Stolt Sea Farm expands fish production facility

Following an infrastructure investment of EUR2.78 million (US$3.4 million) and eight months of construction, the expansion of Stolt Sea Farm's sole production facility at Ferme Marine de l'Adour, northwestern France, has been completed.

The former turbot farming site exported directly to Spain, and the expanded facility now covers 5,100 square metres, specialising in the pre-fattening of sole (solea senegalensis) from 5 grammes to 50 grammes and the additional fattening of the species from 50 grammes to 100 grammes.

In 2009, Stolt Sea Farm produced 50 tonnes of farmed sole and is among the world's most technologically advanced aquaculture companies, with six farms in Spain and one each in France, Portugal and Norway.

Consisting of the principal 4,000-metre production plant and two adjacent auxiliary facilities, the location was specifically selected for its capacity to satisfy the demand for water replenishment, as the recirculation process involves powerful pumping and bio-filters to double the capacity of the system load.

The sole pre-fattening and fattening phases take place in the two adjacent buildings where the cleaning and water purifying processes use an advanced closed-circuit supply system.