The Gironde prefecture has given its approval to the controversial salmon farm project proposed by Pure Salmon in Verdon-sur-Mer. The company plans to invest 280 million euros to build a factory on a 14-hectare site at the mouth of the Gironde estuary.
The site is expected to produce up to 10,000 tons of salmon per year using a closed-loop farming system. Pure Salmon promises to create 400 jobs, a significant economic benefit for the region. The prefecture assures that the permit was granted within a "strict environmental framework."
The associations fear an extraordinary project
Several local organizations, however, oppose this project due to its size and potential environmental impact. They raise concerns, in particular, about resource consumption, water and waste treatment, and the risks associated with the intensive farming of thousands of fish near the estuary.
The prefectural authorization is therefore unlikely to put an end to the protests. The project embodies two ambitions that are difficult to reconcile: developing French salmon production and creating several hundred jobs, while simultaneously protecting a particularly sensitive estuarine environment. The actual compliance with the obligations imposed on Pure Salmon will now be crucial in assessing the viability of this unprecedented farm.
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