A project has been presented for the construction of what will be Europe's largest sole fish farm in the vicinity of the former Lemoiz nuclear power plant. This initiative, named Aquacría Basordas, will involve an investment of 170 million euros over a decade and is expected to generate 200 direct jobs. The new facility is projected to produce 3,000 tons of sole annually once it reaches full capacity.

The project is driven by the Basque Government, which received the transfer of the site from Madrid in 2019. The investment will be public-private, with the participation of the Atitlan and Sea Eight groups. The initial 60 million euros will be provided by the Basque Government and will be used for the demolition of incompatible buildings and the preparation of the site.

The fish farm will occupy only the built-up area of the plant. Specialized structures necessary for sole farming will be installed there, such as long, narrow pools about 40 centimeters deep with a slight incline for water flow. Seawater will be mixed with fresh water from the nearby Urbieta reservoir to achieve the appropriate salinity. Additionally, the dike protecting Basordas cove is being reinforced with 415 concrete blocks, each weighing 45 tons, with the aim of converting it into a pedestrian promenade.

The project also includes a large number of solar panels to heat the water to temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, suitable for the African species solea senegalensis, which is farmed by Sea Eight and is more resilient for captive breeding. The aquaculture system, known as RAS, recycles 97% of the water in each cycle, ensuring high efficiency.

Euskadi's entry into aquaculture at this level holds strategic importance, as it is a growing sector. The general director of the Food Cluster noted that global fish production from fish farms surpassed extractive fishing for the first time last year. This opens new opportunities for the local research network and suppliers, positively impacting the Basque economic ecosystem.