Nordic Aquafarms proposes to build a land-based fish farm at the former Samoa pulp mill that they say would use a mixture of fresh and salt water to raise Yellowtail Kingfish, discharging up to 10.3 million gallons of effluent daily through the existing 1½-mile long ocean outfall. Bay intakes would supply 10 mgd saltwater, while 300,000 gallons per day of freshwater would be supplied by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Remodeling the former pulp mill would include removing the smokestack and other asbestos- and lead-laden structures, debris, and contaminated soil. Below are our comments submitted on the Project's permits and environmental review:
- Coastal Development Permit for the ocean discharge - Nov. 17, 2023
- Regional Water Board's Draft NPDES permit (2.0) - Aug. 23, 2023
- Humboldt County Coastal Development Permit and Special Permit - July 27, 2022.
- Humboldt County Draft Environmental Impact Report - Feb. 18, 2022.
- Scoping comments for the Notice of Preparation of a Draft EIR - July 6, 2021.
- Regional Water Board's draft NPDES permit - June 4, 2021.
- Humboldt County's Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration - May 24, 2021.
- Our initial statement on the proposed land-based fish farm - 2019.
On February 11, 2019, the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, & Conservation District voted unanimously to approve a $20,000/year, 3-year “Option Period” for the company to secure all the necessary permits, and a 30-year lease agreement with two 10-year options for its former pulp mill site in Samoa, giving Nordic AquaFarms / California Marine Investments, LLC site control while it develops plans and pursues permits for a land-based fish farm.
Humboldt Bay harbor district eyes fish farm
Monday meeting set to OK 30-acre lease; 80 local jobs foreseen
Hundreds of millions of dollars and 80 jobs are coming to Humboldt Bay, according to recent announcements from the harbor district and a Norwegian-owned fish farm company.
The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Board of Directors at a special meeting Monday is set to consider leasing 30 acres on the Samoa Peninsula to California Marine Investments, a subsidiary of Norway-based Nordic Aquafarms, for use as a land-based aquaculture facility.
Massive Fish Farm Proposed for Pulp Mill Site
A land-based aquaculture facility – likely producing salmon or steelhead – the venture will serve as the West Coast base of operations for Nordic Aquafarms, which is currently in the process of developing an East Coast equivalent in Belfast, Maine, according to the company.
The facility will use what is known as recirculating aquaculture system, or RAS, which utilizes large tanks and water treatment systems in raising the fish. The company says the method prevents many of the common concerns associated with farm fishing in offshore pens, including pollution from waste, chemical use and the potential to pass on diseases and parasites to wild fish.
According to Nordic AquaFarms’ conceptual video states, “We are introducing the largest full-integrated modular concept ever developed, with innovation leaps in fish-handling and logistics, with a minimal ecological footprint."
Massive New Fish Farm in the Works for Samoa Peninsula
On Monday, a growing European aquaculture company will announce plans to build a massive fish farm at the Harbor District’s Redwood Marine Terminal — the former Samoa pulp mill.
