Sea bass farming and processing. (Photo: Selonda/FIS)

Sale of sea bass farm saves 32 jobs

Sole UK sea bass producer Selonda (UK) Limited has been bought by a purchaser who will trade as Anglesey Aquaculture Limited, administrators Roger Hale and Toby Underwood of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have announced. The move will secure 32 jobs.

Anglesey Aquaculture Limited is a new company backed by a private equity firm with wide-ranging interests in the aquaculture sector.

Selonda UK -  a subsidiary of the Greek group Selonda Aquaculture SA, based at Dinmor Quarry in Penmon, Anglesey - has the capacity to generate 1,000 tonnes of farmed sea bass per annum.

The business, which uses a unique and high-tech facility, has been up against sturdy obstacles in pioneering its technology and production methods, which is what ultimately led it to deplete its funding and stumble into cashflow difficulties, Daily Post reports.

“We are pleased to have secured a sale of the business that protects 32 jobs and secures value for the creditors of Selonda (UK) Limited,” stated Hale, joint administrator and director at PwC. “The sale provides an opportunity for the further development and growth of the business and I look forward to seeing it prosper under the ownership of Anglesey Aquaculture Limited.”

Farmed sea bass. (Photo: Selonda)

The sale follows December’s talks to secure the firm’s future.

At the end of 2011, Selonda had around 2 million immature sea bass at its farm, Wales Online reports.

The Welsh Government became involved as it tried to help resolve “difficulties” at Selonda after workers claimed they had not been paid. These difficulties provoked fears over the wellbeing of the farm’s thousands of sea bass.

Selonda UK arrived on Anglesey 10 years ago with GBP 840,000 (EUR 1.02 million) in European grants, and received noteworthy further public cash from the Welsh Government.

In August 2011, Business Minister Edwina Hart and Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Alun Davies approved a payment to Selonda UK for “securing a permanent solution to the electrical supply to Penmon fish farm.”

Last October, Selonda UK pleaded guilty to allowing the discharge of “trade effluent and chemicals” on land at West Quarry, Dinmor Quarry, Penmon.

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Address:	30 Navarchou Nikodimou Plaka
City:	Athens
State/ZIP:	(105 56)
Country:	Greece
Phone:	+30 210 372 4900
Fax:	+30 210 372 4909
E-Mail:	[email protected]
More about:

Print