Grieg Seafood has been selected as the highest-ranked proponent for the expansion of the aquaculture industry to the province’s southwest coast.

The provincial government issued an Expression of Interest for the Bays West Aquaculture Industry Expansion project.

Fisheries Minister Derek Bragg and area MHA Andrew Parsons made the announcement in Burgeo yesterday.

Minister Bragg says the operation, which has the potential to produce 15,00 to 20,000 metric tonnes of Atlantic salmon, will be based in Burgeo.

The town will serve as the hub of the region from Port aux Basques to Burgeo.

He says area residents will start seeing some major activity once things are up and running.

The project he says will include cages, pens, and barges, which will require environmental assessment at each site, with a laydown area to be constructed in Burgeo where pens will be towed to the appropriate sites.