Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor has warmly welcomed the decision by New Zealand King Salmon to invest in a new processing site at Cloudy Bay in Blenheim.

“This is welcome news for Marlborough and further cements Marlborough’s position as the home of New Zealand’s aquaculture industry,” she said.

“New Zealand King Salmon has been an important part of the Marlborough aquaculture industry for many years - this new investment very much consolidates their position here.”

“It makes good economic and environmental sense to move their processing closer to their marine farms and also to State Highway 1, the port of Picton and Christchurch Airport.”

“The new processing facility will bring between 70 and 100 jobs to Marlborough.”

Mayor Taylor said Marlborough District Council had assisted the company with planning advice and due diligence on the Cloudy Bay site.

She noted NZ King Salmon’s recent expansion into open ocean aquaculture with its Blue Endeavour pilot farm off Cape Lambert in the Outer Marlborough Sounds reaching a major milestone recently. In April, the first two pens and fish were installed at a staging site in Waihinau Bay, Pelorus Sound. In October, the pens will be towed to the Cape Lambert site and the salmon transferred to those pens.

Once operational the Blue Endeavour site is expected to have the capacity to produce 10,000 tonnes of King salmon each year.

“We welcome NZ King Salmon’s ongoing commitment and investment into the Marlborough region and the nationally important aquaculture industry.”

Marine farming in Marlborough produces 47% of New Zealand’s farmed salmon and 59% of farmed mussels.

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