BY MILT THOMAS

A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning (Monday, April 29) at the site of Fellsmere’s newest company, Florida Organic Aquaculture, LLC, located at 15369 County Road 512. About 75 people attended the event, including City of Fellsmere and Indian River County elected officials and staff.

The company plans to grow primarily sushi-grade colossal shrimp for the Treasure Coast fresh (not frozen) seafood market. A 180,000-square foot pole barn will house 230-foot by 30-foot grow out ponds containing 4.5 million gallons of water. The facility is expected to yield more than ten times that of conventional shrimp producers.

In addition to shrimp, the company will produce oysters and samphire, a salty, nutritious sea grass that is popular with people in Asia and Europe. It is fast gaining popularity in this country and can be found in organic food stores. When completed and fully operational, the company expects to directly employ 50-60 people from laborers to scientists, with an economic impact of over 500 jobs on the Treasure Coast.

Clifford Morris, founder and CEO of the company, spoke first at the groundbreaking. A South African by birth, he came to America, as he said, “By conviction” not by birth. This project has taken about six years, “five and a half years running on adrenaline and the last six months running on excitement.”

Morris took advantage of the EB-5 visa program, a federal initiative that offers a green card granting permanent residency and a path to citizenship in return for investing a minimum of $500,000 in an American business that creates at least ten jobs. He hopes to raise much of the $16 million ultimately needed for the project from other overseas investors looking to take advantage of the same program.

As to why he chose Fellsmere as the location for his business, Morris said, “I never even knew it existed until I met with Helene Caseltine, economic development director at the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. She told me to go see Jason Nunemaker in Fellsmere. I achieved more in two weeks talking with Jason than I did over two years in Palm Beach County.”

Speaking of organic, the Florida Organic Aquaculture facility will be environmentally friendly. Water in the tanks is recirculated with no discharge.  It will use natural gas to regulate temperatures because without it, energy costs would be prohibitive. No chemicals will be used in the tanks.

At this point, Fellsmere and the rest of North County do not have natural gas service. But according to Marc Seagrave, Florida City Gas director of new business development and one of the speakers at this groundbreaking, “It will cost about $16 million to bring in gas lines, which will be partially offset by a community development block grant that Fellsmere has qualified for. Our investment will also bring more capacity to South County and for the first time, make natural gas service available in Sebastian, which is one of only a few cities on Florida’s east coast without that service.”

Ken Pruitt, former president of the Florida Senate and currently the St. Lucie County property appraiser, was keynote speaker for the event. U.S. Senator Bill Nelson was scheduled to speak, but was called away due to an illness in his family.  Pruitt spoke of the partnerships involved in bringing this project to fruition. “In today’s world economy we need entrepreneurs like Cliff Morris working with government at every level to champion these efforts and a community that shows its support.” He went on to say that Senator Nelson “loves this type of initiative and the Florida’s economic future depends on it.”

Morris has also created the Florida Aquaculture Foundation a 501c3 non-profit to promote economic development on the Treasure Coast through education and research in the fields of aquaculture, hydroponics, aquaponics and agriculture. Teri Pinney is executive director of the foundation.