Land-based farming
Long live the
kingfish!
The Kingfish Company is exporting its RAS model to Maine
BY ROBERT OUTRAM
L
AST month saw another milestone for The Kingfish Company and its planned recircula�ng aquaculture system (RAS) project in the north-eastern United States, with an important real estate deal. The purchase of land near Jonesport, Maine, is an important step towards making the project a reality, following the earlier approval of key permits allowing it to move ahead. This is one of several land-based RAS projects along the US Atlan�c coast, but unlike most of the others this farm will not be producing salmon, but yellowtail kingfish. It will be following a model already established by the group’s European arm, Kingfish Zeeland, in the Netherlands. Kingfish Zeeland has been in opera�on since 2018 and is currently in the process of expanding its capacity from 1,500 tonnes annually to 3,500. Chief Execu�ve Officer and co-founder Ohad Maiman says kingfish “�cks all the boxes” for RAS farming: it enables local
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produc�on of a fish that is normally dependent on imports (for Europe and the US, kingfish is generally imported from Japan); it performs well in a RAS se�ng; and it is (like salmon) a high-value product. Otherwise known as yellowtail amberjack or greater amberjack, Seriola lalandi is na�ve to the tropical and temperate oceans of the southern hemisphere. It is an established favourite in two leading cuisines; Japanese sushi and sashimi, and Italian, where it is known as ricciola. Co-founder Kees Kloet is an aquaculture veteran and pioneered the use
Above: Kingfish Maine site design Left: Ohad Maiman Opposite from top: Tank at Kingfish Zeeland; Jennie de Haan, junior hatchery specialist; Kingfish is popular in several cuisines
www.fishfarmermagazine.com
09/12/2021 15:53:17
