With an investment of $15 million to purchase the assets of the Gray Aqua Group of Companies in Atlantic Canada, Norway-based Marine Harvest has begun the process of establishing operations in this province.
The deal includes seven farming licences in Newfoundland and Labrador and the Hermitage processing plant.
“This is significant news for our province’s seafood industry and for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Fisheries Minister Steve Crocker said in a news release today.
“Marine Harvest is one of the largest seafood companies in the world, and is the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. This is a company that did $4.5 billion in business worldwide last year.”
The Marine Harvest investment also includes 17 site applications throughout the province. The company has also acquired a hatchery and two farming licences in New Brunswick.
The sale will be finalized once approved by the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick.
The company will soon provide details of its plans to produce between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of product in the Atlantic region annually.
Marine Harvest employs 11,700 people in 24 countries, providing farmed salmon and processed seafood to more than 70 markets worldwide.
