The million-dollar project failed after three years: Migros stopped mega fish farming in Switzerland

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It has only been three years since Migros became Switzerland’s largest fish farmer: Migros’ subsidiary Micarna has grown domestic sea bass and whitefish on a large scale in Birsfelden BL. Since then, 240 tons of fish have been grown annually in the aquaculture facility.

Migros is now surprisingly pulling the plug on the million-dollar project! The Birsfelden location is scheduled to be closed by November 2024 and local fish farming will therefore cease. The company confirmed this to Blick.

17 employees were dismissed

Migros announced that the location closure will affect eight employees in Birsfelden and nine employees in Germany. Micarna supports employees in Switzerland to find connectivity solutions within or outside the Migros Group. In addition, buyers will be sought for aquaculture.

Reason for layoffs in Germany: The young fish come from a farm 800 kilometers away in Kirschau (Germany). Only then are the fish raised in Birsfelden for three to four months until they reach their ideal weight. 200 grams of sea bass, 300 grams of white fish. KM Seafood, the company responsible for the aquaculture, is also owned by Micarna and is currently being liquidated.

Millions invested in sustainable whitefish

The goals were big: The project wanted to protect national and international wild populations of the orange giant. Additionally, antibiotics can be dispensed with in aquaculture. Migros has worked for five years to provide excellent living conditions for the precious fish traditionally served as crispy fish or whitefish fillets on Swiss plates. The retailer wanted to start operating in a market that was already saturated at the time.

“The investment amounts amounted to several million francs,” explained the then Micarna Seafood boss Martin Stalder (46) after the opening of the business. Additionally, construction had to be done on expensive industrial lands. Although the company initially consciously accepted losses, the company is expected to run aground by 2023.

Raising white fish is very expensive

The target was missed. “Despite several years of efforts, it has not been possible to farm whitefish profitably,” Migros writes. Unlike Egli, they are extremely sensitive to human intervention. So it was the first whitefish farm in Switzerland.

The closure of aquaculture will now be gradual in order to make the best possible use of the animals. The fish are at different stages of development and are fed in accordance with legal requirements. Birsfelden will therefore be the last location to be closed at the end of November 2024.

The company did not answer how much of the demand for sea bass and white fish the facility in Birsfelden met and where Migros would purchase the quantity of fish to be released later.

Source :Blick