Valencia Aquaculture SA

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Valencia Aquaculture SA (VALAQUA), founded in 1984, directed all their initial efforts toward developing a novel culture system of fish species using water recirculation techniques. The eel focused initial interest of the Company because it is a consumer product in Valencia and growing demand in Europe, although intended to develop technology that should offer the possibility of a later adaptation to other commercial species. Having decided the most interesting culture system, and known characteristics imposed this procedure; we attempted to locate a spot to gather the best conditions for the implementation of the farm. This information was compiled, among other actions, dozens of water analysis, capture and release studies and contacts with municipalities and owners of various fields and locations. As a result of all this it was decided to acquire a site in the town of Puçol (Valencia), with an area of 26,000 m2 where, in 1985, began construction of the farm. In February 1986 the first eels were introduced in the plant whose annual production capacity was 100 tons, in principle sufficient to cover the domestic market, mainly concentrated in Valencia. Two years later, in 1988, expanded facilities, and thus its production capacity, with two clear objectives: firstly internationalize Company will be present in major European markets, and secondly, that this growth would consolidate the profitability of business. Later, in 1995, thanks to the good acceptance of the product, the company launched a new expansion so that the floor area was increased to 5,500 m2, with a production capacity of 300 tons per year.