BELFAST — An informational session about a Norwegian company’s plan to build one of the world’s largest land-based salmon farms was held at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center February 21. 

It was a full house in the auditorium and the session continued for almost two hours. Click here to watch the entire proceedings.

Nordic Aquafarms made the announcement about its $400 million investment in the project, which will be built on 40 acres of land over the next several years. The majority of the land, located off Route 1 in Belfast, is owned by the City of Belfast Water District, excepting 14 acres which are privately owned. 

The informational session was organized by the City of Belfast, with a panel including Nordic Aquafarms Chief Executive Officer Erik Heim, Ransom Consulting Senior Project Manager and Senior Geologist Elizabeth Ransom, City of Belfast Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge, Belfast City Manager Joe Slocum, City of Belfast Director of Code and Planning Wayne Marshall, and other representatives from the City of Belfast and the Belfast Water District. 

The meeting was not a public hearing; no testimonies were taken or votes cast, the meeting instead focused on answering questions and clarifying what to expect going forward. 

The facility is set to be built in phases, with construction of the first phase expected to begin in 2019, with operations expected to begin the following year. 

The completed facility is currently being designed in Norway and is expected to produce roughly eight percent of the total salmon consumption in the U.S., according to Nordic Aquafarms. 

Related: 

Salmon farm informational meeting in Belfast at Hutchinson Center

Norwegian aquaculture company plans new salmon facility in Belfast, first in U.S. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com