Pescanova opts for sea bass farming in Portugal – Fishupdate.com
Pescanova opts for sea bass farming in Portugal Published: 08 June, 2006
SPAINS Pescanova is seeking Portuguese approval for the first of several sea bass plants which it hopes will produce 10 000 tonnes within two years, according to worldfish report June.
The companys president, Manuel Fernández de Sousa, has reportedly met with Portuguese ministers. The plants will incorporate wind farms to alleviate the high energy costs. Within a year, the Portuguese plants could be producing between 2,500t and 4,000t, the latter figure based on an existing plant in Galicia. In a few years, the plants should reach a production rate of between 30 000t and 100,000t a year.
Pescanova has reportedly faced difficulties in getting approval for new plants in Galicia and de Sousa was reported to have said: If we cannot invest in Galicia because a legal framework does not exist to endorse the installation of our plants, we will go elsewhere.
He reportedly added that this investment should not be interpreted as a challenge to Emilio Perez Tourinos Galician government, as Pescanova has simply opted for choosing the best, most profitable locations, and those with short-term development potential.
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