July 25, 2023

US Senator visits Kingfish's aquaculture research facility in Maine, US.

US Senator Angus King recently paid a visit to Kingfish's recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) research facility in Maine state, US right after the company celebrated its successful first harvest of yellowtail kingfish, Seafood Source reported.

Operating a small farm at the Centre of Cooperative Aquaculture Research, Kingfish Maine is progressing with its plan to establish a larger RAS facility in Jonesport, Maine. The company received a favourable decision when the Jonesport Board of Appeals upheld the town planning board's granting of a building permit for its proposed facility.

During his visit, Senator King observed the company's broodstock operations as it advances through the pre-design phase for the Jonesport facility.

Kingfish Maine's recent harvest of yellowtail kingfish was successfully sold through collaborations with two Maine-based companies, Bristol Seafood and Wheeler Seafood. All 8,000 pounds of the initial harvest were distributed to restaurants in Maine, Boston, Washington DC, and California, eliciting a "phenomenal public response," according to Kingfish Maine.

Kingfish Maine operates under The Kingfish Company, which runs a successful yellowtail RAS in the Netherlands. The company recently secured EUR 32 million (~US$35 million; EUR 1 = US$1.11) through an unsecured convertible loan to finance the second phase of its facility.

With construction already underway for the second phase, one of its grow-out facilities is already operational, as confirmed by Vincent Erenst, chief executive officer of Kingfish in early July.

-      Seafood Source