Large salmon farm plan for Falkland Islands

Members of the Falkland government have been invited to visit Norway to help allay any concerns they might have about aquaculture.

 

The company behind the plan is Unity Marine, a joint venture between the Danish consultancy F-land ApS and the local seafood company Fortuna.

 

The mission to Norway may take place as soon as next month and will involve local politicians and Falkland government officials.

 

It is thought that Unity Marine want to build a salmon farm capable of producing up to 50,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon a year.

 

The project would involve a number of sites on the islands and create a large, if unspecified, number of jobs in a region where employment opportunities are limited.

Norway was chosen as a model because it is a recognized leader in salmon farming, and the Falklands government wants to learn from their best practices. 

 

It is thought the visit will allow the government to gain insights into the operational aspects of a well-managed salmon farm.

 

Unity Marine says it is committed to working with the community to ensure that its operations deliver maximum benefit with minimal impact.

 

 It also says that its structure ensures its activities will be taxed in the Falkland Islands and contribute to the development of the local economy.

 

The company said: “We recognise that developing and establishing a new industry in a small community must be done sensitively and sustainably, and that we can only deliver long-term benefits with the support of the local community.”

 

The Norway invitation has drawn criticism from some sections of the Falklands community, but most say the government should investigate thoroughly before coming to a decision.