planned informational meetings in the coming weeks to allow local residents to ask questions and learn more about the incoming project.