British firm delays plans for salmon farm at Millinocket mill site

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 2, 2022

A British firm that announced plans nearly three years ago to build a land-based salmon farm on the former Great Northern Paper Co. mill site in Millinocket has delayed its plans, saying that other salmon farm operators have “poisoned the well” for the technology. London-based Aquabanq Management and Holding, said in 2019 that it planned to open its Millinocket operation in either 2021 or 2022, and harvest up to 10,000 tons of salmon a year by 2025. While other companies that planned land-based aquaculture operations in Maine, including in Belfast, Bucksport and Jonesport, have moved forward with securing permits, they all have yet to break ground on their proposed projects. Aquabanq CEO A.J. Shapiro said, “Now everybody thinks that the salmon RAS technology is not ready for prime time.” Salmon isn’t off the table for Aquabanq, but the company is now also looking to farm shrimp in Millinocket.