Using the latest in aquaculture technology, Global Blue Technologies (GBT) plans to produce some 625,000 pounds of shrimp a year from the first of 16 planned bio-secure structures in Copano Bay. A goal of annually producing 10 million pounds of jumbo shrimp could be met by 2017 said company officials.
The first structure, which contains eight ponds, recently rose from the earth like a giant white balloon on Copano Retreat Road in Aransas County. The facility measures three football fields and can only be entered through an airtight double-lock doorway. The completely closed system is not expected to emit the unpleasant odors of open-air shrimp farms.
Water at the facility will be filtered and recirculated into the ponds. Molted shrimp shells, the biggest waste product the plant will produce, will be sold for use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
No chemical supplements, drugs or antibiotics will be used in producing the shrimp. Unlike other aqua farms which have come and gone in the area, the GBT farm will not produce any discharge into the bay, officials say.
Shrimp production should begin in April, according to the company, with the first tasty tidbits of jumbo shrimp scheduled to be consumed in September.
