The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has approved an application from Marbase for an aquaculture license to build a lumpfish hatchery at Marystown.
Paul Antle, one of the partners in Marbase, told Saltwire on May 21 the company was notified of the approval late Thursday afternoon. He said they should receive the official documents next week.
In an interview earlier this week Antle said the company aims to start construction of the hatchery soon and have lumpfish swimming in tanks at the facility by the end of the year.
Lumpfish like to eat sea lice and are used as cleaner fish in the salmon aquaculture industry.