Atlantic Sapphire optimizing Miami RAS operations before expanding further

Atlantic Sapphire will prioritize its existing operations over continued expansion at its Miami, Florida, U.S.A. salmon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility, according to the company's chief sales and marketing officer, Damien Claire.

Atlantic Sapphire’s ultimate goal is to build an RAS facility capable of producing 220,000 metric tons (MT) of salmon per year, but Claire said its objective for 2023 is to optimize production in its already-built phase-one facilities before moving forward with further expansion.

Atlantic Sapphire's share price plunged in October 2022 after it issued revised revenue expectations and an announcement that “above-normal and increasing mortality in certain systems” resulted in lower harvest weights than planned. In March 2021, it experienced a mass salmon mortality at its Miami facility, as well as a mortality incident at its Denmark Bluehouse farm in July 2022, followed by a devastating fire at its Denmark facility in September. In 2020, the company was forced to initiate an emergency harvest of fish in July, and earlier that same year, the company went through a mass mortality event in Denmark.  

Looking forward into 2023, Claire said the company’s major focus will be optimizing its operations and reaching steady-state production ... 

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Sapphire