Source: Fish Information and Services
Futuna Blue España S.L. is awaiting municipal license to launch the second phase of its of juvenile Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) breeding project.
The permission was requested by the executives of the multinational company in September last year, but for the moment the technicians in the Council of Urbanism continue carrying out the appertaining arrangements.
The company expects revenues of about Euro 40 million per year when the facility starts to operate at 100%.
The second stage of the initiative includes the construction of the breeding shed and a building where offices will be permanently located, with an estimated investment of Euro 5.4 million.
According to Futuna Blue manager, Miguel Llerena, they are studying a number of technical changes on the initial draft, such as pumping systems and the facility’s capacity to house the bluefin tuna, La Voz Digital newspaper informed.
The businessman denied that the continuation of the farm construction depends on the approval of the Special Plan for Ports by the Junta de AndalucÃa. He added that the company does not foresee the incorporation of new partners, but it does evaluate carrying out technical changes.
Due to delays in the start of the second phase, Futuna Blue entrepreneurs expect to begin with the construction in the course of this year and plan to get the first batch of spawning fish in 2013.
For its part, urbanism councilor Diego Muñoz of El Puerto Town Hall confirmed that the technical area staff is processing the authorization issuance. “We will make our work as diligently as possible especially considering that it is a very beneficial project for the city, by creating wealth and jobsâ€, said Muñoz.
Futuna Blue plans to provide the market between 500,000 and 1,000,000 of juvenile bluefin tuna per year, which will supply tuna to fattening farms in the Mediterranean.
The company’s facilities have last generation recycling technology that allows full control of the main variables affecting fish welfare.