Plans to build the EU’s largest onshore salmon farm in south-western France have moved closer to reality after the project secured another green light from regional authorities.

In the coastal town of Verdon-sur-Mer, the prospect of hosting a major aquaculture facility has long sparked controversy.

The Pure Salmon project aims to produce 10,000 tonnes of fish in water tanks, with activists sounding the alarm over the potential impact of such a site – and even Environment Minister Monique Barbut coming out against it.

Last week, the project cleared another regulatory hurdle after receiving a favourable environmental opinion. It now awaits a final sign-off from local authorities in the coming weeks, which, if granted, would clear the way for construction to begin.

The factory could become the EU’s biggest land-based aquaculture facility, as Brussels scrambles to cut reliance on fish imports.

Only about 38% of seafood consumed in the EU is produced domestically, a figure that falls to less than 1% for salmon – 80% of which comes from Norway. The species is, along with tuna, one of Europeans’ favourite fish.

While environmental groups are especially wary of farming such carnivorous fish, which require large volumes of fish feed, the Commission argues that rising demand makes expanding aquaculture increasingly necessary.

The EU executive has launched a charm offensive to shrug off scepticism towards aquaculture, and last week held a dialogue with industry representatives and NGOs.

Citizen mobilisation

Activists in Verdon-sur-Mer have campaigned against Pure Salmon for months, staging protests that have failed to stall the regulatory process.

“This is one of the strongest citizen mobilisations our region has ever seen. The Prefect [the government’s chief authority in the region] will have to take it into account,” said local politician Nicolas Thierry.

Pure Salmon, a UAE-based company, has sought to dismiss concerns that the project could pollute water resources in a region already facing water stress.

“Water withdrawals would take place more than 12 km from the nearest drinking-water borehole, from a water source unsuitable for human consumption or agriculture,” the company said in a press release issued in 2025.

The company added at the time that water discharges would be low and filtered, and that sludge would be converted into biogas.

(adm, aw)