Nordic Aquafarms named Gilbane Building Company and Landry French Construction as construction managers for its land-based salmon production site in Belfast, Maine.

The 850,000 square foot facility will be built in two phases, with the first phase expected to be operational in 2021. It is situated on 54 acres of land off Route 1 in Belfast.

The proposed layout of the site features nine buildings, including hatcheries, freshwater juvenile facilities (smolt buildings), grow-out facilities, office space, a central utility plant and a water treatment plant.

Electrical infrastructure will include a substation and back-up generation with fuel storage and fish processing.

Despite local opposition to the project, Nordic Aquafarms remains on firm legal ground over construction of the facility and is moving forward with the permitting process.

"By partnering with Gilbane, an experienced builder of food production facilities and a company that shares our commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re confident that the Belfast site will serve as the future of land-based seafood production in the United States,” Nordic Aquafarms President Erik Heim said.