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HERMITAGE-SANDYVILLE, NL — International aquaculture producer Marine Harvest has completed the purchase of aquaculture farming assets previously owned by Gray Aqua Group of Companies in Atlantic Canada. The purchase includes seven farming licences in the province and the Hermitage processing plant.

“Our government recognizes the tremendous potential aquaculture brings to our seafood industry as well as to our province. In ‘The Way Forward’ we’ve committed to growing our salmon aquaculture industry to 50,000 tonnes per year and this announcement is a significant step in achieving this goal. We look forward to working with Marine Harvest as it starts the process of establishing operations in our province,” says Steve Crocker, minister of Fisheries and Land Resources.

The Marine Harvest purchase also includes 17 site applications throughout the province, which are currently under provincial review. Other assets acquired include one hatchery and two farming licences in New Brunswick.

Marine Harvest employs 11,700 people and is represented in 24 countries. The company provides farmed salmon and processed seafood to more than 70 markets worldwide. In 2015, Marine Harvest produced 420,000 tonnes of salmon.