Sea Eight, part of the Valencian business group Atitlan, will build a fish farm for the industrial rearing of sole on the site of the former Lemoiz nuclear power plant in Bizkaia.

The company, which has production centers in Portugal and Galicia, has chosen Bizkaia to develop an aquaculture facility poised to rank among the most modern in Europe, according to CEO Jaime León. This aquaculture complex—which will cover a total area of ​​46,600 square meters and create 200 direct jobs—is expected to produce 1,000 tons of fish annually in its first phase and up to 3,000 tons once fully operational.

At the project presentation held this Monday at Cala Basordas—the site of the former power plant’s facilities—León was accompanied by Aritza Rodero, CEO of the Atitlan Group. The group owns the company, which maintains offices in Valencia and production centers in Galicia and Portugal.

Both business representatives were welcomed by Lehendakari Imanol Pradales and the Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo. They presented the initial details of a business project that the Basque Government had been considering for years and had sought to advance since acquiring ownership of the land in 2019.

The Lehendakari noted that the site could be “compatible with other business uses or a project linked to historical memory,” serving to commemorate the nuclear power plant’s past.

170 MILLION IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE INVESTMENT

Carrying out this project—which will receive European funding—will require a public-private investment of €170 million, to be implemented across three planned phases over the next ten years.

Following the construction of the fish farm—scheduled to begin in 2027—there will be a further three-year wait (until 2030) before the first sole produced in the Basque Country becomes available, according to the Lehendakari.

The transformation of this site, which had deteriorated due to its seafront location, began last February with repair work on the outer breakwater; this work is being carried out by Azpilur at a cost of €2.85 million (plus VAT), and the company will also be responsible for adapting the facilities.

Shaping this initiative has been particularly complex; beyond simply finding a company interested in setting up operations at Basordas Cove, it was necessary to conduct technical analyses and secure positive feasibility studies. In fact, previous companies that had explored the site’s suitability ultimately abandoned the project after determining that its characteristics and climatic conditions were incompatible with the farming of certain species.

The regional government reiterates that Lemoiz offers “optimal conditions for aquaculture development, thanks to its existing infrastructure, access to seawater, and available space to accommodate industrial-scale projects—such as the one to be carried out by the selected company, Aquacría Basordas.” This company is owned by Sea Eight, and the Basque Government—which is currently defining the nature of its involvement—may also acquire a stake in it. In any event, according to sources familiar with the deal, the government’s participation would be as a minority shareholder.

Sea Eight’s aquaculture complex will integrate every stage of the sole production cycle, from hatching and larval rearing to grow-out and preparation for market. To achieve this, the company explains, the facility will feature specialized infrastructure—including hatchery, nursery, and grow-out buildings—alongside facilities for processing, treatment, logistics, and support services.

Furthermore, the fish farm will leverage the expertise of centers within the Basque research and technology network—particularly AZTI, a leader in the marine and food sectors—and will incorporate advanced water recirculation technology, enabling the reuse of up to 97% of water resources and ensuring the purification of effluents.

In terms of innovation, Sea Eight will implement proprietary R&D systems focused on genetic and reproductive improvement, and will apply pioneering measures in areas such as nutrition, health, animal welfare, and product traceability.