January 14, 2008

Marine Farms to construct a cobia farm in Belize

Marine Farms Belize Ltd., a subsidiary of Norwegian company Marine Farms, plans to construct a 2,225-acre cobia farm 2.5 miles off Belize's Placencia coast.

The company is negotiating with Belize Government for a 475-acre nursery cage and a 500-acre size production area located near Lark Caye. Another1,250-acre grow-out site will be constructed to the northwest of Bugle Caye.

The first phase of construction was completed in 2007. It established a nursery, two on-growing production sites, two caye-based camps at Ramsey Caye in Grennels (English Caye) channel and the Triangles, and a shore base complex for office, storage, net cleaning and processing facilities in Belize City.

The new cobia farm would be the first commercial scale production unit of its kind in the area.

However, environmental groups are opposed to the project as numerous marine life forms may be adversely affected by the farm.

The government though is currently looking on the rich prospect of the aquaculture business as this will bring investment into Belize.

The Marine Farms project can produce more than 5,000 tonnes of fish per annum with an export value of US$30 million.